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Résumé :
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The strong decline of Black Terns breeding in oligotrophic mires is in some areas attributed to the lack of calcium in the chick period due to absence of fish in acidificated soft waters. The comparable strong decline in the South of The Netherlands was unclear, as abundant acid tolerant fish still occur in most bogs. In the Malpie, an area with acid tolerant Eastern Mudminnows Umbra pygmaea, Black Tern feeding ecology and breeding success was studied in I 1998 and 1999. Clutch size, hatching and fledging success was comparable to average Dutch situations. It turned out that Black Terns do feed Eastern Mudminnows and Pool Frogs (larvae) Rana lessonae to their young. The terns fed their young enough prey to meet energetic as well as calcium needs. The related average breeding success indeed showed a possibility to breed successful in soft waters in bogs with Pool Frogs or mudminnows. The decline in such areas cannot be attributed to a decline of insects in neighbouring grasslands, as this prey is too small to be sufficient. The decline might be attributed to a deterioration of nesting substrates, as former mudbanks are overgrown nowadays due to eutrophication. Additionally, disturbance might De locally a negative factor. Provision of low-edged rafts in mires with abundant mudminnows and dragonflies might be a useful short-term conservation strategy. Because the local population is almost extinct, it is only useful to provide them near existing breeding sites.
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