Pat Baird | Simon Fraser University (original) (raw)

Papers by Pat Baird

Waterbirds, 2023

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

ICES ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2024

Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availabil... more Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availability, size, or species. Causes are often broadly explained as changes in ocean currents/temperatures, or diets. Few studies trace diets down the food web to primary producers, thus missing what I propose as an underlying cause of seabird colony failure, dietary abundance of essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA differ from other nutrients because they are, in part, ligands-critical for reproduction and other physiological processes for the entire marine food web, not just for seabirds. Diatoms are one of the few life forms that can produce PUFA de no v o , and a lack of PUFA in zooplankton and fish reduces their abundance and productivity, with consequences up the food web. Since the mid-1980s, historical prey of breeding seabirds has decreased, and frequency of colony failures has increased. In years of failure, prey often had less fat than historically preferred species. Likewise, proportions of alternate species' PUFA, from published papers, show lower values than in historical prey. Production of PUFA by diatoms is depressed in warmer and more acidic environments, and I h ypothesiz e that these warmer and more acidic seas have affected production of PUFA over the past 3-4 decades. Assuming this is true, I propose that these lower amounts of PUFA have negatively impacted the breeding success of all members of the marine food web, not just seabirds.

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2015

Waterbirds, 2023

Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, m... more Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, mobbing, and predator swamping. Familiarity with nesting areas gives knowledge of protected sites and may promote site fidelity. Familiarity with nearest neighbors helps nesting success by lessening intraspecific aggression and increasing social facilitation, and may promote group adherence. Group adherence has been proposed as more important than site tenacity for some species where nesting areas are frequently disturbed. Ground-nesting terns
often nest at disturbed sites, and their colonies are accessible to predators. Serendipitously, I was able to test the concept of group adherence in individually color-marked California Least Terns Sternula antillarum browni during early egg-laying when some nests in a colony in southern California were depredated, and the adults deserted. A
week later, I found the majority of those birds nesting at the edge of a small Least Tern colony 28 km distant, where they laid a second clutch and remained at the site the rest of the breeding season. The following breeding season, no color-marked terns nested again at the small colony where they had moved after disturbance.

Waterbirds, 2022

Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, m... more Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, mobbing, and predator swamping. Familiarity with nesting areas gives knowledge of protected sites and may promote site fidelity. Familiarity with nearest neighbors helps nesting success by lessening intraspecific aggression and increasing social facilitation, and may promote group adherence. Group adherence has been proposed as more important than site tenacity for some species where nesting areas are frequently disturbed. Ground-nesting terns
often nest at disturbed sites, and their colonies are accessible to predators. Serendipitously, I was able to test the concept of group adherence in individually color-marked California Least Terns Sternula antillarum browni during early egg-laying when some nests in a colony in southern California were depredated, and the adults deserted. A
week later, I found the majority of those birds nesting at the edge of a small Least Tern colony 28 km distant, where they laid a second clutch and remained at the site the rest of the breeding season. The following breeding season, no color-marked terns nested again at the small colony where they had moved after disturbance.

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2014

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2017

The Condor, Aug 1, 1990

Over the past decade, several studies have attempted to correlate abundance and distribution of s... more Over the past decade, several studies have attempted to correlate abundance and distribution of seabirds over the ocean with various abiotic and biotic factors (Bourne 1972; Nettleship 1972; Briggs et al. 1981, 1987; Hoffman et al. 1981). I made observations in the Bering Sea which suggest that oil-drilling rigs, during the stage of "spudding in" (beginning to drill), and during the drilling process, attract large numbers of foraging seabirds.

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2013

Marine ornithology, Apr 15, 2015

Waterbirds

Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, m... more Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, mobbing, and predator swamping. Familiarity with nesting areas gives knowledge of protected sites and may promote site fidelity. Familiarity with nearest neighbors helps nesting success by lessening intraspecific aggression and increasing social facilitation, and may promote group adherence. Group adherence has been proposed as more important than site tenacity for some species where nesting areas are frequently disturbed. Ground-nesting terns often nest at disturbed sites, and their colonies are accessible to predators. Serendipitously, I was able to test the concept of group adherence in individually color-marked California Least Terns Sternula antillarum browni during early egg-laying when some nests in a colony in southern California were depredated, and the adults deserted. A week later, I found the majority of those birds nesting at the edge of a small Least Tern colony 28 km distant, where they laid a second clutch and remained at the site the rest of the breeding season. The following breeding season, no color-marked terns nested again at the small colony where they had moved after disturbance.

ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2024

Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availabil... more Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availability, size, or species. Causes are often broadly explained as changes in ocean currents/temperatures, or diets. Few studies trace diets down the food web to primary producers, thus missing what I propose as an underlying cause of seabird colony failure, dietary abundance of essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA differ from other nutrients because they are, in part, ligands-critical for reproduction and other physiological processes for the entire marine food web, not just for seabirds. Diatoms are one of the few life forms that can produce PUFA de no v o , and a lack of PUFA in zooplankton and fish reduces their abundance and productivity, with consequences up the food web. Since the mid-1980s, historical prey of breeding seabirds has decreased, and frequency of colony failures has increased. In years of failure, prey often had less fat than historically preferred species. Likewise, proportions of alternate species' PUFA, from published papers, show lower values than in historical prey. Production of PUFA by diatoms is depressed in warmer and more acidic environments, and I h ypothesiz e that these warmer and more acidic seas have affected production of PUFA over the past 3-4 decades. Assuming this is true, I propose that these lower amounts of PUFA have negatively impacted the breeding success of all members of the marine food web, not just seabirds.

The Birds of North America Online, 1994

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2022

This review highlights diatoms and their production of fatty acids at Arctic ice edges and temper... more This review highlights diatoms and their production of fatty acids at Arctic ice edges and temperate estuaries as strategic in initiating high spring productivity. As important as their energy production is their synthesis de novo of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), which are bioactive molecules fundamental to maintaining ecosystem processes, and are necessary for reproduction and growth for the entire marine food web. Without these fatty acids, consumers can suffer poor reproduction and growth even with sufficient energy intake, and shorebirds may need LCPUFAs for nonstop long-hop migration. Timing of high energy fatty acid and LCPUFA production by diatoms coincides with growth and reproduction of consumer populations, with the arrival of seabirds in the Arctic and staging of shorebirds in estuaries. The switch from diatom production of carbohydrates to fatty acids is triggered by changes in chemical and physical environmental factors, which can be muted by factors such as climate change or habitat modification. Higher ocean temperatures and lower pH from climate change alters the ability of diatoms to make LCPUFAs, and habitat degradation reduces the numbers of diatoms in the area, subsequently reducing the amounts of LCPUFA produced. Changes in LCPUFA output could impact functionality of ice-edge and estuarine ecosystems, impacting shorebird migration and consumer productivity. Research is scarce on marine consumer reproduction and growth comparing quantity vs. quality of ingested saturated, monounsaturated, and omega-3 LCPUFAs, and nonexistent for seabirds and shorebirds. Future studies of marine food webs should include the role of diatoms and their contribution of not just energy, but also LCPUFAs to the food web.

Wildlife Society Bulletin, Dec 1, 2017

Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly v... more Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly visible and persistent is a valuable methodology, but practical techniques and permanent safe dyes are lacking. Here we describe a novel, remotely controlled dye machine to rapidly mark stationary animals in predictable locations, such as birds sitting on nests on the ground or mammals at a den or burrow site. From the month of June when birds were on eggs, using the machine, we spot-dyed 77 California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) at a colony in California, USA, in 4 days without handling them. Concomitantly, we developed a suite of permanent (until molt or shedding), mainly phthalocyanine dyes that are incorporated chemically into feathers or fur of animals and cannot be preened or rubbed off, which have never been used before to dye animals. We found no toxicity of the dyes during in vivo testing over 1 month. This method of remote marking with permanent dyes should prove to be a useful method in animal ecology for distinguishing among individuals with minimal disturbance.

Ornis Scandinavica, 1990

... Influence of abiotic factors and prey distribution on diet and reproductive success of three ... more ... Influence of abiotic factors and prey distribution on diet and reproductive success of three seabird species in Alaska. ... The inner part of the strait is fairly shallow (3-19 m), but near Cathedral Island, the largest seabird colony, the depth is 130 m, allowing pursuit ... (A control plot for ...

The Condor, 1991

... 1981 la, 198 1b; Baird and Gould 1983) and are believed to be related to differences in energ... more ... 1981 la, 198 1b; Baird and Gould 1983) and are believed to be related to differences in energetic and nutrient demands of birds of different ages and repro-ductive status (Belopol'skii 1961), and to the costs and benefits due to the constraints of central place ... 1983, Houston 1987 ...

Waterbirds, 2023

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

ICES ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2024

Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availabil... more Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availability, size, or species. Causes are often broadly explained as changes in ocean currents/temperatures, or diets. Few studies trace diets down the food web to primary producers, thus missing what I propose as an underlying cause of seabird colony failure, dietary abundance of essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA differ from other nutrients because they are, in part, ligands-critical for reproduction and other physiological processes for the entire marine food web, not just for seabirds. Diatoms are one of the few life forms that can produce PUFA de no v o , and a lack of PUFA in zooplankton and fish reduces their abundance and productivity, with consequences up the food web. Since the mid-1980s, historical prey of breeding seabirds has decreased, and frequency of colony failures has increased. In years of failure, prey often had less fat than historically preferred species. Likewise, proportions of alternate species' PUFA, from published papers, show lower values than in historical prey. Production of PUFA by diatoms is depressed in warmer and more acidic environments, and I h ypothesiz e that these warmer and more acidic seas have affected production of PUFA over the past 3-4 decades. Assuming this is true, I propose that these lower amounts of PUFA have negatively impacted the breeding success of all members of the marine food web, not just seabirds.

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2015

Waterbirds, 2023

Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, m... more Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, mobbing, and predator swamping. Familiarity with nesting areas gives knowledge of protected sites and may promote site fidelity. Familiarity with nearest neighbors helps nesting success by lessening intraspecific aggression and increasing social facilitation, and may promote group adherence. Group adherence has been proposed as more important than site tenacity for some species where nesting areas are frequently disturbed. Ground-nesting terns
often nest at disturbed sites, and their colonies are accessible to predators. Serendipitously, I was able to test the concept of group adherence in individually color-marked California Least Terns Sternula antillarum browni during early egg-laying when some nests in a colony in southern California were depredated, and the adults deserted. A
week later, I found the majority of those birds nesting at the edge of a small Least Tern colony 28 km distant, where they laid a second clutch and remained at the site the rest of the breeding season. The following breeding season, no color-marked terns nested again at the small colony where they had moved after disturbance.

Waterbirds, 2022

Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, m... more Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, mobbing, and predator swamping. Familiarity with nesting areas gives knowledge of protected sites and may promote site fidelity. Familiarity with nearest neighbors helps nesting success by lessening intraspecific aggression and increasing social facilitation, and may promote group adherence. Group adherence has been proposed as more important than site tenacity for some species where nesting areas are frequently disturbed. Ground-nesting terns
often nest at disturbed sites, and their colonies are accessible to predators. Serendipitously, I was able to test the concept of group adherence in individually color-marked California Least Terns Sternula antillarum browni during early egg-laying when some nests in a colony in southern California were depredated, and the adults deserted. A
week later, I found the majority of those birds nesting at the edge of a small Least Tern colony 28 km distant, where they laid a second clutch and remained at the site the rest of the breeding season. The following breeding season, no color-marked terns nested again at the small colony where they had moved after disturbance.

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2014

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2017

The Condor, Aug 1, 1990

Over the past decade, several studies have attempted to correlate abundance and distribution of s... more Over the past decade, several studies have attempted to correlate abundance and distribution of seabirds over the ocean with various abiotic and biotic factors (Bourne 1972; Nettleship 1972; Briggs et al. 1981, 1987; Hoffman et al. 1981). I made observations in the Bering Sea which suggest that oil-drilling rigs, during the stage of "spudding in" (beginning to drill), and during the drilling process, attract large numbers of foraging seabirds.

Marine ornithology, Oct 15, 2013

Marine ornithology, Apr 15, 2015

Waterbirds

Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, m... more Colonial nesting in seabirds is advantageous for protection from predators—spotting a predator, mobbing, and predator swamping. Familiarity with nesting areas gives knowledge of protected sites and may promote site fidelity. Familiarity with nearest neighbors helps nesting success by lessening intraspecific aggression and increasing social facilitation, and may promote group adherence. Group adherence has been proposed as more important than site tenacity for some species where nesting areas are frequently disturbed. Ground-nesting terns often nest at disturbed sites, and their colonies are accessible to predators. Serendipitously, I was able to test the concept of group adherence in individually color-marked California Least Terns Sternula antillarum browni during early egg-laying when some nests in a colony in southern California were depredated, and the adults deserted. A week later, I found the majority of those birds nesting at the edge of a small Least Tern colony 28 km distant, where they laid a second clutch and remained at the site the rest of the breeding season. The following breeding season, no color-marked terns nested again at the small colony where they had moved after disturbance.

ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2024

Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availabil... more Seabird reproductive success in northern latitudes is often linked with prey abundance, availability, size, or species. Causes are often broadly explained as changes in ocean currents/temperatures, or diets. Few studies trace diets down the food web to primary producers, thus missing what I propose as an underlying cause of seabird colony failure, dietary abundance of essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA differ from other nutrients because they are, in part, ligands-critical for reproduction and other physiological processes for the entire marine food web, not just for seabirds. Diatoms are one of the few life forms that can produce PUFA de no v o , and a lack of PUFA in zooplankton and fish reduces their abundance and productivity, with consequences up the food web. Since the mid-1980s, historical prey of breeding seabirds has decreased, and frequency of colony failures has increased. In years of failure, prey often had less fat than historically preferred species. Likewise, proportions of alternate species' PUFA, from published papers, show lower values than in historical prey. Production of PUFA by diatoms is depressed in warmer and more acidic environments, and I h ypothesiz e that these warmer and more acidic seas have affected production of PUFA over the past 3-4 decades. Assuming this is true, I propose that these lower amounts of PUFA have negatively impacted the breeding success of all members of the marine food web, not just seabirds.

The Birds of North America Online, 1994

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2022

This review highlights diatoms and their production of fatty acids at Arctic ice edges and temper... more This review highlights diatoms and their production of fatty acids at Arctic ice edges and temperate estuaries as strategic in initiating high spring productivity. As important as their energy production is their synthesis de novo of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), which are bioactive molecules fundamental to maintaining ecosystem processes, and are necessary for reproduction and growth for the entire marine food web. Without these fatty acids, consumers can suffer poor reproduction and growth even with sufficient energy intake, and shorebirds may need LCPUFAs for nonstop long-hop migration. Timing of high energy fatty acid and LCPUFA production by diatoms coincides with growth and reproduction of consumer populations, with the arrival of seabirds in the Arctic and staging of shorebirds in estuaries. The switch from diatom production of carbohydrates to fatty acids is triggered by changes in chemical and physical environmental factors, which can be muted by factors such as climate change or habitat modification. Higher ocean temperatures and lower pH from climate change alters the ability of diatoms to make LCPUFAs, and habitat degradation reduces the numbers of diatoms in the area, subsequently reducing the amounts of LCPUFA produced. Changes in LCPUFA output could impact functionality of ice-edge and estuarine ecosystems, impacting shorebird migration and consumer productivity. Research is scarce on marine consumer reproduction and growth comparing quantity vs. quality of ingested saturated, monounsaturated, and omega-3 LCPUFAs, and nonexistent for seabirds and shorebirds. Future studies of marine food webs should include the role of diatoms and their contribution of not just energy, but also LCPUFAs to the food web.

Wildlife Society Bulletin, Dec 1, 2017

Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly v... more Noninvasive, safe, quick marking of individual animals using distinctive colors that are highly visible and persistent is a valuable methodology, but practical techniques and permanent safe dyes are lacking. Here we describe a novel, remotely controlled dye machine to rapidly mark stationary animals in predictable locations, such as birds sitting on nests on the ground or mammals at a den or burrow site. From the month of June when birds were on eggs, using the machine, we spot-dyed 77 California least terns (Sternula antillarum browni) at a colony in California, USA, in 4 days without handling them. Concomitantly, we developed a suite of permanent (until molt or shedding), mainly phthalocyanine dyes that are incorporated chemically into feathers or fur of animals and cannot be preened or rubbed off, which have never been used before to dye animals. We found no toxicity of the dyes during in vivo testing over 1 month. This method of remote marking with permanent dyes should prove to be a useful method in animal ecology for distinguishing among individuals with minimal disturbance.

Ornis Scandinavica, 1990

... Influence of abiotic factors and prey distribution on diet and reproductive success of three ... more ... Influence of abiotic factors and prey distribution on diet and reproductive success of three seabird species in Alaska. ... The inner part of the strait is fairly shallow (3-19 m), but near Cathedral Island, the largest seabird colony, the depth is 130 m, allowing pursuit ... (A control plot for ...

The Condor, 1991

... 1981 la, 198 1b; Baird and Gould 1983) and are believed to be related to differences in energ... more ... 1981 la, 198 1b; Baird and Gould 1983) and are believed to be related to differences in energetic and nutrient demands of birds of different ages and repro-ductive status (Belopol'skii 1961), and to the costs and benefits due to the constraints of central place ... 1983, Houston 1987 ...

Vancouver Aquarium Lecture Series, 2015

Survey of Arctic Seabirds- summary of what the Arctic is, how it is changing, and detailed descri... more Survey of Arctic Seabirds- summary of what the Arctic is, how it is changing, and detailed descriptions of foraging and breeding strategies of 3 typical seabirds: Long-tailed jaegers, black-legged kittiwakes, and thick-billed murres. Further discussion on climate change, range expansion of seabirds, competition, and regime changes as oceans warm. Detailed discussion of thick-billed murres, dovekies, and black guillemots and how climate change has affected their foraging range, their prey, and their reproduction. Highlights of the "magic diatom" which is at the heart of the food web and which drives the system, and the dangers to the marine food web if marine diatoms are negatively affected by climate change.

Vancouver Aquarium, 2015

This public lecture encapsulates "What is the Arctic", "What are Seabirds", "How is climate chang... more This public lecture encapsulates "What is the Arctic", "What are Seabirds", "How is climate change affecting Arctic seabirds?" Examples of different foraging and reproductive strategies used by 3 species of Arctic seabirds are given, with lists of prey and detailed maps of breeding and wintering areas, and migration. Climate change and its effects on thick-billed murres, dovekies, and black guillemots are presented, and a key part of the food web, marine diatoms, are introduced as critical to the health of the marine ecosystem.