Census of total and breeding population of Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) colony on Strofades islands (Ionian Sea, Greece) (original) (raw)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Strofades Islands (37° 15’ N, 21° 00’ E) host a significant Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) colony, the largest in Greece. The total population on these two small islands (Stamfani and Arpyia), was estimated via coastal surveys by counting rafts which can comprise thousands of birds, 1-2 hours before dawn. Fieldwork involved three teams working simultaneously during the breeding seasons of 2009 and 2013. Total population size was estimated to be between 17,000 to 18,000 individuals whereas the population density on Stamfani and Arpyia were 3,068 inds and 2,723 inds per km of suitable nesting coastline respectively. The survey of the breeding population was based on assessing the Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS) in 30 square sampling units of 100 m2 each. Stratified sampling was made in 2009 after two nesting habitats of different quality were identified. The total breeding population was estimated from the density of nests (average over the sample units) and the size of the suitable nesting habitat of the colony, and was found about 5,587 pairs (C.I. 95%: 3,518 – 7,649), 3,585 pairs of which (C.I. 95%: 2,256 – 4,909) were on Stamfani Isl. and 2,002 pairs (C.I. 95%: 1.262 – 2.740) on Arpyia Isl.

Sinos Giokas hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let Sinos know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.