Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands Research Papers (original) (raw)

Every year and across the world, thousands of fledglings of different petrel species crash into human structures because they are disorientated by artificial lights during their first flights. As this phenomenon is rather predictable, rescue campaigns are organized to help birds to reach the ocean, but unfortunately, a low proportion gets hurt or dies. Despite the huge number of affected individuals, and the fact that the problem was detected a long time ago, little is known on this source of mortality. We have studied the factors (i.e. body condition, plumage development, fledging date and sex) influencing the mortality of Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea fledglings stranded inland due to light pollution in Tenerife (Canary Islands) during two consecutive breeding seasons (2009 and 2010). Late fledglings showed lower values of a body condition index than early ones. No sex biases were detected, neither considering stranded birds overall, nor for recovery dates or in the body condition of rescued fledglings. Our results indicate that late birds stranded by lights showing abundant down are more susceptible to fatal collisions and that the lights do not selectively kill birds with lower body condition indices. An enhancement of veterinary care should be done during the last part of the fledging period when more fatal collisions occur, especially focused on fledglings with abundant down. More research to determine why some individuals end up disoriented around artificial lights and others do not is urgently needed to minimize or prevent fallouts. bs_bs_banner Animal Conservation. Print

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- Environmental Education, Ornithology, Science Communication, Conservation Biology

The community of seabirds breeding in the lagoon of Venice, one of the largest around the Mediterranean, was monitored over the 1989-2013 period. Six species have been recorded (Larus michahellis, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Larus melanocephalus, Ster-nula albifrons, Sterna hirundo, Sterna sandvicensis). Over the study period, 346 colonies were surveyed; they were located on saltmarsh islets, dredge islands and other artificial sites, in descending order of importance. Beaches were used only at the beginning of the survey. About 4,900 pairs bred in the 2009-2013 years. The community has been always dominated by L. michahellis; in the 2009-2013, this species and S. sandvicensis comprised about 70% of the total. The long-term trends show moderate increase in the size of the whole community. Contrasting trends were observed in different species, with L. michahellis, S. albifrons and S. sandvicensis stable or increasing, whereas C. ridibundus and S. hirundo were declining. The number of pairs nesting on artificial sites increased over the last 15 years, while those on saltmarsh islets decreased correspondingly. This was possibly a response to the increase of mean sea level and storminess observed in the last twenty-five years. S. albifrons and S. sandvicensis populations reached national importance; the population of the latter species is noteworthy at a Mediterranean level.

We assessed the breeding success of Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) at the Pilot Hill site on St. Eustatius, particularly in relation to predation at the nest. We conducted weekly surveys during 2013-2014 and measured chick and adult morphometrics. Overall apparent hatching success was 64.6%, while apparent fledging success was 75.6%. We used cameras to document the presence of predators at nest sites and wax bait blocks to estimate rat density. Camera traps documented rats opportunistically scavenging eggs that were left unattended for even short periods of time. In total we documented nine predation events of eggs by rats at eight individual nesting cavities.

This paper treats the occurrence of a Zino's Petrel off the coast of North Carolina on 16 September 1995.

- by Edward Brinkley and +1
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- Ornithology, Marine Ornithology, Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands, Birds

RESUMEN. Se analiza la forma en que México aplica la normativa y otras estrategias de manejo, para la protección de los humedales costeros y aves de humedal de la Península de Yucatán según el Plan Estratégico Ramsar 2009-2015, específicamente en dos de sus estrategias. Se analiza los criterios de regulación de los Programas de Manejo de Áreas Naturales Protegidas y Ordenamientos Ecológicos Territoriales identificando los aspectos científicos robustos en los que se fundamentan, así como en sus deficiencias bajo el concepto de integridad ecológica. En los resultados se observa: a) la necesidad de homogenizar el uso del término integridad en los instrumentos legales, b) crear una estructura jerárquica espacial de estrategias de manejo que favorezca la conectividad, c) reforzar en la delimitación de áreas de amortiguamiento de humedales y hábitats críticos de aves, d) incorporar reglas que protejan la heterogeneidad biológica espacio-temporal, los procesos ecológicos y las redes tróficas, y e) diseñar un reglamento para la restauración de humedales. Se concluye que el escenario normativo aplicable a la conservación de estos ecosistemas en México es aún muy ineficiente y que es necesario incorporar una visión sistémica para proteger estos ecosistemas. Se incluyen además, nueve recomendaciones para su mejoramiento. Palabras clave: normatividad, humedales costeros, aves de humedal, Ramsar, Península de Yucatán. Implementation of the Ramsar strategic plan in coastal wetlands of the Península de Yucatán: regulations and normativity ABSTRACT. The way how Mexico applies the normative and other management strategies, regarding coastal wetland and wetlands birds conservation of the Península de Yucatán following the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2009-2015 is analyzed. Regulatory criteria within Management Programs of Natural Protected Areas and Ecologic Ordinance Instruments were analyzed identifying strengths and weaknesses under an ecological integrity concept. Results show the need to homogenize the concept of integrity within regulation, to develop a hierarchical spatial structure for management strategies. It will: a) promotes connectivity, b) strength the perception of buffer zones and critical habitats, c) emphasize in the protection of biologic heterogeneity in space and time, ecological processes and trophic networks and, develop regulation about wetland restoration. We conclude that current normative framework is still very inefficient and a systemic vision is required to protect these ecosystems. Nine suggestions to improve the current scenario are included.

Feral cats have had negative effects on native biodiversity on many islands worldwide. Eradicating feral cats from islands is often feasible, and can yield great benefits to native biodiversity, especially for seabirds. Corvo Island (Azores) is an important island where feral cats limit the distribution and abundance of breeding seabirds. To assess whether the eradication of feral cats on Corvo would be feasible we used camera traps to estimate the density of feral cats. We deployed 24 camera traps at 253 locations around the island for 14 months, and identified cats detected by camera traps individually based on the coat colour. We then used spatially-explicit capture recapture models to estimate cat density for Corvo. Cat density in the uninhabited upland part of Corvo, which is dominated by cow pastures, was 0.036 (95% CI 0.025 – 0.054) cats/ha. The lowland part of Corvo, which is inhabited by humans and contains domestic cats, had an estimated cat density of 0.734 (0.581 – 0.927) cats/ha. Overall, we estimated that the cat population on Corvo during our study period included 163 (123 - 228) individuals. The estimated cat densities are within the range of cat densities from other islands where cats have been successfully eradicated, and we conclude that feral cat eradication on Corvo would be technically feasible. However, the co-existence of feral and domestic cats would create operational challenges, and the current lack of a legal framework to ensure that all domestic cats are sterilised would increase the risk of a feral cat population becoming re-established after eradication.

- by Vanda M D Mendonca
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- Coral Reef Ecosystems, Coral Reefs, Desert Ecology, Lepidoptera

This paper treats the literature on the Trinidade/Herald Petrel complex as well as part of the specimen record in the United States. 33 pp.

Islands are bodies of land surrounded by water; albeit well connected via the waves of ocean, movements of people and flows of technology. Smallness is both aesthetically pleasing and intensely practical. There are increasing challenges for small islands in our connected planet with the added risk for some of mounting global warming. This conference welcomes the presentation of research and reflection to address the nature of islands from the past to the future, to achieve a better understanding of the uniqueness, connections, cultures, ethics, technologies, innovation and sustainability for the many possible futures of islands and archipelagos. Sub-themes proposed are as follows:

Human activities affect all trophic levels of marine food webs and threaten numerous species. The status of such populations can be assessed via monitoring of their size. However, in long-lived species as most marine top-predators, environmental stress upon a population only affects its size after several years. It has therefore been suggested that behavioural proxies such as foraging effort could be used to assess the short-term effects of environmental conditions on the well-being of a predator population. We demonstrate the potential of this approach in Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) from the Sept-Iles archipelago, France. This colony expanded rapidly for the past 60 years, and still grows faster than predicted from its size. However, using miniaturised GPS & Time-Depth recorders attached to 21 breeding adults, we show that their foraging effort (assessed in terms of foraging trip duration and diving frequency) is higher than that of their British relatives. Further parameters such as foraging path length, path sinuosity, maximum foraging range, flight speed, flight time, dive depth, dive duration, and diet were also recorded. Using these field data and energetics modelling we predict that Northern gannets breeding at the Sept-Iles will be highly sensitive to alterations of their foraging conditions. GPS-tracking indicates that birds from this colony forage exclusively within the Western English Channel, with a strong preference for the tidal front between Eastern and Western Channel waters, Northwest of Guernsey. This frontal zone attracts a wide range of marine organisms. It is also heavily fished, and a major oil spill hotspot. We conclude that the conservation of this marine area is critically important for Northern gannets breeding at the Sept-Iles.

The most common invasive mammals—mice, rats, and cats—have been introduced to islands around the world, where they continue to negatively affect native biodiversity. The eradication of those invasive mammals has had positive effects on many species of seabirds. However, the removal of one invasive mammal species may result in abundance changes of other species due to trophic and competitive interactions among species. Understanding the overall impact of several invasive species is a key challenge when evaluating the possible effects of eradication programmes. Here we assess the influence of the three most common invasive mammals on nest survival of Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea). We monitored six breeding colonies over 3 years and measured the activity of mice, rats and cats to examine the influence of invasive mammals on nest survival. We found that nest survival showed a similar temporal trend in all years, with lowest weekly survival probabilities shortly after chicks hatched. Cats were identified as major predators of chicks, but no measure of colony-specific cat activity was able to adequately explain variation in shearwater nest survival. Nest survival was on average 0.38 (95 % confidence interval 0.20–0.53) and varied among colonies as well as over time. We found a small positive influence of rats on nest survival, which may indicate that the presence of small rodents as alternative prey may reduce cat predation of chicks. Our findings suggest that the eradication of rodents alone may exacerbate the adverse effects of cats on shearwater nest survival.

- by Steffen Oppel
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- Conservation Biology, Invasive species ecology, Invasive Species, Seabirds

Coexistence of foraging seabirds and operating fisheries may result in interactions such as competition for the same prey resources. We used GIS-based modelling at a scale of 0.5 × 0.5°spatial cells to: (1) map the foraging distribution of seabirds; (2) predict their annual food consumption rates in a spatially explicit manner; and (3) estimate a spatially explicit seabird -fisheries overlap index. Information on population size, diet composition and foraging attributes of 351 seabird species was compiled into a Microsoft Access database. Global annual food consumption by seabirds was estimated to be 96.4 million tonnes (95% CI: 78.0 to 114.7 million tonnes), compared with a total catch of nearly 120 million tonnes by all marine fisheries. Krill and cephalopods comprised over 58% of the overall food consumed and fish most of the remainder. The families Procellariidae (albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters) and Spheniscidae (penguins) were responsible for over 54% of the overall food consumption. Seabird foraging distribution maps revealed that areas around New Zealand, the eastern Australian coast, and the sub-Antarctic islands had high species richness. However, temperate and polar regions supported high seabird densities and most food extracted by seabirds originated there. Furthermore, maps of food consumption rates revealed that most food consumed by seabirds was extracted from offshore rather than nearshore waters and from areas where seabird -fisheries overlap was low. The resource overlap maps identified 'hotspots' of highest potential for conflict between fisheries and seabirds. Thus, this study may provide useful insight when developing management approaches for designing offshore marine conservation areas.

- by Reg Watson
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- Fisheries, Marine Conservation, Fisheries Management, Seabirds

The overall objective of this study was to understand the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance, diversity, richness and distributionof small mammals, and in Wildlife Management Areas of the Ruvuma landscape: Mbarang’andu, Kimbanda, Kisungule in Namtumbo District and Nalika and Chingoli in Tunduru District. The survey was conducted using standard live Sherman trap (23 x 8 x 9 cm) andplastic bucket pitfall traps (33.3cm high x 30cm diameter). A total of 187 individual small mammals were captured, including 17 species in 16 genera and five families. Chingoli had the least number of species with five species while Kimbanda accommodated the highest number of species (with 10), closely followed by Kisungule with 9 species. Species diversity was significantly different between areas of high and low anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore we suggest that human resources and funds should be available to safe guard from any environmental degradation for the benefit of present ...

- by Asukile Kajuni and +1
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- Geography, Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands, Butterfly ecology, Diversity of Birds Species

Determining the form of key predator-prey relationships is critical for understanding marine ecosystem dynamics. Using a comprehensive global database, we quantified the effect of fluctuations in food abundance on seabird breeding success. We identified a threshold in prey (fish and krill, termed "forage fish") abundance below which seabirds experience consistently reduced and more variable productivity. This response was common to all seven ecosystems and 14 bird species examined within the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. The threshold approximated one-third of the maximum prey biomass observed in long-term studies. This provides an indicator of the minimal forage fish biomass needed to sustain seabird productivity over the long term.

- by Lynne Shannon
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- Ethnoarchaeology, Nonparametric Statistics, Reproduction, Fisheries

This paper treats observation of a Bulwer's Petrel in Chesapeake Bay 2 September 2006 following the passage of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

Tra il 1989 e il 2013 sono state censite le colonie di Laridi e Sternidi presenti in laguna di Venezia, valli da pesca escluse. Le specie nidificanti sono passate da tre fino al 1994 a cinque negli ultimi anni del periodo di indagine. Sono state censite in media 1.469 coppie (DS= +275,6), con un minimo di 1.041 nel 2002 e un massimo di 2.303 nel 1995. Il tasso di variazione annuo è risultato nei 25 anni (T25) pari allo 0,2%, mentre per gli ultimi dieci anni (T10) è stato dell’1%. I rispettivi trend sono classificabili come “stabile” e “incerto”. Escludendo il gabbiano corallino, di insediamento troppo recente, le quattro specie evidenziano questi andamenti: per il gabbiano comune “declino moderato” in entrambi i periodi (-8% annuo); per la sterna comune “declino moderato”, con T25 pari a -7% e T10 pari a -10%; per il fraticello, rispettivamente “incerto” (T25= +5,6%) e “moderato incremento” (T10= +11,6%); per il beccapesci, in entrambi i periodi trend “incerto”, pur con incrementi annui pari al 6% (T25) e al 2,5% (T10). Le colonie erano ubicate su barene naturali e, a partire dalla metà degli anni duemila, su barene artificiali; negli ultimi anni quest’ultima tipologia è risultata sempre più importante per la nidificazione. A fronte di una complessiva stabilità nelle dimensioni, la comunità monitorata ha denotato un aumento della diversità nel corso degli anni e una prevalenza del beccapesci a scapito della sterna comune. L’utilizzo sempre più frequente di siti di origine artificiale è una probabile risposta adattativa all’aumento del livello medio marino registrato in laguna.

Plastic ingestion by adult Procellariiformes has been widely recorded, but few studies have evaluated intergenerational transfer. We assessed the prevalence of plastic particles, as well as their basic characteristics, in the gut content of dead Cory's shearwater fledglings stranded by light pollution on Canary Islands. Eighty-three percent of birds were affected, containing on average 8.0 plastic pieces per bird. The average plastic weight per bird was low (2.97 ± 3.97 mg) compared with other petrel species. We found no relationships between plastic loads and body condition or body size, but negative effects may be hidden or delayed. We propose to use the fledglings stranded by light pollution to carry out more precise studies to understand the potential hidden costs of plastic ingestion; and to monitor in a long-term the marine debris to develop management actions for the control of pollution at the marine environment.

ALVES; SOARES; COUTO; EFE; . Aves Marinhas de Abrolhos-Bahia -p. 213 -232 Seabirds of Abrolhos Archipelago, Bahia State, Brazil. Abrolhos Archipelago is composed of five islands, situated 35 miles off the southeastern coast of Bahia state. Thirty-eight species of birds, among residents and visitants were registered; seven marine species breed in the area: Sula dactylatra, Sula leucogaster, Fregata magnificens, Phaethon aethereus, Phaethon lepturus, Anous stolidus and Sterna fuscata. In this chapter we give information about diet of the two boobies species, occurrence and breeding of P. lepturus and some results of incubation experiments in S. dactylatra nests, using artificial eggs. Regurgitated samples from S. leucogaster and S. dactylatra were collected and analyzed. The two species diets were analyzed by frequency of occurrence, numeric and volumetric methods. Ten families of fishes and one of squid were found in thirty S. dactylatra samples. The more common families of fishes were Exocoetidae and Clupeidae. Five families of fishes were found in seventeen S. leucogaster samples, the more common one was Exocoetidae. It seems that both species compete only partially, being S. dactylatra diet more diversified. The index of relative importance (IRI) revealed that Opisthonema oglinum and Hemiramphus brasiliensis were the most important items in the diet of S. dactylatra, while Hemiramphus brasiliensis was the most important in the S. leucogaster diet. In January 1992, the first White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus was caught in Abrolhos; it had fresh plumage and a yellow bill. The same month, a second bird was caught in a nest incubating one egg; it had a dark-orange bill. As the only other known Brazilian population breeds in Fernando de Noronha and is yellow billed, Abrolhos individuals may represent another population. However, the actual significance of bill color is unclear. Some behavioral experiments regarding incubation have been done in nests of masked boobies (Sula dactylatra) on Santa Barbara Island in the Abrolhos Archipelago. Plaster objects of different shapes, sizes and colors have been placed in the nests with the aim to observe attempts to gather and/or incubate the artificial eggs. In each experiment the bird was taken away from its nest and its eggs were placed on the edge of the nest together with the false egg. ALVES, V. S.; SOARES, A. B. A.; COUTO, G. S.; EFE, M. A.; RIBEIRO, A. B. B. 2004. Aves marinhas de Abrolhos. p. 213-232 in Aves marinhas e insulares brasileiras: bioecologia e conservação (Organizado por Joaquim Olinto Branco). Editora da UNIVALI, Itajaí, SC.

The overall objective of this study was to understand the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance, diversity, richness and distributionof small mammals, and in Wildlife Management Areas of the Ruvuma landscape: Mbarang'andu, Kimbanda, Kisungule in Namtumbo District and Nalika and Chingoli in Tunduru District. The survey was conducted using standard live Sherman trap (23 x 8 x 9 cm) andplastic bucket pitfall traps (33.3cm high x 30cm diameter). A total of 187 individual small mammals were captured, including 17 species in 16 genera and five families. Chingoli had the least number of species with five species while Kimbanda accommodated the highest number of species (with 10), closely followed by Kisungule with 9 species. Species diversity was significantly different between areas of high and low anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore we suggest that human resources and funds should be available to safe guard from any environmental degradation for the benefit of present and future generation.

- by Joseph Nkwabi and +1
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- Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands, Butterfly ecology, Diversity of Birds Species, Diet of birds

Townsend’s shearwater (Puffinus auricularis auricularis) is an endangered seabird endemic to the Revillagigedo Archipelago. It nested on Socorro, Clarion, and San Benedicto Islands. It was extirpated by the Barcena volcano on San Benedicto in 1952, and there are no recent indications of nesting. Introduced mammals—pigs and rabbits—preyed on them and destroyed habitat at Clarion; shearwaters were extirpated by 1988, and no breeding attempts have been reported since. Our results confirm that Socorro holds the last breeding grounds. We found breeding colonies above 800 m and a minimum population of 1100 individuals. This represents a significant reduction in distribution and population size. Intensive cat predation at Socorro could potentially kill ca. 350 females per season, and sheep progressively destroy nesting areas. Population projections suggest that demographic instability could occur in less than 100 years under severe predation and habitat degradation. Only low predation rates would allow population persistence for more than 150 years in spite of a declining population. Thus, the immediate eradication of all introduced mammals is necessary to prevent the extinction of this seabird.

The middle age classes of albatrosses are the most productive, yet exhibit great variation in reproductive success. In the absence of individual lifetime reproductive success, nine years of breeding history from a Marion Island study colony of Grey-headed Albatrosses Thalassarche chrysostoma, was used as a proxy for quality. Individuals and pairs were classified according to breeding experience and success. Breeding behaviours in the 2006/07 breeding season were documented and investigated according to experience: experience counted. Males arrived significantly earlier, in significantly better body condition and attended significantly more during the pre-laying period than females. Experience led to earlier and more synchronous male arrival in better body condition. Successful experience meant earlier arrival for both sexes as well as increased male attendance. Earlier male arrival and persistence may improve the likelihood of partner reunion, reduce cuckoldry and provide opportunities for extra-pair copulations (14.4% of observed copulations). Philandering reduced breeding success and was linked to experience as naïve birds philandered most and had the lowest breeding success. Pairs with successful breeding histories laid earlier within a highly synchronised laying period (17 d). Breeding success increased with experience and failure for experienced females was more likely at the earlier egg rather than chick stage. These results were similar to the T. chrysostoma study colony on Bird Island, South Georgia, although timing was earlier due to a lower latitude and different ocean basin.

- by Morgan Commins
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- Marine Biology, Ornithology, Marine Ecology, Marine Conservation

Swains Island is an uninhabited 210 ha former copra plantation 360 km North of American Samoa. The island, dominated with coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), was last surveyed in 1976. The goal of this 17-26 September 2012 survey was to identify the bird species present, and document relative abundance, distribution, and breeding activity across the island. Two shoreline surveys recorded a seabird community dominated by Black Noddy (Anous minutus), White Tern (Gygis alba), and Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), while the reef flat community was dominated by Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) and Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana). Inland surveys revealed four roosting or breeding species, including Black Noddy, White Tern, Brown Noddy, and Red-footed Booby (Sula sula). Seabird densities were highest in the northwest section of the island, furthest from former settlements. Although feral pigs (Sus scrofa) were recently eradicated, feral cats (Felis cattus) remain present, and Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) were observed over all island sections, likely posing threats to seabird populations. Predator control and restoration of preferred nesting tree species would likely increase seabird populations.

Visible light on Earth largely comes from the sun, including light
reflected from the moon. Predation risk is strongly determined by light conditions, and some animals are nocturnal to reduce predation. Artificial lights and its consequent light pollution may disrupt this natural behavior. Here, we used 13 years of
attendance data to study the effects of sun, moon, and artificial light on the attendance pattern of a nocturnal seabird, the little penguin Eudyptula minor at Phillip Island, Australia. The little penguin is the smallest and the only penguin species whose activity on land is strictly nocturnal. Automated monitoring systems recorded individually marked penguins every time they arrived (after sunset) at or departed (before sunrise) from 2 colonies under different lighting conditions: natural night skylight and artificial lights (around 3 lux) used to enhance penguin viewing for ecotourism around sunset. Sunlight had a strong effect on attendance as penguins arrived on average around 81 min after sunset and departed around 92 min before sunrise. The effect of moonlight was also strong, varying according to moon phase. Fewer penguins came ashore during full moon nights. Moon phase effect was stronger on departure than arrival times. Thus, during nights between full moon and last quarter, arrival times (after sunset) were delayed, even though moonlight levels were low, while departure times (before sunrise) were earlier, coinciding with high moonlight levels. Cyclic patterns of moon effect were slightly out of phase but significantly between 2 colonies, which could be due to site-specific differences or presence/absence of artificial lights. Moonlight could be overridden by artificial light at our artificially lit colony, but the similar amplitude of attendance patterns between colonies suggests that artificial light did not mask the
moonlight effect. Further research is indeed necessary to understand how seabirds respond to the increasing artificial night light levels.

- by Airam Rodríguez Martín and +1
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- Ornithology, Animal Behavior, Australia, Seabirds

The Central Coast Marine Bird Health Study enhanced response capabilities during unusual mortality events in support of OSPR oil spill response and established a regional information center for federal, state, and local resource managers for issues regarding marine bird health. During three years of the CDFG-OSPR SSEP sponsored Seabird Health Study, we systematically quantified human-related and natural causes of mortality based on field studies and lab necropsies (2005, n = 157; 2006, n = 302; 2007, n = 390) and found that although natural mortality factors comprised a significant proportion of determined cases (68%), anthropogenic causes of morbidity and mortality such as chronic oiling, trauma, and fishery interactions continue to be considerable (~15%). Nearshore species (grebes, loons, surf scoters) were more frequently impacted by harmful algal blooms compared with offshore species (murres, shearwaters). We characterized the demography of several unusual mortality events increasing the understanding of causes behind seabird wrecks in the area, including those affecting phalaropes, puffins, fulmars and others. In addition to routine necropsies, we examined post-litigation samples from three past oil spill events: 1997 Kure (n = 602), 1999 Stuyvesant (n = 334), and the 2001-02 San Mateo Mystery Spill (n= 169, aka Luckenbach). We found demographic differences among Common Murres collected during these spill events related to the season and phenology of this species. Winter spills affected mainly adults (60 to 63%) and late summer spill affected significantly more chick-rearing males (15:1 sex ratio). These results provide important information to determine appropriate mitigation measures for effective wildlife restoration. We also provided the CDFG- Petroleum Chemistry Lab with 109 oiled feather samples to help identify non-point source spills and aid in OSPR’s natural resources damage assessment (NRDA) process.

- by Elizabeth M. Phillips and +1
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- Seabirds, Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands

Shoreline habitats of the Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) have been affected by increased human disturbance leading to a considerable contraction in breeding range, and they are increasingly restricted to a small number of large intensively wardened colonies. Increased concentration at such sites has the potential to exacerbate the impact of depredation on overall colony breeding success. To minimise the impact of depredation by corvids, wardens at Kilcoole Little Tern colony (County Wicklow) have employed a strategy of fostering eggs abandoned by the parents of partially depredated nests, into other nests with the same incubation schedule. Fostering attempts in 2011 led to the successful hatching and rearing of two chicks by foster parents, while three chicks were reared using the same methods in 2014. This is apparently the first time this strategy has been employed with a member of the family Sternidae. Fostering eggs in this way from partially depredated nests may be a useful conservation management strategy, particularly for very rare species.

- by Stephen Newton and +2
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- Marine Biology, Conservation Biology, Conservation, Marine Ecology

Dating the subsidence history of the North Atlantic Land Bridge (NALB) is crucial for understanding intercontinental disjunctions of northern temperate trees. Traditionally, the NALB has been assumed to have functioned as a corridor for plant migration only during the early Cenozoic, but recent fi ndings of plant fossils and inferences from molecular studies are challenging this view. Here, we report dispersed pollen of Quercus from Late Miocene sediments in Iceland that shows affi nities with extant northern hemispheric white oaks and North American red oaks. Older (15 to 10 Ma) sediments do not contain pollen of Quercus suggesting it arrived after that time. Pollen from the 9 -8 Ma Hr ú tagil locality is indistinguishable from morphotypes common among white and red oaks. In contrast, pollen from the 5.5 Ma Sel á rgil locality has a tectum that is at present confi ned to North American white and red oaks, indicating a second episode of migration to Iceland. These fi ndings suggest that transatlantic migration of temperate plant taxa may not have been limited by vast areas of sea or by cold climates during the Miocene. Furthermore, our results offer a plausible explanation for the remarkably low degree of genetic differentiation between modern disjunct European and North American oaks.

- by Friðgeir Grímsson
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- Palaeoclimatology, Plant Ecology, Climate Change, Pacific Island Studies

Population size assessments for nocturnal burrow-nesting seabirds are logistically challenging because these species are active in colonies only during darkness and often nest on remote islands where manual inspections of breeding burrows are not feasible. Many seabird species are highly vocal, and recent technological innovations now make it possible to record and quantify vocal activity in seabird colonies. Here we test the hypothesis that remotely recorded vocal activity in Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis) breeding colonies in the North Atlantic increases with nest density, and combined this relationship with cliff habitat mapping to estimate the population size of Cory’s shearwaters on the island of Corvo (Azores). We deployed acoustic recording devices in 9 Cory’s shearwater colonies of known size to establish a relationship between vocal activity and local nest density (slope = 1.07, R2 = 0.86, p < 0.001). We used this relationship to predict the nest density in various cliff habitat types and produced a habitat map of breeding cliffs to extrapolate nest density around the island of Corvo. The mean predicted nest density on Corvo ranged from 6.6 (2.1–16.2) to 27.8 (19.5–36.4) nests/ha. Extrapolation of habitat-specific nest densities across the cliff area of Corvo resulted in an estimate of 6326 Cory’s shearwater nests (95% confidence interval: 3735–10,524). This population size estimate is similar to previous assessments, but is too imprecise to detect moderate changes in population size over time. While estimating absolute population size from acoustic recordings may not be sufficiently precise, the strong positive relationship that we found between local nest density and recorded calling rate indicates that passive acoustic monitoring may be useful to document relative changes in seabird populations over time.

- by Airam Rodriguez
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- Ornithology, Biology, Marine Conservation, MARINE POLLUTION

Information on the Mediterranean breeding population of the Lesser Crested Tern has increased steadily during the last five years, as a result of a regular monitoring and ringing program initiation by the Libyan authorities at the species breeding sites off the Libyan coast. As a priority species of the Mediterranean Seabirds Action Plan (coordinated by RAC/SPA) and the Mediterranean Small Island Initiative (PIM), updated and available information has been compiled in a form of a species monograph, dealing with both breeding and stop-over sites. A new breeding site was added. Sightings of Mediterranean-ringed birds were obtained along the north-west African migration route and at wintering areas in West Africa. Basic information on the ecology and biology of the species (nest shape, nesting habitat description, feeding behaviour and diet information) was included. Population trends and conservation status were assessed for the Mediterranean population, with emphasis on proposed conservation actions required to maintain the stability of the population size at the small islands in Libya.

The low desert plains of the Persian Gulf are located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. This ecosystem includes a stretch of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coastline at Abu Dhabi, the island of Bahrain, the coastline of Qatar, parts of Kuwait, and parts of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia extending up to the Rub’al-Khali Desert. The region is marked by red-brown sandy mounds and sparse vegetation. It is an important stopover for the birds traveling to Asia and Africa. Overgrazing, poaching, and oil spills are some of the major threats to the bird population.

—We examined 135 specimens and analyzed 1,735 captures of indigenous American Samoan landbirds, of nine target species in seven families, to document molt patterns, assess the extent of molt-breeding overlap, and present criteria to determine age. Preformative molts varied from absent to complete, and there was no confirmed evidence for prealternate molts. Molt strategies, age-determination criteria, and remigial replacement sequences were largely consistent with those of other temperate and tropical bird species within the same families. Suspended and/or arrested molts were recorded in seven species and staffelmauser or stepwise molt in two species, including the first report in a passerine. Our data suggest that staffelmauser and suspension of molt in passerines may share a common underlying mechanism. Despite broad overlap of breeding and molting seasons at the population level, we observed little evidence of molt-breeding overlap at the individual level. We suggest that molt and accompanying restoration processes may take precedence over breeding, as indicated by well-defined molting seasons despite apparent year-round or bi-modal breeding in some of our species. Tropical landbird species appear to be capable of suspending molt to breed when environmental conditions shift to facilitate successful reproduction.

- by Nicola Arcilla and +1
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- Island Biogeography, Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands

This paper treats observation and identification of an immature Black-browed Albatross off the coast of Virginia 6 February 1999.

Long-term demographic studies have recently shown that global climate change together with increasing direct impacts of human activities, such as fisheries, are affecting the population dynamics of marine top predators. However, the effects of these factors on species distribution and abundance at sea are still poorly understood, particularly in marine ecosystems of the southern hemisphere. Using a unique long-term data set of at-sea observations, we tested for interdecadal (1980s vs. 2000s) changes in summer abundance and distribution of 12 species of Albatrosses and Petrels along a 301 latitudinal gradient between tropical and Antarctic waters of the southern Indian Ocean. There were contrasting effects of climate change on subantarctic seabird distribution and abundance at sea. While subtropical waters showed the highest rate of warming, the species that visited this water mass showed the greatest changes in distribution and abundance. The abundance of Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans), White-chinned Petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis) and Giant Petrels (Macronectes sp.) declined markedly, whereas the other species showed contrasting trends or did not change. With the exception of the White-chinned Petrel, these decreases were at least partly related to regional increase in sea surface temperature. The southward shift of Wandering Albatross and Prions (Pachyptila spp.) distributions could be ascribed to species redistribution or decrease in abundance due to warming of the subtropical waters. Surprisingly, White-chinned Petrel distribution shifted northward, suggesting more complex mechanisms. This study is the first to document a shift in species range in the Southern Ocean related to climate change and contrasting abundance changes. It suggests that some species might experience more severe impacts from climate change depending on the water masses they visit. As climate changes are predicted to continue in the next decades, understanding species responses to climate change is crucial for conservation management, especially when their conservation status is critical or unknown.

- by Matthieu Authier and +1
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- Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands

The coastline of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) is used annually as a migratory route by a number of seabird species. Thirteen surveys were carried out between July 1997 and July 1998 to obtain information on the diet of PuYnus gravis, PuYnus griseus, and PuYnus puYnus along the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. Sampling eVorts focused on dead beach-cast specimens. One hundred twenty-one stomach content analyses were performed on P. gravis from a total of 238 specimens; 17 stomach content analyses were performed on P. griseus from a total of 54 specimens; and 25 stomach content analyses were performed on 25 P. puYnus from a total of 61 dead specimens. Cephalopods were the main prey found in the stomachs of the three species and were present in 96% of the P. gravis stomachs. The following cephalopods were observed: Ommastrephidae, Gonatus antarcticus, Gonatus sp., Lycoteuthis lorigera, Lycoteuthis sp., Histioteuthis sp., Cycloteuthis sp., Loligo plei, Loligo sanpaulensis, Sepiidae, and Argonauta nodosa. The latter was the most abundant species in the three species of PuYnus. The following Wsh were identiWed from otoliths: Porichthys porosissimus, Ctenosciaena gracilicirrhus, Paralonchurus brasiliensis, Cynoscion guatucupa, and Trichiurus lepturus. There was also a high incidence of synthetic materials such as plastic, polyethylene and rubber. Communicated by P.W. Sammarco.

- by Jaqueline Brummelhaus and +2
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- Marine Biology, Migration, Seabirds, Biological Sciences
- by John Piatt
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- Ethnoarchaeology, Nonparametric Statistics, Reproduction, Fisheries

This paper treats seven species of gadfly petrel (Pterodroma) documented in the western North Atlantic as of 1998. Birding World 11: 341-354.

This paper treats the identification and distribution of Bermuda Petrel, or Cahow.

- by Edward Brinkley and +1
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- Ornithology, Marine Ornithology, Seabirds, Endangered Species

Hatuta‘a (or Hatutu) is a small, remote, uninhabited island located in
the northern Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) that supports a rich seabird
assemblage of at least 15 breeding species and four landbird species, including
the largest population of the rare Marquesas Ground Dove Gallicolumba rubescens.
We present data collected from 1922 to 2010 on the breeding birds of Hatuta‘a and
discuss the influence of a severe drought, observed in 2010, on their distribution
and abundance. Numbers of Marquesas Ground Doves and Northern Marquesas
Reed Warblers Acrocephalus percernis appear to fluctuate according to wet and dry
periods that markedly affect the vegetation.

- by Fred JACQ and +2
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- Pacific Island Studies, Birds (Ecology), Seabirds, Conservation Biology and Ecology of Seabirds and Islands

The secretive breeding behaviour of petrels makes monitoring their breeding populations challenging. To assess population trends of Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria bulwerii and Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli in Tenerife from 1990 to 2010, we used data from rescue campaigns that aim to reduce the mortality of fledgling petrels attracted to artificial lights as proxies for trends in breeding population size. Despite increases in human population size and light pollution, the number of rescued fledglings of Cory's Shearwater and Bulwer's Petrel increased and remained stable, respectively, whereas numbers of rescued Macaronesian Shearwaters sharply declined. In the absence of more accurate population estimates, these results suggest a worrying decline in the Macaronesian Shearwater's breeding population.

- by Airam Rodriguez
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- Information Systems, Geography, Environmental Education, Ornithology

The overall objective of this study was to understand the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance, diversity, richness and distributionof small mammals, and in Wildlife Management Areas of the Ruvuma landscape: Mbarang'andu, Kimbanda, Kisungule in Namtumbo District and Nalika and Chingoli in Tunduru District. The survey was conducted using standard live Sherman trap (23 x 8 x 9 cm) andplastic bucket pitfall traps (33.3cm high x 30cm diameter). A total of 187 individual small mammals were captured, including 17 species in 16 genera and five families. Chingoli had the least number of species with five species while Kimbanda accommodated the highest number of species (with 10), closely followed by Kisungule with 9 species. Species diversity was significantly different between areas of high and low anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore we suggest that human resources and funds should be available to safe guard from any environmental degradation for the benefit of pres...

To investigate the influence of insularity on plant reproductive biology at a local geographic scale, we examined aspects of reproduction in distylous Primula mistassinica Michx. (Primulaceae) on Lake Huron shorelines of the Bruce Peninsula and adjacent Tobermory Islands in Ontario, Canada. A total of 7 mainland and 13 nearshore island populations were compared. Controlled pollinations demonstrated that P. mistassinica possesses a dimorphic incompatibility system with intermorph crosses setting significantly more seeds than self or intramorph crosses. Floral morphology, population style-morph ratios, and seed fertility were compared in mainland and nearshore island populations to determine whether there was evidence for differences in reproductive traits between these areas. Style-morph ratios did not differ significantly from equilibrium expectations, and there were no consistent differences between island and mainland populations in floral morphology or fertility. Rather, the generalized pollination system of P. mistassinica and extensive historical opportunities for colonization appear to have mitigated insular effects so that proximate ecological factors are more relevant to the current reproductive biology of populations.

- by Brendon Larson
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- Plant Biology, Pollination, Pollination ecology, Reproductive Biology

Between 1961 and 1999 the number of adult sooty shearwaters found dead on beaches in northern New Zealand declined by about 64.4% and the number of fledglings by about 77.7%. Only 2 factors that we know about have been acting on the sooty shearwater population during the period studied and could have caused such a dramatic decline; a rise in sea temperature perhaps as a result of movement of the Sub-Antarctic Front and increase in harvest. Two other more recent phenomena, north Pacific fisheries mortality and ...