Articles tagged with Seabirds
A global study found that seabird populations have dropped by 69.6% since the 1950s, equivalent to a loss of about 230 million birds in 60 years. This decline is largely attributed to human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change.
Researchers found that Elegant Terns have expanded their breeding range from the Gulf of California into Southern California, driven by declining productivity in the Gulf. The study suggests that ocean warming and overfishing are causing ecological collapse in the region.
The study found that between 30-47% of Balearic shearwater colonies are exposed to high levels of light pollution, posing a significant threat to the species. The researchers recommend establishing rescue campaigns specifically for emancipation periods to reduce mortality rates among these endangered seabirds.
Researchers analyzed ancient specimens, revealing open oceanic habitats for newborn mosasaurs. Contrary to classic suggestions, findings suggest eggs were not laid on beaches, and newborns likely did not live in sheltered nearshore nurseries.
A new analysis of seven years of bird sightings by volunteer birdwatchers found increasing trends for 14 species, including cormorants and harlequin ducks. The study suggests that these birds may be turning the corner, with positive trends also reported in nesting surveys.
Researchers found a strong correlation between Northern Hemisphere seabird diversity and environmental stressors, with puffins and auks serving as indicator species. The study suggests that climate change has shaped the geographic distribution and population size of existing species over the past 5 million years.
Long-lived diving birds experience declining blood oxygen stores, resting metabolism, and thyroid hormone levels with age. Despite these physiological changes, their diving performance remains unchanged.
Researchers found that fishing boats affect seabird behavior across a vast distance of up to 22 kilometers. Gannets were drawn to the abundance of discards and boat activity rather than driftwood or idle vessels.
Researchers tracked northern gannets' movement and behaviour using GPS devices, finding that fishing vessels influence their distribution and foraging patterns. The study suggests each boat can significantly impact seabirds within a 22km diameter circle surrounding it.
A simple bird scaring line, costing $200, can significantly reduce seabird mortality rates, particularly for albatrosses. The study found a 95% reduction in albatross deaths and a 73-95% lower mortality rate with the introduction of bird scaring lines.
A new approach to estimate seabird populations uses sound recordings to monitor colony size. Researchers set up recorders on remote islands in the North Atlantic and developed an algorithm to automatically count seabird calls, resulting in a more accurate population estimate.
A new analysis reveals the scope of by-catch in various regions, with high rates found in the eastern Pacific, Mediterranean, southwest Atlantic, and Southern Indian oceans. The study emphasizes the importance of community engagement and data-driven approaches to mitigate by-catch, particularly in less-regulated small-scale fisheries.
Phytoplankton release dimethyl sulfide, a chemical signal that attracts krill-eating birds, while also promoting cloud formation. This connection highlights the importance of marine top predators in regulating climate.
Researchers are tracking the movements of 10 Great Shearwater seabirds in the Gulf of Maine using satellite tags, providing insights into ecosystem health and food supply changes. The birds' feeding habits and reactions to changes in their primary food source, sand lance, will inform conservation efforts.
Researchers found that northern gannets avoid visiting neighboring colonies' fishing grounds, suggesting a mathematical explanation rather than territorial behavior. The birds follow specific patterns and routes to find food opportunities, reinforcing cultural transmission within their colonies.
Researchers used 'ethoinformatics' to analyze three years of migration data from miniature tracking devices attached to Manx Shearwater seabirds, revealing complex patterns of rest, flight, and foraging during migration. The study found that birds spent less time foraging in winter and more at rest in the southern hemisphere.
Researchers found that swallow-tailed gulls hunt most often under a new moon, when fish come to the surface under cover of darkness. The lunar cycle also influences the behavior of various marine species, including fish and squid.
Scientists warn that a discard ban may negatively affect seabirds that have come to rely on fish waste from fishing vessels. A study found that 42% of northern gannets targeted fishing vessels for food, highlighting the need for sufficient forage fish to meet their needs.
Researchers found significant influence of seabird activity on methane and nitrous oxide emissions in the Arctic tundra, contributing to global warming. Meanwhile, a new assessment reveals U.S. cities are less susceptible to water scarcity issues than previously thought.
Scientists have developed a new method for studying parasite numbers in individual seabirds in the wild, using endoscopy. The technique found that all birds had parasites ranging from low burdens of several worms to high burdens of over 40 worms, with higher burdens in males and late breeders.
Researchers tracked emperor penguin behavior near sea and found they spent 30% of their time at sea resting on ice, which may help avoid predators. The study's monitoring technique will aid in understanding the relationship between sea ice conditions and penguins' foraging habits
A study from the University of Leeds found that seabirds control when their young leave home through hormone levels corticosterone, not parental care. Chicks show a surge in this hormone 60 days before fledging, prompting parents to reduce food provisioning.
A new NOAA study helps New York state officials identify favorable wind energy development sites while protecting critical bird and fish habitats. The report provides a valuable tool for coastal managers to better understand the interactions between renewable energy development and natural resources.
Research reveals that most seabirds are free of malaria parasites, but certain groups like frigatebirds and birds with longer fledgling periods are more susceptible. Climate conditions do play a role, but not as expected, with warmer temperatures increasing rates of infection.
Researchers tracked increases in methylmercury levels in black-footed albatross feathers over 120 years, attributing them to human-generated emissions. The study highlights the importance of conservation efforts in the Pacific Ocean, where mercury pollution poses a significant threat to endangered seabird species and human health.
Researchers developed new models to predict seabird bycatch, using remotely sensed data to project where birds and boats are likely to intersect. The models demonstrate potential for improved conservation efforts in predicting bird habitats.
Researchers found lower MIF mercury isotopes in eggs from northernmost nesting areas with year-round sea ice, while those from southern Alaska without ice reflected greater mass-independent fractionation effects. The study aims to investigate the relationship between ice cover and mercury distribution in the environment.
A new study found that kittiwake's summer breeding performance affects their winter distribution, with failed breeders migrating over 3000km to Canada. Successful breeders remained closer to Britain.
A new species of small fish, the bearded goby, has been found to eat jellyfish and thrive in an oxygen-depleted zone off the coast of southwest Africa. This unexpected predator-prey relationship puts jellyfish back into the food cycle.
Researchers at Harvard University reveal a two-step process that creates a ring of smaller bubbles when a large bubble bursts. The curved nature of the bubble plays a critical role in this phenomenon, which has been observed in various environments and materials.
A Queen's University study found that Arctic seabirds' diets can funnel toxic ocean metals to terrestrial ecosystems, affecting other organisms. The research analyzed sediment cores from two Canadian Arctic ponds and linked bird diets to specific metal contaminants.
Scientists analyzed eagle bone and feather remains to determine their diet from 20,000-30,000 years ago. The study found that eagles primarily fed on seabirds before humans introduced sheep, providing a critical understanding for successful reintroduction to the Channel Islands.
A team of scientists predicts that warmer temperatures in the Arctic will create challenges for seabirds' nesting habits. The study found that increasing storm events, heavy fog, and wet snow will impact birds adapted to cold, dry summers, making them more susceptible to mortality.
Researchers at University of Leeds assess the impact of a proposed EU fishing discard ban on North Sea gannet success. Gannets have developed specialized feeding habits, with some relying heavily on discards, making a ban potentially harmful to their breeding.
Researchers discovered that thin-billed prions visit the Antarctic waters for 90% of their molting period, while some individuals moulting further north off South America's coast. This flexibility allows them to adapt to unpredictable weather conditions and survive in vast ocean areas.
The Pew Environment Group announced five individuals receiving the 2010 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation to address pressing challenges in ocean conservation. The Fellows will focus on projects such as reducing seabird bycatch, protecting coral reefs, and enhancing shellfish management.
A recent scientific conference highlighted the effects of unseasonal summer storms on UK marine life, including a surge in deadly jellyfish and rare seabird sightings. The event brought together representatives from various sectors to discuss conservation measures and environmental change.
Seabirds face an 'energetic bottleneck' in winter, struggling to find enough food to survive harsh conditions. The study suggests that the birds' high energy demands may be too much to handle, leading to catastrophic losses during the winter months.
A new study reveals that the decline of sea otters in Alaska's Aleutian Islands has led to a shift in bald eagle diet, from fish to seabirds. This change highlights the extraordinary complexity of marine ecosystems and the far-reaching impacts of population shifts in keystone species.
A recent study reveals that seabirds are a significant source of nitrogen in remote coastal ecosystems, contributing to eutrophication and acidification. The research found varying emissions between seabird species, with bare ground nesters producing more ammonia than burrow nesters.
Researchers observed a dramatic increase in adult guillemots attacking and killing unattended chicks due to food shortages. The study highlights the previously unsuspected parental dilemma of balancing protection with foraging, leading to brutal attacks on chick populations.
A new analysis suggests that compensatory mitigation of fisheries bycatch could do more harm than good, and is unlikely to succeed in reducing impacts on threatened species. The researchers found that bycatch affects a wide range of nontarget species, making it difficult to implement effective mitigation strategies.
A new study by UC Santa Cruz researchers found that rats on islands in the Aleutian Archipelago dramatically alter the intertidal zone, reducing seaweed and increasing snails, barnacles, and other invertebrates. The presence of rats also leads to a trophic cascade, resulting in reduced seabird populations and altered marine ecosystems.
A study by CSIRO Australia suggests that removing invasive predators from island breeding colonies could offset 'bycatch' losses, saving more seabirds at a lower cost. This approach could be an effective means of conservation, particularly for species affected by fishing and invasive species.
Researchers suggest assessing levies for by-catch to fund conservation measures. This approach would give fishermen financial incentives to avoid catching noncommercial species while providing funds to address more hazardous threats to seabirds and turtles.
A new study reveals that Antarctic icebergs are hotspots of ocean life, supporting thriving communities of seabirds above and a web of phytoplankton, krill, and fish below. The researchers found that the icebergs produce a halo effect with increased phytoplankton, krill, and seabirds out to a radius of more than two miles around them.
A new synthesis of decades of atmospheric and oceanographic data reveals that wild fluctuations in winds and currents are changing the way scientists think about the future of ocean resources off the US West Coast. Key findings include repeated low oxygen zones larger than Rhode Island and massive die-offs of seabirds.
A new study examines the ecological impacts of commercial cockle dredging on intertidal ecosystems and finds that exploitation leads to a decline in a seabird species by 80%. The research reveals that even the birds' adaptable digestive system cannot save them from starvation due to degraded food conditions.
The Bird's Head Seascape in Indonesia's Papua province is the Earth's most diverse marine ecosystem, with over 1,200 fish species and 600 coral species. Threats from fishing, deforestation, and mining require immediate protection to preserve this unique biodiversity.
Scientists track sooty shearwater migration patterns, revealing they don't follow a single route but instead focus on three major feeding hotspots. The birds' journeys take advantage of prevailing winds and productivity throughout the year.
Drs. Heck and Dindo are restoring Robinson Island's seagrass beds by planting birdstakes for seabirds to use as resting areas, fertilizing the shoal grass beneath them. The project aims to bring the habitats back to their peak condition through a combination of educational signage, replanting sea oats, and fertilizer.
Chronic oil pollution has been a long-standing problem along the Atlantic Coast in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Researchers found that Magellanic penguins, appearing in high numbers among oiled seabirds, are particularly affected by the pollution.
Researchers found that marbled murrelets in the past fed on more nutritious prey, such as sardines and squid, while modern-day birds rely on lower-value food sources like krill. This shift in diet affects the birds' energy levels, reproductive success, and nesting patterns.
Researchers found that alum and polyacrylamide were highly effective in removing dissolved phosphorus and suspended sediment in river waters entering the lake. This treatment could help meet California's growing population needs, support commercial growth, and develop the region as a water-sports recreational area.
A long-term guillemot study on Skomer Island found that major oil spills double the mortality rate of adult guillemots in Britain. The research also reveals a direct link between warmer climate conditions and higher mortality rates among British guillemots.
The introduction of foxes to Aleutian Islands led to the transformation of vegetation from lush grasslands to tundra, with a significant impact on seabird populations. Soil phosphorus levels increased by three times in fox-free islands compared to fox-infested islands, reflecting the loss of marine-derived nutrients.
Giant icebergs, unprecedented ice conditions, are posing a significant threat to Antarctic penguin colonies. The Adelie colony at Cape Crozier is expected to fail this year due to the destruction of their breeding area, while Emperor Penguin colonies are also struggling to raise chicks.
The study found elevated levels of DDE and mercury in bald eagle eggs on Kiska Island, but not on other islands. Seabirds are thought to be the major source of contamination due to their diet rich in fish from contaminated water.
A new avian DNA 'marker' technique has been successfully adapted to determine the sex of marbled murrelets from blood samples collected in the field. Results show a ratio of almost two males to one female, raising concerns about declining populations and logging practices.