What are they Seabirds are a taxonomically varied group that depend on the marine environment for at least part of their life cycle 350 species 35 of all bird species T oppredators Can cover large foraging distances ID: 397326
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SEABIRDSSlide2
What are they?Seabirds are a taxonomically varied group that depend on the marine environment for at least part of their life cycle.
350 species (3.5% of all bird species)
T
op-predators
Can cover large foraging distances
Typically long living and monogamous
Have a late onset of reproductive age and small clutch size
Loyal to their breeding siteSlide3
Why are they of interest?As top-predators, they play an important structural role in the marine eco-system
Indicators of the health of the marine eco-system…Slide4
…such as climate changeSlide5
They are on the decline…
BirdLife International, 2012Slide6
They are on the decline…
BirdLife
International, 2012Slide7
Why are they declining?Slide8
Alien Species
© Ross
WanlessSlide9
FisheriesSlide10
Offshore wind farms
Kim Hansen – Creative CommonsSlide11
Anthropogenic debris
Chris Jordan
Chris JordanSlide12
Light pollution
Jay
Penniman
- http://mauiinvasive.org/category/invasive-animals/Slide13
Human persecution
BirdLife
Malta
BirdLife
MaltaSlide14
The Local Scene
© John J. BorgSlide15
The Local Scene
Scopoli’s
Shearwater
Calonectris
diomedea
4500 pairs – 5% of the global population*
Colonies at Ta’
Cenc
,
Filfla
and the cliffs on the south of Malta
‘Vulnerable’Slide16
The Local Scene
Yelkouan
Shearwater
Puffinus
yelkouan
1600 - 1800 pairs – 10% of the global population
Colonies at
Rdum
tal
-Madonna and the western and south-western cliffs of Malta and
Gozo
‘Vulnerable’Slide17
The Local Scene
European Storm Petrel
Hydrobates
pelagicus
melitensis
5000 - 8000 pairs – 50% of the global population*
Colonies at
Filfla
‘LC’…but decliningSlide18
They are on the decline…
BirdLife
International, 2012Slide19
Radio-tracking Stormies
© Benjamin MetzgerSlide20
Radio-tracking Stormies
© Benjamin MetzgerSlide21
Marine Protected Areas
?
?
?
?
?
?Slide22
Further readingCroxall
, J.P.; Butchart
S.H.M.;
Lascelles
, B
.;
Stattersfield
A.J.;
Sullivan B
.;
Symes
, A.
& Taylor
, P. (2012). Seabird conservation status, threats and priority actions: a global assessment.
Bird Conservation International, 22, 1–34.Sangster, G.; Collinson, J.M.; Crochet, P.A; Knox, A.G.; Parkin, D.T. & Votier, S.C. (2012). Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: eighth report.
Ibis, 154
(4), 874-883.DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01273.xSeabirds are key indicators of the impact of climate change on the world's oceans. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/279Native birds on Gough Island are being devastated by house mice. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/175
Longline fishing effort overlaps with foraging hotspots for seabirds. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/166Offshore wind farms are impacting seabirds and migrating passerines. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/289
Seabirds suffer from eating "junk“. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/159Malta pioneering seabird research! http
://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/malta-pioneering-seabird-research/EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project. http://www.birdlifemalta.org/photos/otherfiles/5174.pdf