Atlantic populations of a declining oceanic seabird have complex migrations and weak migratory connectivity to staging areas

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 730, P. 113 - 129

Published: Jan. 24, 2024

Anthropogenic change is impacting ecosystems globally, causing declines in biodiversity. Long-distance migrants are particularly susceptible, as they depend on conditions over large geographical scales and likely to experience a greater range of pressures. One long-distance migrant that has experienced substantial across the North-East Atlantic Arctic skua Stercorarius parasiticus . However, little known about their migratory routes or strategies. We tracked 131 skuas from Scotland, Faroe Islands, Norway Svalbard between 2009 2019 using geolocators. To investigate migration strategies, we applied hidden Markov model, saltwater immersion data infer stopovers transit flights. Skuas used several discrete staging areas during migration, with an area high marine productivity mid-North being importance. Individuals different breeding populations overlapped extensively areas, resulting weak spatial connectivity southbound (r M = 0.25, 95% CI 0.09-0.42; 0 connectivity, 1 strong connectivity) northbound 0.16, -0.02 0.33) migration. Variation strategies was driven by individuals Svalbard, which belong population declining less than other tracked. The relative location wintering also influenced migrating further spent smaller proportion at those closer. Identifying non-breeding distribution, provides vital step towards linking dynamics prioritising future research conservation actions.

Language: Английский

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Cumulative barriers to renewable energy development: Can we adjust our perspective and approach to benefit biodiversity?

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Renewable energy development is rapidly increasing in efforts to mitigate climate change. Whilst the impact of individual projects on biological diversity may be limited, there a risk significant cumulative impacts across projects, resulting conflict between our needs for renewable and preserve biodiversity. A range approaches have been developed assessment (CIA). Biologically realistic advocated peer‐reviewed literature challenging data requirements are more complex than those widely used by practitioners regulators inform assessments. Projected approaching levels where future industry at risk, with concerns that this driven an overly precautionary approach, direct consequence insufficient data. ‘race submission’, whereby developers aim submit their assessments as early possible attempt avoid being project triggers unacceptable impact, exacerbates problem. This leads situations consented not reflect optimal balance minimising biodiversity delivery targets. Solution . There urgent need shift focus CIA from anthropogenic activities, which drive assessments, populations concerned. will require international agreement minimum standards robust coordination collection. failure achieve mean delivering required minimise change ecologically sustainable manner becomes regulatory impossibility.

Language: Английский

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Census of Great Black-backed Gulls breeding in Caithness, Scotland

Seabird Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Caithness, northern Scotland, has historically been an important breeding area for Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus, but monitoring at selected colonies shows that numbers have declined substantially over the past 20 years. To investigate this decline in more detail a survey of whole Caithness coast was undertaken during 2023 seabird season. The found total 268 Gull apparently occupied nests (AON) 76 colonies. Birds were widely distributed around with most significant being on Stroma (24% population) and south Wick (63%). Colonies mostly small, 65% holding just single pair. results confirm substantial population 74% number AON taken place since Seabird Colony Register Survey 1985–88. Larger seen gradual decrease latter half 1990s, except where minimum c. 2005 before recovering somewhat. cause declines remains unclear. Breeding productivity towards upper end range elsewhere Britain (0.64 to 1.45 chicks per pair) and, though lower some previous years, appears not contributor declines. Fish discards from fisheries are components diet so reductions fish stocks or availability (based landings harbours Moray Firth) may, part, be contributing their Disturbance by ground predators such as Red Foxes Vulpes vulpes is implicated recent changes cliffs Wick, extinction several former We discuss other potential factors reduction possible methods halting reversing Gulls.

Language: Английский

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Avoidance and attraction responses of kittiwakes to three offshore wind farms in the North Sea

Marine Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 171(11)

Published: Oct. 21, 2024

Abstract Seabird collision risk is a key concern in relation to the environmental impacts associated with offshore wind farms (OWFs). Understanding how species respond both farm itself, and individual turbines within farm, enabling better quantification management of risk. Collision particular for black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla , where modelling predicts unsustainable population level impacts. In this study 20 adult breeding kittiwakes, were tracked GPS from Whinnyfold, Scotland (57°23′07″N, 001°52′11″W) during season 2021. An Avoidance-Attraction Index (AAI) was estimated at several bands macro- meso-scales (0–4 km outer boundary 0–400 m turbines, respectively), Avoidance Rate (AR; used impact assessments) macro-scale estimate avoidance behaviour three operational OWFs their foraging range. One its buffer zone boundary) visited more frequently by majority individuals (19/20 birds), despite being twice as far closest OWF (17.3 31.9 whilst 10 or less remaining two OWFs. At most frequented we found attraction band (0–1 km) trending towards furthest (3–4 km). meso-scale areas below rotor height range (RHR, a.k.a. swept area/zone) up 120 which decreased 60 when RHR. Our results indicate that kittiwakes may be slightly attracted area around aggregate here due displacement but avoid turbines. Increased productivity potentially drawing birds into general area, aversion responsible observations.

Language: Английский

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