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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Multicolony tracking reveals the winter distribution of a pelagic seabird on an ocean basin scale
Diversity and Distributions, Volume 18, No. 6, Year 2012
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Description
Aim An understanding of the non-breeding distribution and ecology of migratory species is necessary for successful conservation. Many seabirds spend the non-breeding season far from land, and information on their distribution during this time is very limited. The black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla, is a widespread and numerous seabird in the North Atlantic and Pacific, but breeding populations throughout the Atlantic range have declined recently. To help understand the reasons for the declines, we tracked adults from colonies throughout the Atlantic range over the non-breeding season using light-based geolocation. Location North Atlantic. Methods Geolocation data loggers were deployed on breeding kittiwakes from 19 colonies in 2008 and 2009 and retrieved in 2009 and 2010. Data from 236 loggers were processed and plotted using GIS. Size and composition of wintering populations were estimated using information on breeding population size. Results Most tracked birds spent the winter in the West Atlantic, between Newfoundland and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, including in offshore, deep-water areas. Some birds (mainly local breeders) wintered in the North Sea and west of the British Isles. There was a large overlap in winter distributions of birds from different colonies, and colonies closer to each other showed larger overlap. We estimated that 80% of the 4.5 million adult kittiwakes in the Atlantic wintered west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, with only birds from Ireland and western Britain staying mainly on the European side. Main conclusions The high degree of mixing in winter of kittiwakes breeding in various parts of the Atlantic range implies that the overall population could be sensitive to potentially deteriorating environmental conditions in the West Atlantic, e.g. owing to lack of food or pollution. Our approach to estimating the size and composition of wintering populations should contribute to improved management of birds faced with such challenges. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Frederiksen, Morten
Denmark, Aarhus
Aarhus Universitet
Moe, Børge
Norway, Trondheim
Trondheim Hovedkontor
Daunt, Francis
United Kingdom, Wallingford
Uk Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Phillips, Richard A.
United Kingdom, Swindon
Natural Environment Research Council
Barrett, Robert T.
Norway, Tromso
Uit Norges Arktiske Universitet
Boulinier, Thierry
France, Montpellier
Centre D’ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive
Chastel, Olivier
France, Villiers-en-bois
Centre D’études Biologiques de Chizé Cebc
Christensen-Dalsgaard, Signe N.
Norway, Trondheim
Trondheim Hovedkontor
Colhoun, Kendrew
United Kingdom, Bedford
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Freeman, Robin
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Gaston, Anthony J.
Canada, Gatineau
Environment and Climate Change Canada
González‑Solís, Jacob
Spain, Barcelona
Universitat de Barcelona
Goutte, Aurélie
France, Villiers-en-bois
Centre D’études Biologiques de Chizé Cebc
Grémillet, David
France, Montpellier
Centre D’ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive
Guilford, Tim C.
United Kingdom, Oxford
University of Oxford
Krasnov, Yuri V.
Unknown Affiliation
Lorentsen, Svein Håkon
Norway, Trondheim
Trondheim Hovedkontor
Mallory, Mark L.
Canada, Gatineau
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Newell, Mark A.
United Kingdom, Wallingford
Uk Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Olsen, Bergur
Faroe Islands, Torshavn
Faroe Marine Research Institute
Steen, Harald
Norway, Tromso
Norsk Polarinstitutt
Strøm, Hallvard
Norway, Tromso
Norsk Polarinstitutt
Systad, Geir Helge
Norway, Trondheim
Trondheim Hovedkontor
Thórarinsson, Thorkell Lindberg
Unknown Affiliation
Anker-Nilssen, Tycho
Norway, Trondheim
Trondheim Hovedkontor
Statistics
Citations: 192
Authors: 25
Affiliations: 14
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00864.x
ISSN:
14724642
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study