Transcript seabirds - S

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)
Top-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 site
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As top-predators, they play an important
structural role in the marine eco-system
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Indicators of the health of the marine ecosystem…
Low
density
surface
waters
Decline in
plankton
Inhibition
of vertical
mixing
Inhibition
of vertical
nutrient
flow
Decline in
krill and
fish
Declines in
toppredators,
including
seabirds
BirdLife International, 2012
BirdLife International, 2012
Human
activities
© Ross Wanless
Kim Hansen – Creative Commons
Chris Jordan
Chris Jordan
Jay Penniman - http://mauiinvasive.org/category/invasive-animals/
BirdLife Malta
BirdLife Malta
© John J. Borg
Scopoli’s Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea
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4500 pairs – 5% of
the global
population*
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Colonies at Ta’ Cenc,
Filfla and the cliffs on
the south of Malta
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‘Vulnerable’
Yelkouan Shearwater
Puffinus yelkouan
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1600 - 1800 pairs –
10% of the global
population
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Colonies at Rdum talMadonna and the
western and southwestern cliffs of Malta
and Gozo
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‘Vulnerable’
European Storm Petrel
Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis
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5000 - 8000 pairs – 50% of the global population*
Colonies at Filfla
‘LC’…but declining
BirdLife International, 2012
© Benjamin Metzger
© Benjamin Metzger
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Croxall, 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), 874883.DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01273.x
Seabirds are key indicators of the impact of climate change on the world's oceans.
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/279
Native 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/166
Offshore 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/159
Malta pioneering seabird research! http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/malta-pioneeringseabird-research/
EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project. http://www.birdlifemalta.org/photos/otherfiles/5174.pdf