Open AccessMulticolony tracking reveals the winter distribution of a pelagic seabird on an ocean basin scale
Author(s) -
Frederiksen Morten,
Moe Børge,
Daunt Francis,
Phillips Richard A.,
Barrett Robert T.,
Bogdanova Maria I.,
Boulinier Thierry,
Chardine John W.,
Chastel Olivier,
Chivers Lorraine S.,
ChristensenDalsgaard Signe,
ClémentChastel Céline,
Colhoun Kendrew,
Freeman Robin,
Gaston Anthony J.,
GonzálezSolís Jacob,
Goutte Aurélie,
Grémillet David,
Guilford Tim,
Jensen Gitte H.,
Krasnov Yuri,
Lorentsen SveinHåkon,
Mallory Mark L.,
Newell Mark,
Olsen Bergur,
Shaw Deryk,
Steen Harald,
Strøm Hallvard,
Systad Geir H.,
Thórarinsson Thorkell L.,
AnkerNilssen Tycho
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
diversity and distributions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.918
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1472-4642
pISSN - 1366-9516
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00864.x
Subject(s) - seabird , geolocation , pelagic zone , geography , range (aeronautics) , ridge , fishery , charadriiformes , aerial survey , ecology , seasonal breeder , oceanography , biology , predation , cartography , geology , materials science , composite material , world wide web , computer science
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.