Article
Environmental Sciences
Aliya Caldwell, Susanne Brander, John Wiedenmann, Gemma Clucas, Elizabeth Craig
Summary: This study assessed the ingestion of microplastics in two seabird species in the Northwestern Atlantic. The results showed regional and inter-specific variations in microplastic ingestion by terns, which may be explained by dietary differences. The study provides important insights into the risk of microplastic pollutants to terns and the potential use of terns as bioindicators of microplastics.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Annie M. Bracey, Matthew A. Etterson, Frederick C. Strand, Sumner W. Matteson, Gerald J. Niemi, Francesca J. Cuthbert, Joel C. Hoffman
Summary: Populations of common terns breeding at inland lakes in North America are declining due to mercury exposure. The study found that season, sex, colony location, and foraging behavior influenced mercury exposure in terns.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Simon Piro, Angela Schmitz Ornes
Summary: The Common Tern population in Germany exhibits two distinct migratory strategies, with some birds wintering on the western African coast and others migrating along the eastern African coast. This study reveals new knowledge about the migratory behavior of Common Terns from East Germany and raises questions about the evolution and consequences of different migratory strategies in relation to climate change.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andrew Power, Philip White, Brendan McHugh, Simon Berrow, Moira Schlingermann, Aaron McKeown, David Cabot, Marissa Tannian, Stephen Newton, Evin McGovern, Sinead Murphy, Denis Crowley, Linda O'Hea, Brian Boyle, Ian O'Connor
Summary: The study found higher levels of persistent pollutants in fresh eggs of Common Terns from Rockabill Island near Dublin compared to those from Ireland's west coast. Intra-clutch variation of pollutant levels in Common Terns was low, supporting random sampling as an appropriate strategy. Significant differences in pollutant concentrations were detected between fresh and abandoned eggs, but abandoned eggs can still provide useful approximations of pollutants if non-destructive sampling is preferred.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Milos Martinovic, Mladen Plantak, Luka Jurinovic, Jelena Kralj
Summary: An increasing number of inland Common Tern populations breed in artificial habitats. This study investigated the preference of Common Terns for shallow river topography by combining telemetric field research and river hydrology modelling. The results showed that breeding Common Terns near a preferred foraging area visit shallower parts of the river more frequently, indicating a preference for shallow water.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Britta S. Meyer, Maria Moiron, Calvinna Caswara, William Chow, Olivier Fedrigo, Giulio Formenti, Bettina Haase, Kerstin Howe, Jacquelyn Mountcastle, Marcela Uliano-Silva, Jonathan Wood, Erich D. Jarvis, Miriam Liedvogel, Sandra Bouwhuis
Summary: Senescence, an age-related decline in survival and/or reproductive performance, occurs in various species. We explored the age-specific changes in DNA methylation in common terns, a relatively long-lived migratory seabird species known to undergo senescence. Our findings showed a decrease in autosomal methylation levels with age in females, but not in males, and no evidence of selective appearance/disappearance of birds based on their methylation level. These results lay the foundation for further investigations on the functional consequences of methylation patterns and their relationship to the ageing phenotype.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. S. Carrillo, D. I. Archuby, G. Castresana, M. Lunardelli, D. Montalti, A. E. Ibanez
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the presence of microplastics in migratory seabirds and their prey during the non-breeding season. Microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal tract of the Common terns and in their regurgitated prey, indicating trophic transfer. The most abundant types of microplastics were cellulose ester plastics, polyethylene terephtalate, polyacrylonitrile, and polypropylene in both the birds and their prey. These results highlight the high levels of ingested microplastics in Common terns and their prey, raising concerns for this important location for migratory seabirds.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joanne M. Morten, Pearse J. Buchanan, C. Egevang, Isolde A. Glissenaar, Sara M. Maxwell, Nicole Parr, James A. Screen, Freydis Vigfusdottir, Noam S. Vogt-Vincent, Daniel A. Williams, Ned C. Williams, Matthew J. Witt, Lucy A. Hawkes, William Thurston
Summary: Climate change poses a significant threat to polar seabirds, particularly the Arctic terns that migrate between both polar regions. The study tracks their migration routes and identifies the impact of environmental changes on their foraging and rest patterns. The study projects the decline of North Atlantic primary production and minimal changes in other regions visited by Arctic terns. Wind patterns may also shift, requiring the birds to adapt their flight strategies. Overall, addressing carbon emissions is essential to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce extinction risks for polar species.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marie-Lazarine Poulle, Matthieu Le Corre, Matthieu Bastien, Elsa Gedda, Chris Feare, Audrey Jaeger, Christine Larose, Nirmal Shah, Nina Voogt, Byron Gopper, Erwan Lagadec, Gerard Rocamora, Regine Geers, Dominique Aubert, Isabelle Villena, Camille Lebarbenchon
Summary: The study suggests that pelagic species in the ocean may be exposed to Toxoplasma gondii oocysts through marine currents and fish. Antibodies against T. gondii were detected in various seabird species, except for the great frigatebird.
Article
Ecology
Juliet S. Lamb, Pamela H. Loring, Peter W. C. Paton
Summary: Telemetry is a powerful tool for evaluating wildlife movement and distribution patterns. The study conducted a power analysis of VHF telemetry data from two bird species to determine the number of individuals required for accurate results. The results provide guidance for designing automated radio telemetry studies and highlight the importance of accounting for station network configuration and species-specific behavior.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elizabeth C. Craig, Gregg E. Moore, Jennifer R. Seavey
Summary: Seabirds introduce nutrients into nesting environments, leading to vegetative overgrowth. This study reintroduced habitat heterogeneity by using salt suppression in a common tern breeding colony and found that salt treatment resulted in reduced plant cover and increased nesting density and chick hatching.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
E. Duyck, R. Gelderloos, M. F. de Jong
Summary: The freshwater pathways from the east Greenland shelf to deep convection regions and the impact of strong wind events on freshwater export are investigated. It is found that westerly tip jets are associated with the greatest freshwater export, tilting isohalines and extending the freshwater front offshore. Moderate westerly events contribute to freshwater export throughout the year, with half of the surface waters crossing the shelfbreak being exported away from the shelf.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Chris P. F. Redfern, Richard M. Bevan
Summary: Understanding the migratory strategies of Arctic terns is important for understanding their resilience to environmental change. This study found that Arctic terns have repeatable migration strategies, with a fly-forage strategy and specific patterns of movement across the Indian Ocean. Foraging intensity differed between migration phases, and high movement speeds and foraging intensity on return migration may optimize reproductive success. However, individual trajectories and foraging areas varied between years and were influenced by wind.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Ana Filipa Ribeiro, Magda Sousa, Ana Picado, Americo Soares Ribeiro, Joao Miguel Dias, Nuno Vaz
Summary: The Tagus estuary in the winter of 2013 was affected by strong winds and extreme freshwater discharge, leading to changes in its hydrodynamics and salt and heat transport. The impacts of future air temperature and sea level rise on water quality transport in the estuary are significant and require further study.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Madson Silveira de Melo, Krishna Das, Eric Gismondi
Summary: The study showed that the mortality of G. pulex is dependent on the concentration and temperature of mercury exposure, with higher concentrations and temperatures leading to higher mortality rates. Antioxidant and antitoxic defences, as well as the endocrine and immune systems, were found to be the most impacted biological functions by mercury exposure, while osmoregulation was the least affected. Furthermore, after a 21-day exposure to high concentrations of mercury, an adaptation phenomenon was observed in G. pulex regardless of the temperature.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)