Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Katrin Quiring, G. Carroll, C. Champion, E. W. Heymann, R. Harcourt
Summary: Monitoring seabird diet can provide insights into marine ecosystems. This study found that greater crested terns exhibit strong specialisation for anchovy, an energy-rich fish species, with the proportion of anchovy prey changing with breeding stage and local environmental conditions.
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
Ecology
Freddie W. Leith, Jennifer L. Grigg, Barbara J. Barham, Peter J. Barham, Katrin Ludynia, Cuan McGeorge, Andile Mdluli, Nola J. Parsons, Lauren J. Waller, Richard B. Sherley
Summary: Reproductive skipping is a common strategy observed in long-lived species, and it can be an adaptive decision or driven by individual-specific constraints. This study investigates the survival and breeding probabilities of African penguins at two colonies and identifies inter-colony differences linked to food availability. The study also reveals reproductive skipping behavior in both colonies, with lower future breeding probability for individuals that skipped reproduction. The lower survival and breeding propensity at Robben Island highlight the need for conservation efforts in this colony.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Natasha Gillies, Henri Weimerskirch, Jack Thorley, Thomas A. Clay, Lucia Martina Martin Lopez, Rocio Joo, Mathieu Basille, Samantha C. Patrick
Summary: Behavioural plasticity allows populations to adjust to environmental change, especially when genetic evolution is too slow. This study examined the relationship between boldness and behavioural plasticity in wandering albatrosses in response to wind conditions. The findings showed that movement decisions varied with boldness, with bolder birds preferring travel and shyer birds preferring search. The study also highlighted the importance of behavioural plasticity in population responses to climate change, as individual variation may limit adaptive capabilities.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Annette L. Fayet, Gemma V. Clucas, Tycho Anker-Nilssen, Martyna Syposz, Erpur S. Hansen
Summary: By studying seabird populations in the north-east Atlantic, the research identified possible reasons and mechanisms leading to population declines, indicating that low prey availability near breeding sites and intraspecific competition may force breeding adults to forage far away, resulting in greater costs and risks.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Lila Buckingham, Francis Daunt, Maria I. Bogdanova, Robert W. Furness, Sophie Bennett, James Duckworth, Ruth E. Dunn, Sarah Wanless, Michael P. Harris, David C. Jardine, Mark A. Newell, Robin M. Ward, Ewan D. Weston, Jonathan A. Green
Summary: The non-breeding season poses energetic challenges to birds that breed in temperate or polar regions, with implications for population dynamics. This study investigated the influence of non-breeding location on diet, behavior, and energetics in the common guillemot. The results showed that individuals from different breeding colonies exhibited distinct distribution, diet, and behavior, but had similar energy expenditure during late winter.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara Labrousse, David Nerini, Alexander D. Fraser, Leonardo Salas, Michael Sumner, Frederic Le Manach, Stephanie Jenouvrier, David Iles, Michelle Larue
Summary: By using satellite imagery and ice metrics, researchers have identified diverse habitats for emperor penguins across Antarctica and found clear geographic partitioning based on habitat characteristics. This study provides crucial information for predicting species survival and implementing conservation measures.
Article
Ornithology
Natasha Gillies, Chris Tyson, Joe Wynn, Martyna Syposz, Cecile Vansteenberghe, Tim Guilford
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the coordinated care between parents of Manx shearwaters, revealing that physical reunion and indirect cues are not necessary for regulating foraging behavior.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Eric A. VanderWerf, Richard E. Downs
Summary: The White Tern is a seabird that commonly nests on islands in tropical and subtropical oceans. A study in Honolulu, Hawaii found that breeding success of White Terns is influenced by tree characteristics, height, and attractiveness to non-native predators.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kyle J. N. A. d'Entremont, Isabeau Pratte, Carina Gjerdrum, Sarah N. P. Wong, William Montevecchi
Summary: This study quantified the suitable foraging habitat for northern gannets by assessing their foraging behavior and space-use. The results showed that there were differences in behavior and space-use between gannets foraging on different prey types. Suitable habitat for capelin was characterized by coastal, shallow waters with flat relief and sea surface temperatures (SST) of 11-15 degrees C. Suitable habitat for early and late chick-rearing dives was characterized by shallow coastal waters and waters deeper than 200 m, with SST of 12-15 degrees C and greater than 16 degrees C, respectively. The study also found that space-use by gannets varied depending on environmental conditions and prey type, which has implications for potential interactions with anthropogenic activities.
Article
Biology
Miquel Planas
Summary: This study monitored the population of Syngnathus acus in Cies Archipelago, Spain and investigated changes in abundance, reproduction traits, trophic niche occupancy, and dietary regimes. The population consisted mostly of large adults, whose numbers decreased significantly after the breeding season. S. acus is a secondary consumer that prefers amphipods, but mature specimens were less selective than immature fish. The study highlights the unique features of the population in terms of size and occurrence of breeders.
Article
Ecology
Carina Nebel, Camilla Ekblad, Fabio Balotari-Chiebao, Ida Penttinen, Torsten Stjernberg, Toni Laaksonen
Summary: Early-life conditions can have long-term fitness consequences, especially for long-lived carnivores. Optimal rearing conditions for these carnivores are still unclear. A diverse diet may optimize nutrient availability and allow young to make experiences with a larger diversity of prey, while a narrow diet breadth might result in overall higher energy net gain. A diet dominated by a specific prey type (i.e. fish) may be beneficial or detrimental, depending on factors like toxicity or contaminant load.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tegan Carpenter-Kling, Andrew de Blocq, Christina Hagen, Craig Harding, Taryn Morris, Lorien Pichegru, Jennifer Roberts, Peter G. Ryan, Ross M. Wanless, Alistair McInnes
Summary: The population of Endangered African penguins has declined significantly in the last 20 years due to reduced availability of their main prey. Research has shown that these penguins have larger foraging ranges during the non-breeding season, but they still heavily rely on waters within 20 and 50 km of their breeding colonies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xin Yu, Xiao Guo, Yanzhu Ji, Shiyu Tang, Chenxi Jia, Fumin Lei
Summary: This study tracked the migratory pathways of Greater Crested Terns in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and found that they have large seasonal home ranges and strong fidelity to wintering grounds and stopover sites during migration.
MARINE ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Xianglong Xu, Jiahu Jiang, Yu Lei, Chao Wang, Baoping Qing, Changqing Ding
Summary: The concept of foraging niche provides insights into the habitat use and dietary information of animals. This study investigated the intraspecific variation in foraging niche and trophic level of wild Crested Ibis in different breeding habitats. Stable isotopic values of eggshell membranes were used to examine the differences between plains and mountains in terms of habitat use, trophic level, and foraging niche width. The results showed high variability in both isotopic values, with birds in mountains consuming higher trophic level prey. The study highlights the importance of protecting foraging grounds in mountains and improving foraging grounds in plains.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
L. C. M. Omeyer, K. L. Stokes, D. Beton, B. A. Cicek, S. Davey, W. J. Fuller, B. J. Godley, R. B. Sherley, R. T. E. Snape, A. C. Broderick
Summary: The recovery rates of sympatrically nesting loggerhead and green turtles in North Cyprus vary significantly, with green turtles increasing at four times the rate of loggerhead turtles. Loggerhead turtles at the monitoring site have stable reproductive parameters and adult survival, but are threatened by higher mortality rates in all age classes.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
W. J. Sydeman, D. S. Schoeman, S. A. Thompson, B. A. Hoover, M. Garcia-Reyes, F. Daunt, P. Agnew, T. Anker-Nilssen, C. Barbraud, R. Barrett, P. H. Becker, E. Bell, P. D. Boersma, S. Bouwhuis, B. Cannell, R. J. M. Crawford, P. Dann, K. Delord, G. Elliott, K. E. Erikstad, E. Flint, R. W. Furness, M. P. Harris, S. Hatch, K. Hilwig, J. T. Hinke, J. Jahncke, J. A. Mills, T. K. Reiertsen, H. Renner, R. B. Sherley, C. Surman, G. Taylor, J. A. Thayer, P. N. Trathan, E. Velarde, K. Walker, S. Wanless, P. Warzybok, Y. Watanuki
Summary: Climate change and human activities have profound effects on marine ecosystem productivity, particularly impacting seabird breeding success, with stronger effects on fish-eating species in the northern hemisphere; hence, ocean management at hemispheric scales and targeted recovery plans are necessary. In the southern hemisphere, lower changes in seabird productivity provide opportunities for strategic management approaches like establishing large marine protected areas to sustain food webs and predator productivity.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amanda Kuepfer, Richard B. Sherley, Paul Brickle, Alexander Arkhipkin, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: Incidental mortality in trawl fisheries poses a serious threat to seabird sustainability. Strategic batch discarding is an effective mitigation measure to limit discard discharge, but supporting studies are rare. This study validates the efficacy of batch discarding as a mitigation measure in the Falkland Islands trawl fleet and highlights the importance of complete waste storage.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
William J. Sydeman, George L. Hunt, Ellen K. Pikitch, Julia K. Parrish, John F. Piatt, P. Dee Boersma, Les Kaufman, Daniel W. Anderson, Sarah Ann Thompson, Richard B. Sherley
Summary: South Africa implemented a decade-long field experiment to understand the impact of fisheries on African penguins, showing that fisheries closures within the birds' primary foraging range increased breeding productivity. Recommendations include maintaining fisheries closures and establishing closed areas during the non-breeding season to increase penguin food supplies.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Correction
Biology
Richard B. Sherley, Barbara J. Barham, Peter J. Barham, Kate J. Campbell, Robert J. M. Crawford, Jennifer Grigg, Cat Horswill, Alistair McInnes, Taryn L. Morris, Lorien Pichegru, Antje Steinfurth, Florian Weller, Henning Winker, Stephen C. Votier
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Amanda Kuepfer, Stephen C. Votier, Richard B. Sherley, Francesco Ventura, Rafael Matias, Orea Anderson, Paul Brickle, Alexander Arkhipkin, Paulo Catry
Summary: Fishery discards can be beneficial for black-browed albatross populations, but may also have negative impacts by increasing bycatch risk or providing junk-food. This study found that black-browed albatrosses in the Falkland Islands switch to consuming discards when natural feeding opportunities are unfavorable, but discards do not compensate for poor natural foraging conditions in the long term.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Fisheries
W. J. Sydeman, G. L. Hunt, E. K. Pikitch, J. K. Parrish, J. F. Piatt, P. D. Boersma, L. Kaufman, D. W. Anderson, S. A. Thompson, R. B. Sherley
Summary: This paper responds to Butterworth and Ross-Gillespie's comment on the impact of forage fish fisheries on the endangered African penguin and management options. The study demonstrates that their criticism of pseudo-replication is weak and emphasizes the negative effects of forage fisheries on penguin population health. Considering the depletion of sardines and the conservation crisis facing the African penguin, the paper advocates for continuing precautionary closures to facilitate population growth.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Peter Carr, Alice M. Trevail, Heather J. Koldewey, Richard B. Sherley, Tim Wilkinson, Hannah Wood, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: Seabirds are facing global decline and require protection on both land and sea. The Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean has proposed marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (mIBAs) in addition to terrestrial sites. This study uses updated seabird information and GPS tracking to identify a single mIBA that falls entirely within the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area. This research emphasizes the importance of large-scale marine protected areas for the conservation of marine predators and provides a foundation for future studies on marine biodiversity hotspots in the central Indian Ocean.
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Freddie W. Leith, Jennifer L. Grigg, Barbara J. Barham, Peter J. Barham, Katrin Ludynia, Cuan McGeorge, Andile Mdluli, Nola J. Parsons, Lauren J. Waller, Richard B. Sherley
Summary: Reproductive skipping is a common strategy observed in long-lived species, and it can be an adaptive decision or driven by individual-specific constraints. This study investigates the survival and breeding probabilities of African penguins at two colonies and identifies inter-colony differences linked to food availability. The study also reveals reproductive skipping behavior in both colonies, with lower future breeding probability for individuals that skipped reproduction. The lower survival and breeding propensity at Robben Island highlight the need for conservation efforts in this colony.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Molly M. Kressler, Sasha R. X. Dall, Richard B. Sherley
Summary: Historic limitations in marine ecological studies have led to the neglect of well-established concepts from behavioural ecology, mainly due to the inadequacy of available methods in addressing the large-scale ecological processes and sampling resolution in the marine environment. However, with advancements in technology, data management, and statistical modelling, researchers are now able to fully embrace behavioural ecology concepts and study marine ecological interactions from a holistic perspective. This article proposes a novel perspective and workflow called Seascape of Ecological Energy (SEE-scapes), which integrates accumulated knowledge from marine biology and behavioural ecology research, providing guidance for marine scientists interested in grounding their research in behavioural ecology's first principles. SEE-scapes focuses on relevant considerations for contemporary seascapes, taking into account the relationships between individuals and their conspecifics, competitors, predators, and the abiotic environment in the marine ecosystem.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Amanda Kuepfer, Paulo Catry, Stuart Bearhop, Richard B. Sherley, Olivia Bell, Jason Newton, Paul Brickle, Alexander Arkhipkin, Stephen C. Votier
Summary: Effective marine ecosystem monitoring is critical for sustainable management. Monitoring seabird diets can provide important information on ecosystem health and seabird-fishery interactions. This study combines stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotope analysis (SIA) to examine the diet of black-browed albatross chicks, with a focus on fishery discard consumption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ralph E. T. Vanstreels, Nola J. Parsons, Richard B. Sherley, Nicky Stander, Venessa Strauss, Jessica Kemper, Lauren Waller, Barbara J. Barham, Katrin Ludynia
Summary: The coastal waters of Namibia and South Africa have a long history of oil spills, with 71 recorded up to 2021. These spills have had significant impacts on seabirds, particularly African penguins (91.0%) and Cape gannets (8.5%). The main sources of these spills include unknown origins, bulk/cargo carriers, tankers, and ship-to-ship transfers. Monitoring the breeding population size within a specific range has shown to predict the number of oiled penguins, while the admission day of oiled birds is indicative of their rehabilitation success.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Soriano-Redondo, Richard Inger, Richard B. Sherley, Eileen C. Rees, Fitsum Abadi, Graham McElwaine, Kendrew Colhoun, Olafur Einarsson, Sverrir Thorstensen, Julia Newth, Kane Brides, David J. Hodgson, Stuart Bearhop
Summary: Recent studies indicate that protected areas often fail to effectively safeguard target species. This study focuses on the value of nature reserves in conserving migratory waterbirds, specifically Whooper swans. The research findings show that while breeding probability is lower among swans wintering inside nature reserves, their survival rates are higher, resulting in a 30-fold increase in annual growth rate within the reserves. Furthermore, there is a net movement of individuals from nature reserves to non-reserves. The population projection models predict that by 2030, nature reserves could double the number of swans wintering in the United Kingdom.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kelly Atkins, Stuart Bearhop, Thomas W. W. Bodey, W. James Grecian, Keith Hamer, Jorge M. M. Pereira, Hannah Meinertzhagen, Chris Mitchell, Greg Morgan, Lisa Morgan, Jason Newton, Richard B. B. Sherley, Stephen C. C. Votier
Summary: Combining precision satellite-tracking with blood sampling, this study explores the potential of using seabird geolocators and feather sampling to validate large-scale isotopic patterns. By matching winter-grown feathers with the non-breeding location of tracked birds, the study reveals latitudinal gradients in carbon and nitrogen isotopes in neritic waters. Furthermore, the isotopic patterns are best explained by sea surface temperature, and similar gradients are found in fish muscle samples collected from local ports.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juan Scheun, Rebecca J. Miller, Andre Ganswindt, Lauren J. Waller, Lorien Pichegru, Richard B. Sherley, Gavin W. Maneveldt
Summary: Research showed that African penguin chicks in areas with less human disturbance had higher levels of urofaecal glucocorticoid metabolites, indicating that frequent human activity may lead to habituation in penguin chicks. Additionally, long-term anthropogenic activities could have physiological effects on African penguins.
CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)