Abundance and reproductive distribution of marine birds in the northern area of Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula.

DIEGO GONZÁLEZ ZEVALLOS; M. SANTOS; D. E. ROMBOLÁ; M. JUARES; N. CORIA

POLAR RESEARCH

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Norway; Año: 2013 p. 1 - 7

0800-0395

Seabird abundances and breeding distribution have the potential to serve asecological indicators. The western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the three sitesin the world with the greatest increases in local temperature during the last50 years. The aim of this study was to monitor the distribution and abundanceof breeding populations of seabirds in the northern sector of the Danco Coast,north-west of the Antarctic Peninsula, during the breeding season 2010/11.The birds were the Wilson?s storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), South Polarskua (Stercorarius maccormicki), kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), Antarctic tern(Sterna vittata), snowy sheathbill (Chionis alba), chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelisantarctica), southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus), gentoo penguin(Pygoscelis papua), Cape petrel (Daption capense) and Antarctic shag (Phalacrocoraxbransfieldensis). Annual breeding population growth increased in pygoscelids,southern giant petrel and sheathbill, and for the remaining species,breeding population trends were stable. Given that seabird populations canprovide valuable information on the conditions of their feeding and nestingenvironments, this study highlights the need to maintain basics monitoringstudies.