Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem

W. James Grecian; Matthew J. Witt; Martin J. Attrill; Stuart Bearhop; Peter H. Becker; Carsten Egevang; Robert W. Furness; Brendan J. Godley; Jacob González-Solís; David Grémillet; Matthias Kopp; Amélie Lescroël; Jason Matthiopoulos; Samantha C. Patrick; Hans-Ulrich Peter; Richard A. Phillips; Iain J. Stenhouse; Stephen C. Voltier

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024

Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem

W. James Grecian, Matthew J. Witt, Martin J. Attrill, Stuart Bearhop, Peter H. Becker, Carsten Egevang, Robert W. Furness, Brendan J. Godley, Jacob González-Solís, David Grémillet, Matthias Kopp, Amélie Lescroël, Jason Matthiopoulos, Samantha C. Patrick, Hans-Ulrich Peter, Richard A. Phillips, Iain J. Stenhouse, Stephen C. Voltier

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Upwelling regions are highly productive habitats targeted by wide-ranging marine predators and industrial fisheries. In this study, we track the migratory movements of eight seabird species from across the Atlantic; quantify overlap with the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and determine the habitat characteristics that drive this association. Our results indicate the CCLME is a biodiversity hotspot for migratory seabirds; all tracked species and more than 70% of individuals used this upwelling region. Relative species richness peaked in areas where sea surface temperature averaged between 15 and 20°C, and correlated positively with chlorophyll a, revealing the optimum conditions driving bottom-up trophic effects for seabirds. Marine vertebrates are not confined by international boundaries, making conservation challenging. However, by linking diversity to ocean productivity, our research reveals the significance of the CCLME for seabird populations from across the Atlantic, making it a priority for conservation action.

Original language	English
Article number	20160024
Number of pages	5
Journal	Biology Letters
Volume	12
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024
Publication status	Published - 16 Aug 2016

Keywords

Biologging
Human impacts
Marine protected areas
Migration
Upwelling
Marine conservation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024Licence: CC BY

Grecian_2016_BL_SeabirdDiversity_CC
© 2016 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
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http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/121412/

Data from: Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem
Grecian, W. J. (Creator), Witt, M. J. (Creator), Attrill, M. J. (Creator), Bearhop, S. (Creator), Becker, P. H. (Creator), Egevang, C. (Creator), Furness, R. W. (Creator), Godley, B. J. (Creator), González-Solís, J. (Creator), Grémillet, D. (Creator), Kopp, M. (Creator), Lescroël, A. (Creator), Matthiopoulos, J. (Creator), Patrick, S. C. (Creator), Peter, H.-U. (Creator), Phillips, R. A. (Creator), Stenhouse, I. J. (Creator) & Voltier, S. C. (Creator), Dryad, 15 Jul 2016
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.01sd0
Dataset

Cite this

Grecian, W. J., Witt, M. J., Attrill, M. J., Bearhop, S., Becker, P. H., Egevang, C., Furness, R. W., Godley, B. J., González-Solís, J., Grémillet, D., Kopp, M., Lescroël, A., Matthiopoulos, J., Patrick, S. C., Peter, H.-U., Phillips, R. A., Stenhouse, I. J., & Voltier, S. C. (2016). Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem. Biology Letters, 12(8), Article 20160024. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024

@article{7543963003264ab192d6a585e8d84d71,

title = "Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem",

abstract = "Upwelling regions are highly productive habitats targeted by wide-ranging marine predators and industrial fisheries. In this study, we track the migratory movements of eight seabird species from across the Atlantic; quantify overlap with the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and determine the habitat characteristics that drive this association. Our results indicate the CCLME is a biodiversity hotspot for migratory seabirds; all tracked species and more than 70% of individuals used this upwelling region. Relative species richness peaked in areas where sea surface temperature averaged between 15 and 20°C, and correlated positively with chlorophyll a, revealing the optimum conditions driving bottom-up trophic effects for seabirds. Marine vertebrates are not confined by international boundaries, making conservation challenging. However, by linking diversity to ocean productivity, our research reveals the significance of the CCLME for seabird populations from across the Atlantic, making it a priority for conservation action.",

keywords = "Biologging, Human impacts, Marine protected areas, Migration, Upwelling, Marine conservation",

author = "Grecian, {W. James} and Witt, {Matthew J.} and Attrill, {Martin J.} and Stuart Bearhop and Becker, {Peter H.} and Carsten Egevang and Furness, {Robert W.} and Godley, {Brendan J.} and Jacob Gonz{\'a}lez-Sol{\'i}s and David Gr{\'e}millet and Matthias Kopp and Am{\'e}lie Lescro{\"e}l and Jason Matthiopoulos and Patrick, {Samantha C.} and Hans-Ulrich Peter and Phillips, {Richard A.} and Stenhouse, {Iain J.} and Voltier, {Stephen C.}",

note = "Funding for this work was provided by the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy, EU INTERREG project CHARM III, NERC (NE/G001014/1), MINECO CGL2013-42585-P, Defra's Darwin, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseaux within the EUINTERREG Project FAME (2009-1/089; 2010-2012).",

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month = aug,

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doi = "10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Biology Letters",

issn = "1744-9561",

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Grecian, WJ, Witt, MJ, Attrill, MJ, Bearhop, S, Becker, PH, Egevang, C, Furness, RW, Godley, BJ, González-Solís, J, Grémillet, D, Kopp, M, Lescroël, A, Matthiopoulos, J, Patrick, SC, Peter, H-U, Phillips, RA, Stenhouse, IJ & Voltier, SC 2016, 'Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem', Biology Letters, vol. 12, no. 8, 20160024. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024

TY - JOUR

T1 - Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem

AU - Grecian, W. James

AU - Witt, Matthew J.

AU - Attrill, Martin J.

AU - Bearhop, Stuart

AU - Becker, Peter H.

AU - Egevang, Carsten

AU - Furness, Robert W.

AU - Godley, Brendan J.

AU - González-Solís, Jacob

AU - Grémillet, David

AU - Kopp, Matthias

AU - Lescroël, Amélie

AU - Matthiopoulos, Jason

AU - Patrick, Samantha C.

AU - Peter, Hans-Ulrich

AU - Phillips, Richard A.

AU - Stenhouse, Iain J.

AU - Voltier, Stephen C.

N1 - Funding for this work was provided by the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy, EU INTERREG project CHARM III, NERC (NE/G001014/1), MINECO CGL2013-42585-P, Defra's Darwin, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseaux within the EUINTERREG Project FAME (2009-1/089; 2010-2012).

PY - 2016/8/16

Y1 - 2016/8/16

N2 - Upwelling regions are highly productive habitats targeted by wide-ranging marine predators and industrial fisheries. In this study, we track the migratory movements of eight seabird species from across the Atlantic; quantify overlap with the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and determine the habitat characteristics that drive this association. Our results indicate the CCLME is a biodiversity hotspot for migratory seabirds; all tracked species and more than 70% of individuals used this upwelling region. Relative species richness peaked in areas where sea surface temperature averaged between 15 and 20°C, and correlated positively with chlorophyll a, revealing the optimum conditions driving bottom-up trophic effects for seabirds. Marine vertebrates are not confined by international boundaries, making conservation challenging. However, by linking diversity to ocean productivity, our research reveals the significance of the CCLME for seabird populations from across the Atlantic, making it a priority for conservation action.

AB - Upwelling regions are highly productive habitats targeted by wide-ranging marine predators and industrial fisheries. In this study, we track the migratory movements of eight seabird species from across the Atlantic; quantify overlap with the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and determine the habitat characteristics that drive this association. Our results indicate the CCLME is a biodiversity hotspot for migratory seabirds; all tracked species and more than 70% of individuals used this upwelling region. Relative species richness peaked in areas where sea surface temperature averaged between 15 and 20°C, and correlated positively with chlorophyll a, revealing the optimum conditions driving bottom-up trophic effects for seabirds. Marine vertebrates are not confined by international boundaries, making conservation challenging. However, by linking diversity to ocean productivity, our research reveals the significance of the CCLME for seabird populations from across the Atlantic, making it a priority for conservation action.

KW - Biologging

KW - Human impacts

KW - Marine protected areas

KW - Migration

KW - Upwelling

KW - Marine conservation

U2 - 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024

DO - 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0024

M3 - Article

SN - 1744-9561

VL - 12

JO - Biology Letters

JF - Biology Letters

IS - 8

M1 - 20160024

ER -

Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Data from: Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem

Cite this