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Trends in density, abundance, and response to storm damage for westland petrels Procellaria westlandica, 2007-2019

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posted on 2023-05-21, 08:04 authored by Waugh, SM, Barbraud, C, Delord, K, Simister, KLJ, Geoffrey BakerGeoffrey Baker, Hedley, GK, Wilson, KJ, Rands, DRD
The density and distribution of Westland Petrel burrows was assessed over a 12-year period (2007-2019). During that time, burrow density increased while occupancy remained stable, commensurate with an annual population growth rate of 1.022 (95% confidence interval: 0.971-1.076), as estimated using mark recapture data. From our surveys, we estimated a 2019 baseline population of ~6 200 breeding pairs and a world population of 13 800-17 600 individuals, covering around 95% of the population. Transects were conducted to establish the location and density of 17 petrel sub-colonies in rugged, untracked terrain in Paparoa National Park, West Coast, New Zealand. Major storms in 2014-2018 caused widespread treefall and landslides, destroying breeding habitat throughout the species' breeding range. Demographic effects of the major and ongoing habitat loss may continue in the medium to long term, as birds re-establish burrows and partnerships following loss of their habitat. Our study illustrates the complex effects of climate-related disruption on the biology of a long-lived species. With a single nesting area in the West Coast region, climate change will likely have an ongoing influence on the species' global population, since an increase in the frequency of severe weather events, including ex-tropical cyclones, is expected. However, current indications suggest that the species has some flexibility to adapt and to occupy new areas following habitat disturbance.

History

Publication title

Marine Ornithology

Volume

48

Pagination

273-281

ISSN

1018-3337

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Pacific Seabird Group

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

© Marine Ornithology 2020. Marine Ornithology work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

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