Long-term change in the population sizes and conservation status of South Africa's seabirds

Since the early 1980s, there have been large decreases in numbers breeding in South Africa of three seabirds that compete with fisheries for food: African Penguin Spheniscus demersus , Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis and Bank Cormorant P. neglectus . By contrast, two other species that compete...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ostrich 2013-08, Vol.84 (2), p.v-ix
Main Author: Crawford, Robert JM
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
breeding
Competition
conservation status
ecosystems
fisheries
foraging
Morus capensis
penguins
Phalacrocorax
Phalacrocorax capensis
population size
seabirds
Spheniscus
Spheniscus demersus
Thalasseus
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Summary:Since the early 1980s, there have been large decreases in numbers breeding in South Africa of three seabirds that compete with fisheries for food: African Penguin Spheniscus demersus , Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis and Bank Cormorant P. neglectus . By contrast, two other species that compete with fisheries but which have a larger foraging range when breeding or are nomadic between breeding localities, Cape Gannet Morus capensis and the nominate race of Swift Tern Thalasseus bergii bergii , have increased. Five seabirds that do not compete with fisheries for prey have maintained stable populations or increased. The decreases in the three species have led to deterioration in the overall conservation status of South Africa's seabirds, of which 10 of 15 species (67%) are presently classified as Threatened or Near-threatened, including six of the seven species that are endemic to the Benguela ecosystem off western southern Africa.
ISSN:1727-947X
0030-6525
1727-947X
DOI:10.2989/00306525.2013.819661