Species-specific population trends detected for penguins, gulls and cormorants over 20 years in sub-Antarctic Fuegian Archipelago

• Published in: Polar biology 2014-09, Vol.37 (9), p.1343-1360
• Main Authors: Raya Rey, Andrea, Rosciano, Natalia, Liljesthröm, Marcela, Sáenz Samaniego, Ricardo, Schiavini, Adrián
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animal and plant ecology; Animal populations; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Antarctic zone; Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic birds; Archipelagoes; Arctic zone; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Birds; Cetacea; Climate change; Climatic changes; Delphinidae; Dolphins; Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gulls; Human populations; Life Sciences; Mammalia; Marine; Microbiology; Oceanography; Original Paper; Particular ecosystems; Plant Sciences; Population number; Protection and preservation; Sea surface temperature; Sea water ecosystems; Synecology; Tourism; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Wildlife conservation; Zoology
• ISSN: 0722-4060; 1432-2056
• DOI: 10.1007/s00300-014-1526-6

Understanding the dynamics and causes of population trends are essential for seabird conservation. Long-term studies of seabirds at high-latitude (Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Arctic) regions have shown contrasting species-specific trends in population size in response to climate change and anthropogenic pressures. We have studied for the last 20 years (1992–2012) the population trends of seven seabird species that breed in the Beagle Channel, south-eastern Tierra del Fuego and at Staten Island, a sub-Antarctic region in southern Argentina. The numbers of Magellanic and Gentoo Penguins increased significantly since 1992 (by >15 % year −1 ). In comparison, the populations of Imperial Cormorants, Dolphin Gulls and Kelp Gulls increased at slower rates (