Experts’ opinions on threats to Leach’s Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous) across their global range

Avian Conservation and Ecology

article

Ingrid L. Pollet¹  Ariel K. Lenske²  Anne N. M. A. Ausems⁴  Christophe Barbraud⁶  Yuliana Bedolla-Guzmán⁷  Anthony W. J. Bicknell⁸  Mark Bolton⁹  Alexander L. Bond^1,10  Karine Delord⁶  Antony W. Diamond^1,11  David A. Fifield^1,12  Carina Gjerdrum²  Luke R. Halpin^1,13  Erpur S. Hansen^1,15  April Hedd^1,12  Rielle Hoeg¹  Heather L. Major^1,17  Robert A. Mauck^1,18  Gregory T. W. McClelland²  Laura McFarlane Tranquilla^1,16  William A. Montevecchi^2,20  Mike Parker^2,21  Isabeau Pratte²  Jean-François Rail²  Gregory J. Robertson^1,12  Jennifer C. Rock²  Robert A. Ronconi²  Dave Shutler¹  Iain J. Stenhouse^2,22  Akinori Takahashi^2,23  Yukata Watanuki^2,24  Linda J. Welch^2,25  Sabina I. Wilhelm²  Sarah N. P. Wong²  Mark L. Mallory¹ 

[1]Acadia University

[2]Canadian Wildlife Service

[3]Pacific Wildlife Research Centre

[4]Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk

[5]Department of Biology, Trent University

[6]Centre d’Études Biologiques de Chizé

[7]Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas

[8]Biosciences, Marine Ecology, University of Exeter

[9]RSPB Centre for Conservation Science

[10]Bird Group

[11]Atlantic Lab for Avian Research, University of New Brunswick

[12]Wildlife Research Division

[13]Halpin Wildlife Research

[14]School of Biological Sciences, Monash University

[15]South Iceland Nature Research Centre

[16]Birds Canada

[17]University of New Brunswick

[18]Kenyon College

[19]Bowdoin College Scientific Station at Kent Island

[20]Psychology Department, Memorial University

[21]California Institute of Environmental Studies

[22]Biodiversity Research Institute

[23]National Institute of Polar Research

[24]Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University

[25]United States Fish and Wildlife Service

关键词: expert opinion;    Hydrobates leucorhous;    Leach's Storm-Petrel;    seabird conservation;    threats;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ACE-02370-180111

学科分类：口腔科学

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Seabirds are declining globally, though the threats they face differ among and within species and populations. Following substantial population declines at several breeding colonies, Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) was uplisted from Least Concern to Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2016. Reasons for these declines are unclear, and it is important to identify threats the species faces across its global breeding range to guide research directions and inform conservation efforts. We solicited feedback from 37 Leach’s Storm-Petrel scientific experts from eight countries on the importance of different threats facing the species on land and at sea. Perceived threats to extant colonies varied spatially, with a consensus within regions for main threats. Most researchers agreed that the main threats at or near colonies are avian and mammalian predators and onshore light attraction. At-sea threats have been less studied and were harder to identify and rank, but include offshore lights and structures, spatial shifts in prey, and contaminants. Climate change was not listed specifically because of its multifaceted repercussions, but several perceived threats are linked to climate change. Globally, introduction of mammalian predators is an overarching driver of seabird colony decline or extirpation; thus biosecurity must be considered an important measure for the conservation of storm-petrels. In addition, filling knowledge gaps and implementing a series of regionally relevant and targeted strategies that lead to small but cumulative conservation successes may be the best approach for this species.

【 授权许可】

CC BY