Pelagic distribution of Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera): linking shipboard and onshore observations with remote-tracking data
David Priddel A , Nicholas Carlile A H , Dean Portelli B , Yuna Kim C , Lisa O’Neill A , Vincent Bretagnolle D , Lisa T. Ballance E , Richard A. Phillips F , Robert L. Pitman E and Matt J. Rayner G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Office of Environment and Heritage, PO Box 1967, Hurstville, NSW 2220, Australia.
B Australian Wetlands, Rivers and Landscape Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
C Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
D Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, F-79360 Beauvoir-sur-Niort, France.
E Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA.
F British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK.
G School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
H Corresponding author. Email: nicholas.carlile@environment.nsw.gov.au
Emu 114(4) 360-370 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU14021
Submitted: 25 February 2014 Accepted: 12 June 2014 Published: 3 November 2014
Abstract
This study describes and compares the pelagic distribution and migratory patterns of the two subspecies of Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera), and contrasts data obtained from tracking birds at sea using geolocators with observational data (shipboard sightings, by-catch records and beachcast specimens). While breeding, tracked individuals of both subspecies (P. l. leucoptera and P. l. caledonica) foraged within the Tasman Sea and south of the Australian continent, with forays west into the Indian Ocean before laying. After breeding, both subspecies migrated to distinct non-breeding ranges within the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Observational data identified the general pattern of migration and foraging areas of the species, whereas data from geolocators provided details of routes and timing of migration, core foraging ranges, and marked spatial and temporal segregation between the two subspecies. However, by attaching geolocators only to established breeders, as is typical of studies of small and medium-sized seabirds, these devices failed to identify that non-breeding birds (pre-breeders and adults that are deferring breeding) may not follow the same migratory schedules or have the same at-sea distribution. We conclude that integrating data from electronic tracking with observational data substantially improves our understanding of the pelagic distribution of seabird populations.
Additional keywords: at-sea sightings, foraging distribution, geographical separation of subspecies, geolocation, GLS logger, migration, New Caledonian Petrel.
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