BIOL 329 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Seabird, Marine Debris, Microplastics
6 May 2018
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Lect 26
Roles in the Enviro: marine predators and scavengers, sit atop the food web, along with baleen and
toothed whales. Highly mobile, often supra-abundant, conspicuous and easily enumerated animals.
Bioindicators of ecosystem change.
Conservation issues: harvesting, climate change, bycatch in fisheries, oil spills, bio-accumulation of
metals and toxins, garbage and marine debris (macro and micro), changing food supply, loss of habitat,
invasive predators, non-human drivers.
At sea science and conservation: marine birds are poorly understood in BC. Despite 10% of species being
listed under SARA and more of conservation concern AND long-standing birds conservation issues and
threats. Project to understand distribution, density and habitat – important for conservation and
development planning.
Northern Fulmar: highest densities of any species in the fall. BFAL: prominent in SW area.
BF Albatross: most commonly caught in long-line fisheries. Short-tailed albatross: feather trade in 1800s.
Over 5 million birds killed on main colony off Japan. Considered extinct by 1950s; no birds at any known
colony. Population currently 3500 and increasing. 50 young persisted and re-populated. Historially, BC’s
most abundant, nearshore albatross. Less than 100 seen since 1990s.
c) Offshore drilling platforms: blow outs = infrequent but high impact when it happens. Routine
operation – North Sea: burn off the natural gas that is extracted with the oil. Alcids fly straight into the
flames.
d) Oil tanker spills – Exxon Valdez. 250,000 birds killed, 90 species, 75% murres.
e) Freighters – routine operation. 315,000 +/- 65,000 murres and dovekies killed annually in
southeastern Newfoundland due to illegal discharge of ____ (1998-2000).
Cormorants: 500,000 killed since 1998 (direct killing).
f) Commercial fishing – outcompeting birds for food. Humpback, Herons used to come in near to Victoria
in search of Pacific Herring but now the fish are depleted.
g) Alien species on seabird colonies – Norway rat, raccoon, fox.
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Roles in the enviro: marine predators and scavengers, sit atop the food web, along with baleen and toothed whales. Highly mobile, often supra-abundant, conspicuous and easily enumerated animals. Conservation issues: harvesting, climate change, bycatch in fisheries, oil spills, bio-accumulation of metals and toxins, garbage and marine debris (macro and micro), changing food supply, loss of habitat, invasive predators, non-human drivers. At sea science and conservation: marine birds are poorly understood in bc. Despite 10% of species being listed under sara and more of conservation concern and long-standing birds conservation issues and threats. Project to understand distribution, density and habitat important for conservation and development planning. Northern fulmar: highest densities of any species in the fall. Bf albatross: most commonly caught in long-line fisheries. Over 5 million birds killed on main colony off japan. Considered extinct by 1950s; no birds at any known colony.
