- Title
- Bird and mammal counts for CalCOFI cruises off the west coast of the United States, 1987 - 2008
- Abstract
- [Yen PPY et al. 2006. DSR II 53:399-418]We used a 17-year time series of shipboard observations to address the hypothesis that marine birds associate withpersistent hydrographic features in the southern California Current System (CCS). Overall, approximately 27,000km ofocean habitat were surveyed, averaging 1600km per cruise. We identified mesoscale features (eddy centers and the core ofthe California Current), based on dynamic height anomalies, and considered habitat associations for seven migratory seabird species: black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Cook's petrel (Pterodroma cookii), Leach's storm-petrel(Oceanodroma leucorhoa), dark shearwaters (mainly sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus, with a few short-tailed shearwatersPuffinus tenuirostris), northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria), and red-necked phalarope(Phalaropus lobatus). We explored associations (presence/absence and density relationships) of marine birds withmesoscale features (eddies, current jet) and metrics of primary productivity (cholorphyll a and nitrate concentrations). Mesoscale eddies were consistently identified in the study rgion, but were spatially and temporally variable. The resolved eddies were large-scale features associated with meanders of the equatorward-flowing California Current. Cook's petrelwas found offshore with no specific habitiat affinities. Black-footed albatross, red phalarope, and Leach's stomr petrel werefound in association with offshore eddies and/or the core of the California Current, but the functional relationship forthese species varied, possibly reflecting differences in flight capabilites. The more coastal species, including theshearwaters, fulmar, and red-necked phalarope, were positively associated with proxies of primary productivity. Of the hydrographic habitats considered, the upwelling region of Point Conception appears to be an important "hotspot" ofsustained primary production and marine bird concentrations. Point Conception and other similar coastal locations(upwelling cells) may warrant protection as key foraging grounds for seabirds. (2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Keywords
- marine, mammals, birds, abundance, species
- Projects
-
CalCOFI - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Creators
-
Sydeman, Bill ( wsydeman@faralloninstitute.org)
- Contact
- CCE LTER Information Manager (ccelter.im@gmail.com)
Data
| table |
BirdandMammalCensusCalCOFIcruises
Main data table for dataset |
Rows: 54737 Columns: 6 |
View / Download |