SAVE OUR SEABIRDS
Experts fear climate change could be having a detrimental impact on species as numbers decline
CLIMATE change is having a more severe effect on seabirds in Scotland than elsewhere in the world, according to new research.
Studies of 67 seabird species across the globe, including razorbills, kittiwakes, puffins and shags, show a decline in the number of chicks raised by fish-eating seabirds in the north.
Scientists said the rate of warming on northern oceans, which is faster than south of the equator, is having a dramatic impact on their survival.
They also suggested the impact of human activities, such as overfishing, and rising plastic pollution are exacerbating declines.
The research analysed breeding success of colonies including those based on Scottish islands.
Species’ fortunes were charted using data collected over more than 30 years on the Isle of May, in the Firth of Forth.
Meanwhile, records going back almost 50 years revealed how populations of great skuas, Arctic skuas, arctic terns and black-legged kittiwake have been faring on Foula, in Shetland.
Researchers found declines were apparent in several species at both sites but these were most severe on Foula, in the far north.
European shags in the Forth have been bucking the trend, which experts believe is down to their more diverse diet.
Most UK seabirds rely on small fish to feed their young, while several – such as kittiwakes and terns – are surface feeders.
The academics fear the survival of these seabirds is particularly at risk if warming continues.
Dr Francis Daunt, of the Scottish-based UK Centre for
Ecology & Hydrology, was part of the international study team.
He said: “Seabirds are sensitive to environmental disturbances and are therefore acting as canaries in the coalmine, alerting us to the deteriorating health of ocean ecosystems.
“More research is needed to understand why some species are doing better or worse than others.
“Continued long-term monitoring of seabird populations and further globalscale assessments such as our study are essential to inform effective conservation action.”
As climate warming alters ocean habitats, the locations of temperature zones in which various food sources thrive can shift away from seabird breeding sites.
Study leader William Sydeman, from the Farallon Institute in the US state of California, said: “Seabirds can handle short-term declines in breeding success but when breeding success becomes chronically poor, that’s not good.
“When seabirds aren’t doing well, this is a red flag that something bigger is happening below the ocean’s surface, which is concerning because we depend on healthy oceans for quality of life.”