A Story About Albatross Tracking their Travels and Tracking Plastic Trash Sophie Webb
If we didn t clean our shorelines, where could the litter go? How can your coastal clean-up efforts benefit these unique birds?
Seabird Diversity H. Nevins J. Harvey Alcid Penguin Pelican Petrel WWW.nzbirds.com H. Nevins our main orders of seabirds: Sphenisciformes - Penguins Procellariiformes Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Fulmars, & Petrels Pelecaniformes - Pelicans, Cormorants, Boobies, Frigate birds Charadriiformes - Gulls, Terns, & Alcids
(Ashmole 1971) Seabird Feeding Methods FEEDERS Plunging
What is a seabird? J. Adams Diagram credit: Lars Löfgren W.Henry
Black-footed albatross Laysan albatross Photo credit: P.Pyle
Unique characteristic of Procellariiformes? Tubular nostrils often called tube-nosed seabirds
Black-footed albatross Sophie Webb Hyrenbach
What What makes makes seabirds vulnerable? seabirds vulnerable? Long-line and other fishery interactions Oiling from oil spills Ebbert Threats at colonies: introduced mammals, habitat destruction Photo: W. Henry Marine debris
What are some threats to seabirds? entanglemen t
What makes seabirds vulnerable? Plastic ingestion Photo: Cynthia Vanderlip
Seabirds most susceptible to plastic ingestion Saenz Black-footed and Laysan Albatross Webb Saenz Northern
Photo credit: Kinnan
Should contain: 50% fish 32% squid 5% crustaceans 10% stomach oil (Harrison et al. 1983 Fry 1987) Photo credit: Kinnan
Analysis of Albatross Chick Boluses Kure Atoll, Hawaiian Island Chain (Kinan 2000) o Analyzed 144 boluses from Laysan and Blackfooted albatrosses o Plastic found in every single one (100%)
Photo: C. Vanderlip
Effects of plastic ingestion? Large plastic items ulcerations, infection & obstruction Small plastic items reduce meal size, dehydration Long-term effects of plastic ingestion? Leaching of toxic chemicals from the plastic? Lower breeding success?
Where is marine debris found? everywhere - both marine and coastal environments floating water column on the seabed on beaches and shores (http://www.marine-litter.gpa.unep.org)
90% of floating marine debris is plastic 2.5 cm 1 inch Photos: Kathy Cousins / Irene Kinan
How does plastic get into the sea? 1. Littering by beachgoers 2. Run-off from land e.g. rivers and storm drains 3. Direct dumping into the ocean 4. Accidental loss from ships
2. Run-off from land e.g. rivers and storm drains http://geosci.sfsu.edu/courses/geol102/ex6.html
Major Ocean Currents North Pacific Gyre Alaskan Gyre
1. Shoe Spill May 27, 1990 2. 250 recovered, March 26, 1991 3. 200 recovered, May 18, 1991 4. 100 recovered, Jan-Feb 1991 5. 200 recovered, Nov.- Dec.1991 1. 200 recovered Feb.Mar 1991 2. 150 recovered April 1991 3. 200 recovered May 1991 4. Several recovered Jan-Mar 19 5. Predicted Jan-July 1994
Drifting Tots Tub Toys!!! Twelve years and counting: (http://www.beachcombers.org/) Dean Orbison January 10, 1992 2,200 miles adrift Sitka AK, Aug.- Sept., 1992 2004 still finding them!!
Algalita Marine Research Foundation Eastern garbage patch Learn more about studies of the Eastern / Western garbage patches conducted by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation http://www.alguita.com/
Facts about Plastic in the Gyre (Algalita Marine Research Foundation) 6 lbs of plastic for each pound of surface zooplankton in the North Pacific central Gyre Plastic does not biodegrade; it s broken down by sunlight into smaller pieces
Do seabirds venture into this plastic zone? Danzenbacher Studying Albatrosses in California..
Why research is needed? What will satellite tracking and remote sensing allow us to do? www.seaturtle.org www.signalsofspring.net/
METHODS Captured 18 birds within Cordell Bank NMS in July - Aug. 2004 & 2005 Equipped birds with Sirtrack Kiwisat 202 transmitters (54 g)
Size: 7 x 4 x 2 cm Weight: 54 g Antenna: 18 cm Ready for release.. Danzenbacher
ESULTS OF 2004 TRACKING: Tracked albatrosses ventured outside of U.S. EEZ, with 61% locations in the high seas Unpublished data Hyrenbach et al. 2004 Three birds ranged into the western north Pacific Ocean, west of the dateline (180 o W)
Black-footed Albatross tracks overlap with Algalita Marine Research Foundation s Eastern Garbage Patch Unpublished data Hyrenbach et al. 2004
Pop Quiz!!!!! 1. What do albatross A bolus regurgitate? 2. How much of floating debris is plastic? 50% 90% 20% 3. Most marine debris comes from land sources. True or False 4. How is marine debris moved around bays and oceans? Winds & Currents 1. What seabird feeding method can result in eating lots of plastic? 6. Why? Diving for food Picking food from the ocean surface
If we didn t clean our beaches, where could the litter go? How can your coastal clean-up efforts benefit these unique birds?
Solutions.. How can you be part of the solution?
Photos courtesy Captain Charles Moore - AMRF
Trash Monster!! Beach litter collected October-March 2003 Fort Ross to Rodeo Beach, California Artist: Keary Sorenson
Acknowledgements & Credits Primary author: Carol Keiper, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge This presentation is adapted from presentations funded by the California Coastal Commission s Whale Tail Grant Program Contributing authors: Dr. David Hyrenbach, PhD, Duke University; Hannah Nevins & Michelle Hester, Oikonos-Ecosystem Knowledge; Cheryl Baduini, PhD, Claremont Colleges; Josh Adams, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories & USGS Jennifer Stock, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary; William Henry, University of California Santa Cruz; Captain Charles Moore, Algalita Marine Research Foundation Funding for Black-footed Albatross conservation research provided by National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Photos and Slides: P.Pyle, B.Saenz, B.Henry, S.Webb, D.Hyrenbach, M.Danzenbacher, J.Stock, H. Nevins, J. Adams, J. Harvey, C Vanderlip K.Cousins, I. Kinan, Myra Finkelstein