Future Directions in Conservation Research on Petrels and Shearwaters
Résumé
Shearwaters and petrels (hereafter petrels) are highly adapted seabirds that occur
across all the world’s oceans. Petrels are a threatened seabird group comprising 124
species. They have bet-hedging life histories typified by extended chick rearing periods,
low fecundity, high adult survival, strong philopatry, monogamy and long-term mate
fidelity and are thus vulnerable to change. Anthropogenic alterations on land and at
sea have led to a poor conservation status of many petrels with 52 (42%) threatened species based on IUCN criteria and 65 (52%) suffering population declines. Some
species are well-studied, even being used as bioindicators of ocean health, yet for others
there are major knowledge gaps regarding their breeding grounds, migratory areas or
other key aspects of their biology and ecology. We assembled 38 petrel conservation
researchers to summarize information regarding the most important threats according
to the IUCN Red List of threatened species to identify knowledge gaps that must
be filled to improve conservation and management of petrels. We highlight research
advances on the main threats for petrels (invasive species at breeding grounds, bycatch,
overfishing, light pollution, climate change, and pollution). We propose an ambitious
goal to reverse at least some of these six main threats, through active efforts such
as restoring island habitats (e.g., invasive species removal, control and prevention),
improving policies and regulations at global and regional levels, and engaging local
communities in conservation efforts.
| Origine | Publication financée par une institution |
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