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Ingestion Of Man-Made Debris By Markham's Storm Petrel Hydrobates Markhami, Fernando Medrano, Macarena Vargas, Daniel Terán, Marlene Flores, Giannira Álvarez, Ronny Peredo

Marine Ornithology

Man-made debris is a global problem for seabirds because it is ingested by many species. Markham’s Storm Petrel Hydrobates markhami, which breeds in the Atacama Desert and is endemic to the Humboldt Current in the eastern South Pacific, has been poorly studied in this regard. Earlier studies found low levels of man-made debris in the species’ diet. We quantified the present-day frequency-occurrence of man-made debris in fledglings and adults of Markham’s Storm Petrel in Chile. We found that 16 of 25 fledglings and all adults contained man-made debris in their digestive tract, indicating the prevalence of man-made debris in this …

Lesser Noddy Anous Tenuirostris Migration From A Non-Breeding Area In The Northern Maldives To A Breeding Site In The Seychelles, A. Farhath Ali, Richard A. Phillips, R. Charles Anderson

Marine Ornithology

The Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris occurs in large numbers in the northern Maldives during the northeast monsoon season (December to April). These birds do not breed in the Maldives, but their breeding site(s) are unknown. We attached GPS Argos satellite transmitters to seven Lesser Noddies roosting on Gallandhoo Island (Haa Alifu Atoll, northern Maldives) on 25 March 2022. Only one transmitter provided data, but it tracked the migration of one Lesser Noddy to the Seychelles, where the bird first roosted on the island of Poivre before moving to the large nesting colony on Cousine. The tracked bird departed the Maldives …

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Stable Isotope-Determined Diets Of Black Oystercatchers Haematopus Bachmani In The Northern Gulf Of Alaska, Brooke Carney, David Tessler, Heather Coletti, Jeffrey M. Welker, Douglas Causey

Marine Ornithology

Black Oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani (BLOY) feed on intertidal invertebrates along coasts of the northern Gulf of Alaska and elsewhere. Details of their feeding ecology have only been marginally delineated, however, and as population sizes are small and limited geographically, rapid ecological changes may alter their prey base, placing BLOY resiliency in jeopardy. We examined the diets of BLOYs occupying the coast at three sites in Southeast Alaska using stable isotope analysis of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) to answer the following three questions: (1) what are the diet proportions of prey groups consumed at different locations along the northern Gulf …

Extra-Marine Occurrence Of The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata Magnificens In The Metropolitan Region Of São Paulo, Southeast Brazil, Fabio Schunck, Fábio Toledo Das Dores, Natália Dantas Paes, Marcos Antônio Melo, Bianca Matinata, Marcelo Bokermann, Ingo Grantsau

Marine Ornithology

The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens (MAFR) has the largest area of occurrence of any species in the Fregatidae family, with a large nesting colony in Southeast Brazil. However, studies with birds that occur on the coastal plain and in other areas of the continent are lacking. We organized information obtained in the field, from the literature, and from online ornithological platforms, and we evaluated the occurrence of MAFR on the plateau of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP), the largest urban area in South America. A total of 31 records were obtained dating back to 1960. Twelve of the …

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Reviews: Immigrant Gone To Heaven: Dutch Polder To Canada's Frontier (Vermeer, K.); New(Ish) And Interesting Books; The Ocean's Whistleblower: The Remarkable Life And Work Of Daniel Pauly (Gremillet, D.); New Zealand Birds: A Natural History (Wilson, K.-J.), Alan E. Burger, Eric L. Wagner, Laura E. Koehn, Lloyd S. Davis

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Migrational Movements And Seasonal Home Ranges Of Greater Crested Terns Thalasseus Bergii Breeding In The South China Sea, Xin Yu, Xiao Guo, Yanzhu Ji, Shiyu Tang, Chenxi Jia, Fumin Lei

Marine Ornithology

The migratory pathways of Greater Crested Terns Thalasseus bergii in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway are poorly known. We tracked three birds by deploying GPS/GSM transmitters in September 2018, one for 23 months, one for 16 months, and one for 1.5 months. These tracks included complete fall migration routes for all three individuals and partial spring migration routes for two individuals between a breeding area in the Xisha Archipelago (South China Sea) and two wintering areas, one in the western Philippine Archipelago and the other in the western Celebes Sea. We observed that the two fully tracked terns had large seasonal …

The Influence Of Breeding Status And Nest Site Location On Marine Habitat Use By Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus Marmoratus, Sonya A. Pastran, David B. Lank, Patrick D. O’Hara, Russell W. Bradley, Cecilia Lougheed, Lynn W. Lougheed, Nadine R. Parker, Laura A. Mcfarlane Tranquilla, Elizabeth A. Krebs, Fred Cooke, Douglas F. Bertram

Marine Ornithology

The Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus is a threatened seabird that relies on old-growth forest for nesting. We compare marine space use between breeding and non-breeding birds, and how marine home range locations and overlap vary with respect to nesting location and breeding status. We collected very high frequency (VHF) radio-telemetry data in southern British Columbia from Clayoquot Sound (190 birds; 2000–2002) and Desolation Sound (206 birds; 1998–2001). The sites differ strongly in their oceanic exposure and surrounding terrestrial features. Kernel utilization distribution-based estimates showed that breeders and non-breeders had similar overall distributions, but breeders were more spatially aggregated. Pooled home …

Digging In! Burrowing Penguins And Surface Predators, Laura X.L. Tan, Kasun B. Ekanayake, Wouter F.D. Van Dongen, Peter Dann, Duncan R. Sutherland, Michael A. Weston

Marine Ornithology

A native Australian corvid, Little Raven Corvus mellori, has emerged as a dominant and problematic predator of an ecologically and economically important seabird, the Little Penguin Eudyptula minor. In 2013, ravens successfully preyed upon clutches/broods of the burrow-nesting penguin, especially those in shallower, more accessible burrows. Individual raven size might mediate which ravens attack penguins; smaller ravens may be able to enter burrows more easily; alternatively, larger ravens may be more capable of overcoming penguin parental defence. Here, we consider the predator-prey interactions to assess whether associations with burrow characteristics persisted and examine whether raven size mediated propensity to prey …

Nocturnal Flight Activity By Northern Gannets Morus Bassanus In Response To Predator Presence, Kyle J.N. D’Entremont, William A. Montevecchi

Marine Ornithology

The Northern Gannet Morus bassanus typically flies only during the day, with minimal flight activity following civil twilight. Here we document nocturnal flight activity by Northern Gannets in response to predation risk by Eastern Coyotes Canis latrans. Eight parental gannets were fitted with GPS/time-depth recorders on 15 July 2021 at mainland nest sites at Cape St. Mary’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Previously, among 506 foraging trips in 2019 and 2020 that were investigated using biologging, only two were initiated at night, suggesting nocturnal departures for foraging are very rare at this colony. Then, however, killings of chicks by coyotes occurred within our …

Spotted Again After 29 Years: Spot-Billed Pelican Pelecanus Philippensis In Indonesia, Hasri Abdillah, Muhammad Iqbal, Seno Pramudita, Alfianto Luat Siregar, Arief Hidayat, Muhammad Hatta, Anggi Elmolincont Tampubolon

Marine Ornithology

We report an observation of a Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis on 07 October 2021 in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This is the first sight-record of the species in Indonesia since 1992.

Common Mergansers Mergus Merganser Use Wings To Pursue A Fish Underwater, Anthony B. Lapsansky, Robert H. Armstrong

Marine Ornithology

Common Mergansers Mergus merganser dive into lakes, rivers, and coastal waters to feed on fish and other aquatic prey. This species and others in the genus Mergus are traditionally classified as foot-propelled divers. When submerged, mergansers are expected to swim by kicking their feet, holding their wings close to their bodies. Here, we report, with video evidence, an event in which four mergansers used their wings underwater to chase down and capture a large fish. Documentation of wing use by this classically defined “foot-propelled diver” illustrates the gaps in our understanding of avian diving physiology, hydrodynamics, and behavior.

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Reviews: How Birds Evolve: What Science Reveals About Their Origin, Lives And Diversity (Futuyma, Douglas J.); Seabirds: The New Identification Guide (Harrison, P., Perrow, M. & Larsson, H.); The Puffin Plan: Restoring Seabirds To Egg Rock And Beyond (Kress, S.W., Jackson, D.Z.); The Future We Choose: Surviving The Climate Crisis (Figueres, C. & Rivett-Carnac., T.), Anthony J. Gaston, Ian L. Jones, Holly P. Jones, Adalie A. Keltner, Christy N. Wails, George Divoky, Rachel T. Buxton

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Editorial: 50 Volumes Of Marine Ornithology, 1976-2022: The Founding Editor Looks Back, John Cooper

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Spatial Effects In Relation To Reproductive Performance Of Common Murres Uria Aalge At A Re-Established Colony, Gerard J. Mcchesney, Julie L. Yee, Michael W. Parker, William M. Perry, Harry R. Carter, Richard T. Golightly, Stephen W. Kress

Marine Ornithology

A main goal of seabird colony restoration is for the colony to become self-sustaining. To do so, elevated rates must be attained in (1) reproductive success and (2) recruitment by immigrants and birds produced at the colony. Thus, an understanding of the factors affecting reproductive success and recruitment at restoration sites is vital. We examined how spatial features at the colony level affected reproductive success of Common Murres Uria aalge (hereafter, murres) over a six-year period at Devil’s Slide Rock, California, a colony re-established using social attraction techniques. Clusters of sites with similar egg-laying dates, as well as high hatching …

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Diagnosis Of Hypothermia In Seabirds From Coastal California, Nancy L. Anderson

Marine Ornithology

This study established cloacal temperature (TCl) cut-off values to diagnose hypothermia in near shore seabirds rescued along the coast of California. All birds died when TCl was < 38.2 °C. When Aechmophorus grebes were excluded, 100% died when TCl was < 38.4 °C. Mortality increased 2–3× when TCl was lower than receiver operating curve-determined criteria for diagnosing hypothermia based on attitude: < 38.8 °C for mixed species, < 39.1 °C for Common Murres Uria aalge, and < 38.2 °C for Aechmophorus grebes. Reductions in TCl as small as 1.0 °C had significant physiologic effects.

Reviews: The Art Of The Bird: The History Of Ornithological Art Through Forty Artists (Lederer, R.J.); Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines And The Future Of Global Fisheries (Pauly, D.); Ta Life On Our Planet: My Witness Statement And A Vision For The Future (Attenborough, D.), Abby Mcbride, Michelle Paleczny, Phillip Taylor

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Southern Influx Of The Pantropical Bulwer's Petrel Bulweria Bulwerii Into The Tasman Sea, Simon B. Z. Gorta

Marine Ornithology

Seabirds exploit marine habitats for resources, responding to many complex environmental signals that ultimately drive their distributions. Occasionally, influxes of seabird species to regions outside their normal range occur and determining the drivers of these patterns can aid in understanding their ecology and their conservation. I documented five birdwatching observations of Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii in the Tasman Sea between 24 January and 08 March 2020, roughly 2000 km south of their core range. Based on demographic, environmental, and anecdotal observations of seabirds, cetaceans, and bait fish, I suggest that the influx was most likely resource-driven, rather than accidental, age-related, …

Low Prevalence Of Plasmodium And Haemoproteus In Resident Seabirds From Oceanic Islands Off The Brazilian Coast, Philippe N. Mariano, Gisele P. M. Dantas

Marine Ornithology

Bird pathogens promote morbidity and mortality that affect bird population stability. In this context, the present study aimed to detect blood intracellular parasites by molecular methods in four species of seabirds, Masked Booby Sula dactylatra, Red-footed Booby S. sula, Brown Booby S. leucogaster, and Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens, on the Brazilian coast. Blood samples were collected in the Archipelagos of São Pedro and São Paulo, Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. Genomic DNA was extracted with proteinase K digestion and purification with phenol and chloroform. For each sample, three independent polymerase chain reactions were performed …

Trends In Radar Counts Of Marbled Murrelets Brachyramphus Marmoratus In British Columbia (1996-2018): Effects Of 'The Blob' Marine Heatwave And Prey Fish Abundance, Mark C. Drever, Murdoch K. Mcallister, Douglas F. Bertram, Bernard K. Schroeder, Kerry J. Woo

Marine Ornithology

During 2014–2016, the northeast Pacific Ocean experienced a large-scale marine heatwave (nicknamed ‘The Blob’), an event that was associated with die-offs of several marine bird species. The Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus is a small seabird in this region for which we evaluated trends in abundance—for the purposes of conservation planning—during radar surveys at 58 sites in coastal British Columbia, from 1996 to 2018, and for which we determined whether trends may have been affected by ‘The Blob’. A hierarchical Bayesian model allowed us to separate long-term trends from short-term annual fluctuations (‘year effects’) that might have resulted from changes in …

Stable Isotope Analysis Of Multiple Tissues From Chick Carcasses Of Three Pygoscelid Penguins In Antarctica, Yanina A. Ciriani, Mariana A. Juáres, M. Mercedes Santos, Steven D. Emslie

Marine Ornithology

Many types of animal tissues are increasingly being used for stable isotope analysis, with their application dependent on the time frame they reflect and their availability for collection. Here, we investigated the isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N) of four tissues (feather, skin, toenail, and bone) collected from fledgling-period chick carcasses of three species of pygoscelid penguins to compare the variability and accuracy of the data among tissues. Samples were collected at 25 de Mayo/King George Island during the 2017/18 austral summer. Chick carcasses are commonly found at active penguin colonies, and “opportunistic sampling” can easily be performed without disturbing nesting …

Author Instructions, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Wedge-Tailed Shearwater Ardenna Pacifica Fallout Patterns Inform Targeted Management, Brooke Friswold, Keith Swindle, David Hyrenbach, Melissa R. Price

Marine Ornithology

Seabird fledglings are often attracted to artificial, bright lights, leading to their grounding. This phenomenon is termed “fallout” and is associated with an increased risk of mortality from land-based threats. This study evaluated temporal trends and spatial factors, such as fallout clustering near lights and proximity to colonies, to inform targeted management actions. Standardized surveys were conducted from 2002 to 2010 for Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica (WTSH) fallout on the island of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, USA. First, yearly fallout counts along the transect showed a two-year cycle and identified 25 November as the date with the highest fallout across years. Second, …

Recent Records Of Little Cormorant Microcarbo Niger In Sumatra, Indonesia, Arum Setiawan, Muhammad Iqbal, Pormansyah, Indra Yustian, Hilda Zulkifli

Marine Ornithology

We summarize observations of the Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger in Sumatra from 2016 to 2019. Based on these observations, we suggest that Little Cormorant has become widespread in Sumatra.

Mode Engineering And Functional Enhancement In Piezoelectric-On-Silicon Mems Resonators With Magnetic Field Sensing Applications, Ugur Guneroglu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation significantly advances the field of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) resonators by exploring novel post-fabrication tuning techniques, electrode configuration effects, and innovative sensor applications for thin-film piezoelectric-on-silicon (TPoS) resonator devices. Driven by the increasing demand for tunable, high-precision and robust MEMS resonators in radio frequency (RF) applications such as sensing, timing, and filtering, this research aim to provide foundational knowledge and practical solutions for overcoming existing technological limitations. The dissertation is organized into three main research thrusts, each addressing critical challenges and opportunities in the design, fabrication, and application of TPoS MEMS resonators.

The first research thrust investigates an innovative …

Reviews: The Quickening: Antarctica, Motherhood, And Cultivating Hope In A Warming World, Rachel T. Buxton, Eric J. Woehler

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.