Abstract
Migratory seabirds experience varying levels of both protection and threats as they travel across marine regions and countries’ jurisdictions. Studying their seasonal distribution provides insights into the full range of exploited habitats and potential gaps in conservation policy existing in the visited areas. Here we used light-based geolocation to examine the seasonal at-sea distribution of an endemic seabird from New Zealand, the Fiordland Penguin Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, with respect to Economic Exclusive Zones (EEZs). We show that the five birds successfully tracked from the remote Open Bay Islands exploited vast areas in the South Pacific Ocean and used contrasted habitats across seasons. During extensive periods at-sea before and after moulting, Fiordland Penguins reached cold oceanic waters across the Subantarctic Front (Subantarctic and Polar Frontal zones, 2–10 °C), ranging 1500–2000 km in the southwest of their colony. Across both these trips, all birds distributed extensively outside New Zealand’s EEZ (nearly 50% of time), into areas beyond national jurisdiction providing little tangible protection, and some temporarily entered Australia’s EEZ. This contrasted with previous results from the breeding season, when the Penguins distributed exclusively within New Zealand’s EEZ, in relatively shallow and warm (c. 12–20 °C) waters north of the Southern Subtropical Front. Annually, the tracked Penguins spent 102 days outside New Zealand waters, of which 79 days in the high seas. Our results provide new perspectives on pertinent conservation strategies for migratory “endemic” Penguins. Year-round approach on the at-sea ecology of species seems fundamental for adequate management of threatened marine biodiversity.
Zusammenfassung
Umfassende Nutzung der Hochsee durch gefährdete Dickschnabelpinguine außerhalb der Brutsaison
Ziehende Seevögel erfahren sowohl Schutz als auch Bedrohung in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß, während sie durch unterschiedliche Meeresregionen und die Rechtsräume verschiedener Länder ziehen. Ihre saisonale Verbreitung zu untersuchen ermöglicht Einblicke in die gesamte Breite genutzter Habitate und eventuelle Lücken in der Naturschutzpolitik, die in den aufgesuchten Gebieten existieren. Hier haben wir Helldunkelgeolokatoren benutzt, um die saisonale Verbreitung auf hoher See eines in Neuseeland endemischen Seevogels, des Dickschnabelpinguins Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, mit Bezug auf ausschließliche Wirtschaftszonen (EEZs) zu untersuchen. Wir zeigen, dass die fünf Vögel, deren Weg wir erfolgreich von den abgelegenen Open Bay-Inseln aus verfolgen konnten, ausgedehnte Gebiete im Südpazifik und verschiedene Habitate im Jahreszeitenverlauf nutzten. Sowohl vor als auch nach der Mauser verbrachten die Dickschnabelpinguine viel Zeit auf hoher See und erreichten Kaltwasserbereiche jenseits der Subantarktisfront (Subantarktis- und Polarfrontzonen, 2–10 °C), 1500–2000 km südwestlich von ihrer Kolonie. Auf beiden Reisen hielten sich die Vögel zu fast 50% der Zeit außerhalb der ausschließlichen Wirtschaftszone Neuseelands auf, in Gebieten jenseits nationaler Gerichtsbarkeit, die wenig konkreten Schutz boten. Einige Tiere drangen vorübergehend in Australiens ausschließliche Wirtschaftszone ein. Dies stand im Widerspruch zu vorherigen Befunden aus der Brutsaison, während derer sich die Pinguine lediglich in Neuseelands ausschließlicher Wirtschaftszone aufhielten, in relativ flachen und warmen (ca. 12–20 °C) Gewässern nördlich der Südlichen Subtropischen Front. Die in der vorliegenden Studie untersuchten Pinguine verbrachten 102 Tage des Jahres außerhalb neuseeländischer Gewässer, davon 79 Tage auf hoher See. Unsere Ergebnisse liefern neue Perspektiven für stichhaltige Schutzstrategien für ziehende „endemische“ Pinguine. Eine ganzjährige Herangehensweise an die Hochsee-Ökologie von Arten erscheint wesentlich für das angemessene Management bedrohter mariner Artenvielfalt.
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Data availability
The animals’ geolocation estimates will be made available upon request on the BirdLife International Seabird Tracking Database.
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Acknowledgements
We thank the owners of Taumaka and Popotai as represented by the Taumaka Ahu Whenua Trust for access to the study site. We also wish to thank Kahurangi Wilson-Mahuika who is also an island owner, for his help with fieldwork, his open heart and insights into knowledge about the species, Jean-Claude Stahl, Aude Boudet and David Waugh for helpful assistance with the field work, and Paige Green for advice on the analyses. The work is dedicated to Ian Rasmussen, who devoted a large part of his life to caring for Taumaka / Open Bay Island and treasured its wildlife.
Funding
The study was funded by Te Papa Tongarewa museum of New Zealand, CNRS France and Deakin University.
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All field procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the New Zealand Department of Conservation. The study was conducted under Wildlife Permit 49827-FAU issued by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
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Communicated by C. Barbraud.
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Thiebot, JB., Bost, CA., Poupart, T.A. et al. Extensive use of the high seas by Vulnerable Fiordland Penguins across non-breeding stages. J Ornithol 161, 1033–1043 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01791-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01791-8