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Low breeding success and sharp population decline at the largest known Falkland skua colony

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Abstract

The Falkland skua Stercorarius antarctica antarctica is a poorly known seabird. Demographic studies at the largest known colony of this taxon revealed a sharp population decline (47%) in just 5 years, between 2004 and 2009. The decline seems to be linked with a chronic low breeding success in the recent years and is consistent with a situation of virtually zero recruitment. The ultimate causes of the decline are, as of yet, unknown, but plausible explanations are examined and discussed. The reported population trends should be the cause of some concern, and more research and monitoring are desired.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Orea Anderson, Maria Dias, Riek van Noordwijk, Charles Swift, Nina Dehnhard and Laurent Demongin for help with fieldwork. The New Island Conservation Trust, an NGO and charity, supported field studies on their New Island reserve, through the supply of research facilities, accommodation and subsistence. This study was financed by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT-Portugal) through Projecto Albatroz 2 (PTDC/MAR/099366/2008) and as part of the Programa Plurianual (UI&D 331/94). RM received a grant from FCT (SFRH/BD/47378/2008). Further support was received from the Falkland Islands Government and from Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Portugal). Ian Strange, Maria Strange, Georgina Strange, Anton Wolfaardt, Leigh Wolfaardt and Helen Otley provided important logistical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eco-Ethology Research Unit, ISPA, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulo Catry, Ana Almeida, Miguel Lecoq & Rafael Matias

  2. Museu Nacional de História Natural, Rua da Escola Politécnica, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulo Catry

  3. CESAM, Museu Nacional de História Natural, Rua da Escola Politécnica, Lisbon, Portugal

    José Pedro Granadeiro

  4. Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, UK

    Rafael Matias

Authors
  1. Paulo Catry
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  2. Ana Almeida
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  3. Miguel Lecoq
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  4. José Pedro Granadeiro
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  5. Rafael Matias
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Correspondence to Paulo Catry.

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Catry, P., Almeida, A., Lecoq, M. et al. Low breeding success and sharp population decline at the largest known Falkland skua colony. Polar Biol 34, 1239–1241 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-0978-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-0978-1

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