Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Annual survival and breeding dispersal of a seabird adapted to a stable environment: implications for conservation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ornithology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding the spatial dynamics of populations is essential for conservation of species at the landscape level. Species that have adapted to stable environments may not move from their breeding areas even if these have become sub-optimal due to anthropogenic disturbances. Instead, they may breed unsuccessfully or choose not to breed at all. Damara Terns Sternula balaenarum feed off the highly productive Benguela Upwelling System. They breed on the coastal desert mainland of Namibia where development and off-road driving is threatening breeding areas. We report annual survival and breeding dispersal probabilities of 214 breeding adult Damara Terns through capture–mark–recapture at two colonies for 9 years (2001–2009) in central Namibia. Using multi-state models in program MARK, model selection based on AICc favoured a model that suggests local annual survival of Damara Terns for the dataset was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.73–0.96) and the annual dispersal probability was 0.06 (0.03–0.12). High survival and low dispersal probabilities are consistent with other seabirds adapted to stable environments. These estimates contribute to the first baseline demographic information for the Damara Tern. Low dispersal probabilities indicate that current protection of breeding sites is an important management approach for protecting the species.

Zusammenfassung

Jährliche Überlebensrate und Brutortstreuung bei einem an stabile Umweltbedingungen angepassten Seevogel: Auswirkung auf Schutzmaßnahmen

Um Arten auf Landschaftsebene zu schützen ist es wichtig, die räumliche Dynamik der Populationen zu verstehen. Es ist möglich, dass Arten, die an eine stabile Umwelt angepasst sind, ihre Brutgebiete nicht verändern können, selbst wenn diese infolge anthropogener Veränderungen nicht mehr optimal sind. Stattdessen könnten sie dort erfolglos zu brüten versuchen oder gar nicht mehr brüten. Damara-Seeschwalben S. balaenarum ernähren sich im hochproduktiven Benguela Auftriebsgebiet. Sie brüten an der Küste der Namibwüste, wo Überbauungen und Fahren im Gelände ihre Brutgebiete gefährdet. Wir präsentieren jährliche Überlebensraten und Dispersionswahrscheinlichkeiten basierend auf 214 brütenden adulten Damara-Seeschwalben, ermittelt durch Fang-Wiederfang Methoden über neun Jahre (2001–2009) in zwei Kolonien Zentralnamibias. Multi-state Modelle in Programm MARK zeigten für diese Daten, dass die jährliche lokale Überlebensrate von Damara-Seeschwalben 0.88 (95% Vertrauernsbereich 0.73–0.96) war und die jährliche Dispersionswahrscheinlichkeit zwischen den Kolonien betrug 0.06 (0.03–0.12). Die hohe Überlebensrate und niedrige Dispersionswahrscheinlichkeit sind vergleichbar mit anderen an stabile Umwelten angepassten Seevögeln. Diese Schätzungen sind ein erster Beitrag zum Verständnis der Demographie von Damara-Seeschwalben. Die niedere Dispersionswahrscheinlichkeiten legen nahe, dass der Schutz der Brutgebiete, wie er momentan betrieben wird, eine tatsächlich wichtige Maßnahme zum Schutz dieser Art ist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altwegg R, Crawford RJM, Underhill LG, Martin AP, Whittington PA (2007) Geographic variation in reproduction and survival of kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) in southern Africa. J Avian Biol 38:580–586

    Google Scholar 

  • Atwood JL, Massey BW (1988) Site fidelity of least terns in California. Condor 90:389–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin OL (1940) Some aspects of individual distribution in the Cape Cod tern colonies. Bird-Banding 11:155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Austin OL (1949) Site tenacity, a behaviour trait of the common tern Sterna hirundu. Bird-Banding 20:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Beadell JS, Schreiber AE, Schreiber RW, Schenk GA, Doherty PF (2003) Survival of brown boobies Sula leucogaster at Johnston Atoll: a long-term study. Auk 120:811–817

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker PH, Wendeln H (1997) A new application for transponders in population ecology of the common tern. Condor 99:534–538

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker PH, Wendeln H, Gonzalez-Solis J (2001) Population dynamics, recruitment, individual quality and reproductive strategies in common terns (Sterna hirundo) marked with transponders. Ardea 2001:241–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Blockpoel H, Courtney P (1980) Site tenacity in a new ring-billed gull colony. J Field Ornithol 51:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer DC, Boyer H, Fossen I, Kreiner A (2001) Changes in abundance of the Northern Benguela sardine stock during the decade 1999–2000, with comments on the relative importance of fishing and the environment. S Afr J Mar Sci 23:67–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Braby J (2011) The biology and conservation of the Damara tern Sterna balaenarum in Namibia. PhD Thesis, University of Cape Town

  • Braby RJ, Shapira A, Simmons RE (2001) Successful conservation measures and new breeding records for Damara terns Sterna balaenarum in Namibia. Mar Ornithol 28:81–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Braby J, Braby RJ, Braby N, Simmons RE (2009) Protecting Damara terns Sterna balaenarum from recreational disturbance in the Namib Desert increases breeding density and overall success. Ostrich 80:71–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Braby J, Braby SJ, Braby RJ, Altwegg R (2011) Immature survival and age at first breeding of Damara terns: conservation from a non-breeding perspective. Ardea 99:185–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Branch GM, Barkai A, Hockey PAR, Hutchings L (1987) Biological interactions: causes and effects of variability in the Benguela ecosystem? S Afr J Mar Sci 5:425–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnham KP, Anderson DR (2002) Model selection and multi model inference: a practical information-theoretic approach, 2nd edn. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark BM (2006) Climate change: a looming challenge for fisheries management in southern Africa. Mar Policy 30:84

    Google Scholar 

  • Clinning CF (1978) The biology and conservation of the Damara tern in South West Africa. Modoqua 11:31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Clobert J, Danchin E, Dhondt AA, Nichols JD (2001) Dispersal. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins CT, Dougherty PF Jr (2006) Survival estimates for royal terns in southern California. J Field Ornithol 77:310–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins CT, Doherty PF Jr, Knapp PL (2010) Intercolony movement and survival of Caspian terns in Southern California. N Am Bird Bander 35:178–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover MR, Miller DE (1978) Reactions of ring-billed gulls to predators and human disturbances at their breeding colonies. Col Waterbirds 2:41–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Coulson JC, White E (1958) The effect of age on the breeding biology of kittiwake. Ibis 100:40–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford RJM, Goya E, Roux J-P, Zavalaga CB (2006) Comparison of assemblages and some life-history traits of seabirds in the Humboldt and Benguela systems. Afr J Mar Sc 28:553–560

    Google Scholar 

  • de Villiers D, Simmons RE (1997) The high incidence and origin of two-egg clutches in a Damara tern colony in south-western Namibia. Modoqua 19:111–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Devlin CM, Diamond AW, Kress SW, Hall CS, Welch L (2008) Breeding dispersal and survival of arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) nesting in the Gulf of Maine. Auk 125:850–858

    Google Scholar 

  • Erwin RM (1977) Foraging and breeding adaptations to different food regimes in three seabirds: the common tern Sterna hirundo, royal tern Sterna maxima and black skimmer Rynchops niger. Ecology 58:389–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezard T, Becker PH, Coulson T (2006) The contributions of age and sex to variation in common tern population growth rate. J Anim Ecol 75:1379–1386

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feare CJ, Dougherty PF Jr (2004) Survival estimates of adult sooty terns Sterna fuscata from Bird Island, Seychelles. Ibis 146:475–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost PGH, Shaughnessy G (1976) Breeding adaptations of the Damara Tern Sterna balaenarum. Modoqua 9:33–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris MP, Wanless S, Rothery P (2000) Adult survival rates of shag (Phalacrocorax aritotelis), common guillemot (Uria aalgae), razorbill (Alca torda), puffin (Fratercula arctica) and kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) on the Isle of May, 1986–1996. Atl Seab 2:133–150

    Google Scholar 

  • IUCN (2009) Summary statistics for globally threatened species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/. Last accessed 6 Aug 2010

  • Lebreton JD, Burnham KP, Clobert J, Anderson DR (1992) Modeling survival and testing biological hypotheses using marked animals: a unified approach with case studies. Ecol Monogr 62:67–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebreton JD, Hines JE, Pradel R, Nichols JD, Spendelow JA (2003) Estimation by capture-recapture of recruitment and dispersal over several sites. Oikos 101:253–264

    Google Scholar 

  • McNicholl MK (1975) Larid site tenacity and group adherence in relation to habitat. Auk 92:98–104

    Google Scholar 

  • McPeek MA, Holt RD (1992) The evolution of dispersal in spatially and temporally varying environments. Amer Nat 140:1010–1027

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbet ICT, Cam E (2002) Test for age-specific survival of the common tern. J Appl St 29:65–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbet ICT, Ratcliffe N (2008) Comparative demographics of tropical and temperate roseate terns. Waterbirds 31:346–356. doi:https://doi.org/10.1675/1524-4695-31.3.346

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill P, Minton CDT, Nisbet ICT, Hines JE (2008) Annual recapture and survival rates of two non-breeding adult populations of roseate terns Sterna dougallii captured on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and estimating their population sizes. Waterbirds 31(3):338–345

    Google Scholar 

  • Oro D, Furness RW (2002) Influences of food availability and predation on survival of kittiwakes. Ecology 83:2516–2528

    Google Scholar 

  • Oro D, Pradel R, Lebreton J-D (1999) Food availability and nest predation influence life history traits in Audouin’s gull, Larus audouinii. Oecologia 118:438–445

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson MR (1980) Red fox predation of seabirds at Shaik Island, Alaska. Pacific Seabird Group Bull 7:54–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Pons JM, Migot P (1995) Life-history strategy of the herring gull: changes in survival and fecundity in a population subjected to various feeding conditions. J Anim Ecol 64:592–599

    Google Scholar 

  • Pradel R, Hines JE, Lebreton J-D, Nichols JD (1997) Capture-recapture survival models taking account of transients. Biometrics 53:60–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Prévot-Julliard AC, Lebreton JD, Pradel R (1998) Re-evaluation of adult survival of black-headed gulls (Larus ridiburdus) in presence of recapture heterogeneity. Auk 115:85–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliffe N, Newton S, Morrison P, Merne O, Cadwallender T, Frederiksen M (2008) Adult survival and breeding dispersal of roseate terns within the Northwest European metapopulation. Waterbirds 31:320–329. doi:https://doi.org/10.1675/1524-4695-31.3.320

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed JM, Oring LW (1993) Philopatry, site fidelity, dispersal, and survival of spotted sandpipers. Auk 110:541–551

    Google Scholar 

  • Renken RB, Smith JW (1995a) Annual adult survival of interior least terns. J Field Ornithol 66:112–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Renken RB, Smith JW (1995b) Interior least tern site fidelity and dispersal. Col Waterbirds 18:193–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson JA, Oring LW (1997) Natal and breeding dispersal of American avocets. Auk 114:416–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons S, Braine S (1994) Breeding, foraging, trapping and sexing of Damara terns in the Skeleton Coast Park, Namibia. Ostrich 65:264–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Southern WE (1977) Colony selection and colony site tenacity in ring-billed gulls at a stable colony. Auk 94:469–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Southern LK, Southern WE (1979) Absence of nocturnal defense mechanisms in breeding gulls. In: Proceedings of the 1978 conference colonial waterbird group, pp 157–162

  • Southern LK, Southern WE (1980) Philopatry in ring-billed gulls. In: Proceedings of the 1979 conference colonial waterbird group, pp 27–32

  • Southern LK, Southern WE (1982) Effect of habitat decimation on ring-billed gull colony—and nest site tenacity. Auk 99:328–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Spendelow JA, Nichols JD, Nisbet IC, Hays H, Cormons GD, Burger J, Safina C, Hines JE, Gochfeld M (1995) Estimating annual survival and movement rates of adults within a metapopulation of roseate terns. Ecology 76:2415–2428

    Google Scholar 

  • Spendelow JA, Nichols JE, Hines JE, Lebreton JD, Pradel R (2002) Modelling post fledging survival and age-specific breeding probabilities in species with delayed maturity: a case study of roseate terns at Falkner Island, Connecticut. J Appl Stat 29:285–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Spendelow JA, Hines JE, Nichols JD, Nisbet ICT, Cormons G, Hays H, Hatch JJ, Mostello CS (2008) Temporal variation in adult survival rates of roseate terns during periods of increasing and declining populations. Waterbirds 31:309–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Spendelow JA, Mostello CS, Nisbet ICT, Hall CS, Welch L (2010) Interregional breeding dispersal of adult roseate terns. Waterbirds 33:242–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenhouse IJ, Robertson GJ (2005) Philopatry, site tenacity, mate fidelity and adult survival in Sabine’s gulls. Condor 107(2):416–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenhouse IJ, Robertson GJ, Gilchrest HG (2004) Recoveries and survival rate of ivory gulls banded in Nunavut, Canada, 1971–1999. Waterbirds 27:486–492

    Google Scholar 

  • White GC, Burnham KP (1999) Program MARK: survival estimation from populations of marked animals. Bird Study 46:120–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams AJ, Ward VL, Underhill LG (2004) Waders respond quickly and positively to the banning from beaches in South Africa. Wader Study Group Bull 104:79–81

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding and support for the protection, management and monitoring of the breeding areas Caution Reef and Horses Graves have been given by the Namibian Coastal Management Project (NACOMA), BirdLife International through its Rio Tinto BirdLife Partnership Action Fund, Rössing Uranium Limited Swakopmund, Namib Film, Big Banana Film, Coca-Cola through its 2041 Antarctica Project, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism of Namibia, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia, Local Authorities and the Erongo Regional Council, CC Africa and various tour companies. J.B. is supported by Namdeb Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd, a National Research Foundation SeaChange Research Grant to Les Underhill, a Gordon Sprigg Scholarship and the Sam Cohen Scholarship Trust. R.A. was supported by NRF grant no. 68561. Mark Boorman built the snap-trap enabling the capture and re-capture of breeding individuals. Holger Kolberg made the maps for this study. Comments from Norman Ratcliffe, Jeff Spendelow and Peter Becker considerably improved previous drafts of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Justine Braby & Res Altwegg

  2. Marine Research Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Justine Braby

  3. P.O. Box 656, Swakopmund, Namibia

    Sigrid J. Braby

  4. Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project, P.O. Box 7018, Swakopmund, Namibia

    Rodney J. Braby

  5. South African National Biodiversity Institute, P/Bag X7, Claremont, 7735, South Africa

    Res Altwegg

Authors
  1. Justine Braby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sigrid J. Braby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rodney J. Braby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Res Altwegg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Justine Braby.

Additional information

Communicated by P. H. Becker.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Braby, J., Braby, S.J., Braby, R.J. et al. Annual survival and breeding dispersal of a seabird adapted to a stable environment: implications for conservation. J Ornithol 153, 809–816 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0798-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-011-0798-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation