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Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean
Bibliography: pages 57-66.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Biological Sciences
2016
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| _version_ | 1867613641527787520 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Griffiths, Andrew Martin |
| author2 | Siegfried, Roy |
| author_browse | Griffiths, Andrew Martin Siegfried, Roy |
| author_facet | Siegfried, Roy Griffiths, Andrew Martin |
| author_sort | Griffiths, Andrew Martin |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Bibliography: pages 57-66. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17730 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:22.894Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Department of Biological Sciences |
| publisherStr | Department of Biological Sciences |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/17730 Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean Griffiths, Andrew Martin Siegfried, Roy Zoology Bibliography: pages 57-66. The feasibility of obtaining information on the dispersion of seabirds at sea precise enough to reflect changes in their prey was investigated. A standardized technique for counting birds from a moving ship, designed to limit biases due to birds circling, following and/or deviating towards/from the ship, is suggested. An interspecific comparison of 31 seabird species was made to determine which species yielded the most accurate censuses. Although many species are attracted towards the ship, only the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans follows for long periods. Counts from a stationary ship are shown to be unsuitable for abundance and biomass estimates, because of the accumulation of birds around the ship. The avifauna at sea is described in terms of species richness, diversity, abundance, biomass and trophic groups of 42 pelagic species (penguins excluded). Birds eating plankton and cephalopods are the most abundant; few birds eat fish. Plankton- and cephalopod-eaters occur most abundantly in the south and north of the study area, respectively. An association between their distribution and the availability of their principal prey is proposed. The effect of five abiotic features on seabird distribution was investigated. Although significant preference for specific ranges of features is demonstrated, linear correlations are weak (maximum correlation coefficient (r = 0.325). Abiotic features associated with the distribution of the Snow Petrel Pagodroma nivea and the Antarctic Petrel Thalassoica antarctica were investigated in greater detail. Statistical relationships between the species' occurrence and measured oceanographic and meteorological features are inconclusive. Associations with prey are discounted, because of the birds' apparently unspecialized diet and opportunistic feeding. The two species occur in or near sea-ice. Their restriction to this area and the concomitant absence of other procellariiform species appears to be consequent on the species' flight characteristics. The merits of using seabirds at sea as biological indicators of prey resources are discussed. 2016-03-14T07:22:29Z 2016-03-14T07:22:29Z 1982 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17730 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Zoology Griffiths, Andrew Martin Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean |
| title_full | Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean |
| title_fullStr | Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean |
| title_short | Dispersion of seabirds at sea in the Southern Ocean |
| title_sort | dispersion of seabirds at sea in the southern ocean |
| topic | Zoology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17730 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT griffithsandrewmartin dispersionofseabirdsatseainthesouthernocean |