REVIEW
Abstract Sub-Antarctic Marion Island has had a per-manent research station for 50 years and the island’s Wandering Albatrosses have been intensively studied for 20 years. The reactions of breeding birds to approaches by a human on foot were recorded. Three response variables were calculated: intensi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.603.695 http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/pdf/de Villiers_Wanderer_disturb.pdf |
| Summary: | Abstract Sub-Antarctic Marion Island has had a per-manent research station for 50 years and the island’s Wandering Albatrosses have been intensively studied for 20 years. The reactions of breeding birds to approaches by a human on foot were recorded. Three response variables were calculated: intensity of vocal reaction (IVR), intensity of non-vocal reaction (INR) and overall response index (ORI). At 5 m from the nest, twice as many birds stood and/or vocalised as at 15 m. Nearest neighbour distance, age and gender did not explain individual variability of responses. Study colony birds had higher IVR scores than non-study colony birds; birds at colonies closest to the station had the highest ORI scores. A better breeding record was associated with lower IVR and ORI scores, but a causative rela-tionship remains to be demonstrated. A minimum viewing distance of 25 m is recommended for breeding Wandering Albatrosses. |
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