Geographical patterns of seabird attendance to a research trawler along the Iberian Mediterranean coast

• Published in: Scientia Marina
• Main Authors: Abelló, Pere, Arcos, José Manuel, Gil de Sola, Luis
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España) 2003
• Subjects: Seabirds; Distribution; Trawl survey; Western Mediterranean; Aves marinas; Distribución; Campañas de arrastre; Mediterráneo occidental; Descartes; Gaviota; Popa; fratercula; Fratercula arctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/2409; https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2003.67s269

[EN]The attendance of seabirds to a research trawler along the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula was monitored during six demersal surveys (MEDITS project). Cruises were performed in late spring during the period 1994-1999. Twenty seabird species were recorded, including both breeders and migrants. The four most common species behind the boat were local breeders, namely the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus, Cory´s shearwater Calonectris diomedea, Audouin´s gull Larus audouinii and the yellow-legged gull Larus cachinnans. Most seabirds made use of trawler discards to some extent, with the exception of the Puffin Fratercula arctica. Geographically consistent patterns were identified in the six years surveyed. Seabirds were most abundant along the eastern coast of Iberia, especially off the Ebro Delta and around the Columbretes Islands, coinciding with one of the major areas of primary productivity and one of the largest trawling fleets in the western Mediterranean. The location of the main seabird colonies also influenced the distribution of breeders [ES]La atracción de aves marinas a un buque arrastrero de investigación fue estudiada durante seis campañas pesqueras demersales (proyecto MEDITS). Las campañas se realizaron a finales de primavera durante el periodo 1994-1999. Se registraron un total de veinte especies de aves marinas, incluyendo tanto especies reproductoras como migrantes. Las cuatro especies más comunes a popa del buque fueron especies reproductoras, concretamente la pardela balear Puffinus mauretanicus, la pardela cenicienta Calonectris diomedea, la gaviota de Audouin Larus audouinii y la gaviota patiamarilla Larus cachinnans. La mayor parte de las aves marinas usaron descartes pesqueros en mayor o menor grado, con excepción del frailecillo Fratercula arctica. Se identificaron pautas geográficamente consistentes en los seis años muestreados. La mayor abundancia de aves marinas se registró a lo largo de las costas orientales de la Península Ibérica, especialmente en la zona ...