Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels
Antarctic petrels Thalassoica antarctica on Ardery Island, Antarctica (66°S, 110°E), experienced major reductions in breeding success and breeder survival over four seasons between 1984/85 and 1996/97. In 1996 the reason was revealed. A large snowdrift covered part of the study colony on the cliffs....
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ftunivwagenin:oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/314031 2024-01-28T10:01:21+01:00 Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels van Franeker, J.A. Creuwels, J.C.S. van der Veer, W. Cleland, S. Robertson, G. 2001 https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/unexpected-effects-of-climate-change-on-the-predation-of-antarcti en eng https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/unexpected-effects-of-climate-change-on-the-predation-of-antarcti info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Wageningen University & Research Antarctic Science 13 (2001) 4 ISSN: 0954-1020 Antarctica ecologie klimaatverandering ornithologie stormvogel zuidpoolgebied info:eu-repo/semantics/article Article/Letter to editor info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2001 ftunivwagenin 2024-01-03T23:16:39Z Antarctic petrels Thalassoica antarctica on Ardery Island, Antarctica (66°S, 110°E), experienced major reductions in breeding success and breeder survival over four seasons between 1984/85 and 1996/97. In 1996 the reason was revealed. A large snowdrift covered part of the study colony on the cliffs. Southern giant petrels Macronectes giganteus, normally lacking access to this area, exploited the snow for soft 'crash landings'. After landing they waited for the disturbed birds to resettle on their nests and then used surprise to seize and kill a victim. Predation continued into the egg period, and only stopped after the snowdrift had melted. Giant petrels showed no interest in the eggs but, during the panic caused by their activities, South Polar skuas Catharacta maccormicki took the deserted eggs. Antarctic petrel mortality due to predation within the 1996/97 season amounted to 15.4␘f experienced breeders, and breeding success was reduced to virtually zero. Weather data from the nearby Casey station over the 1980-96 period showed that a significant increase in precipitation has occurred, in combination with shifts in speed and direction of winds. We conclude that the decreases in breeding success and survival in earlier seasons were also related to increased snowfall and predation. Although similar predation behaviour by giant petrels has not been reported before, we think that it is long established and explains why nesting of the smaller fulmarine petrels is limited to steeper cliffs or sheltered sites. The complexity of the response seems unlikely to be predicted by our present understanding of how climate change affects ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Petrel Antarctic Science Antarctica Ardery Island Catharacta maccormicki Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus South Polar Skuas Thalassoica antarctica Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library Antarctic Casey Station ENVELOPE(110.528,110.528,-66.282,-66.282) Giganteus ENVELOPE(62.500,62.500,-67.567,-67.567) Ardery Island ENVELOPE(110.450,110.450,-66.371,-66.371) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wageningen UR (University & Research Centre): Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivwagenin |
language |
English |
topic |
Antarctica ecologie klimaatverandering ornithologie stormvogel zuidpoolgebied |
spellingShingle |
Antarctica ecologie klimaatverandering ornithologie stormvogel zuidpoolgebied van Franeker, J.A. Creuwels, J.C.S. van der Veer, W. Cleland, S. Robertson, G. Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels |
topic_facet |
Antarctica ecologie klimaatverandering ornithologie stormvogel zuidpoolgebied |
description |
Antarctic petrels Thalassoica antarctica on Ardery Island, Antarctica (66°S, 110°E), experienced major reductions in breeding success and breeder survival over four seasons between 1984/85 and 1996/97. In 1996 the reason was revealed. A large snowdrift covered part of the study colony on the cliffs. Southern giant petrels Macronectes giganteus, normally lacking access to this area, exploited the snow for soft 'crash landings'. After landing they waited for the disturbed birds to resettle on their nests and then used surprise to seize and kill a victim. Predation continued into the egg period, and only stopped after the snowdrift had melted. Giant petrels showed no interest in the eggs but, during the panic caused by their activities, South Polar skuas Catharacta maccormicki took the deserted eggs. Antarctic petrel mortality due to predation within the 1996/97 season amounted to 15.4␘f experienced breeders, and breeding success was reduced to virtually zero. Weather data from the nearby Casey station over the 1980-96 period showed that a significant increase in precipitation has occurred, in combination with shifts in speed and direction of winds. We conclude that the decreases in breeding success and survival in earlier seasons were also related to increased snowfall and predation. Although similar predation behaviour by giant petrels has not been reported before, we think that it is long established and explains why nesting of the smaller fulmarine petrels is limited to steeper cliffs or sheltered sites. The complexity of the response seems unlikely to be predicted by our present understanding of how climate change affects ecosystems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
van Franeker, J.A. Creuwels, J.C.S. van der Veer, W. Cleland, S. Robertson, G. |
author_facet |
van Franeker, J.A. Creuwels, J.C.S. van der Veer, W. Cleland, S. Robertson, G. |
author_sort |
van Franeker, J.A. |
title |
Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels |
title_short |
Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels |
title_full |
Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels |
title_fullStr |
Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels |
title_full_unstemmed |
Unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of Antarctic petrels |
title_sort |
unexpected effects of climate change on the predation of antarctic petrels |
publishDate |
2001 |
url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/unexpected-effects-of-climate-change-on-the-predation-of-antarcti |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(110.528,110.528,-66.282,-66.282) ENVELOPE(62.500,62.500,-67.567,-67.567) ENVELOPE(110.450,110.450,-66.371,-66.371) |
geographic |
Antarctic Casey Station Giganteus Ardery Island |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Casey Station Giganteus Ardery Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Petrel Antarctic Science Antarctica Ardery Island Catharacta maccormicki Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus South Polar Skuas Thalassoica antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctic Petrel Antarctic Science Antarctica Ardery Island Catharacta maccormicki Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus South Polar Skuas Thalassoica antarctica |
op_source |
Antarctic Science 13 (2001) 4 ISSN: 0954-1020 |
op_relation |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/unexpected-effects-of-climate-change-on-the-predation-of-antarcti |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Wageningen University & Research |
_version_ |
1789326251192745984 |