DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF ANTARCTIC AND SUBANTARCTIC SEABIRDS WITHIN AN OFFSHORE TRANSECT BETWEEN RIO GRANDE/RS AND RIO DE JANEIRO/RJ

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to analyze the distribution and abundance of subantarctic and Antarctic seabirds along the o shore route between Rio Grande (RS) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). ree surveys were performed during April in 2011, 2012 and 2013. On board censuses were conducted to evaluate the abundance and distribution of seabirds. e most abundant species was the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross alassarche chlororhynchos, with 51 individuals and the least species abundant was the Blackbellied Storm Petrel Fregetta tropica, with only two individuals. Latitude 29° S showed the largest abundance of seabirds (n=41), whereas the smallest abundance was observed at latitude 24o S (n=2). e highest richness was observed at latitudes 26° S and 30o S (n=5 in each degree). We conclude that most birds that use the Brazilian coast as a foraging area are actually south migrant species and that further studies are necessary to assess factors which may explain the distribution of these birds.