Global distribution, threats and population trends of the critically endangered Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus

IF 4.9 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Biological Conservation Pub Date : 2025-03-05 DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111047

Andrés De la Cruz , Jorge M. Pereira , Gonzalo M. Arroyo , Jaime A. Ramos , Hany Alonso , José Manuel Arcos , Beneharo Rodríguez , Juan Bécares , Fernando Ramos , Jorge Tornero , Camilo Saavedra , José Antonio Vázquez , Isabel García-Barón , Amaia Astarloa , Maite Louzao , Sophie Laran , Ghislain Dorémus , James Waggitt , Vitor H. Paiva

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Knowledge of the spatial distribution and population trends of threatened species is essential to improve their conservation status. We analysed a 21-year dataset (2000−2020) with at-sea counts of the critically endangered Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) to understand its distribution, habitat suitability, population trends, overlap with threats such as fisheries and offshore marine renewables, and overlap with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Our study reveals higher densities of Balearic shearwaters along the eastern Spanish coast, Balearic Islands, and the Atlantic Iberian coast, with recent expansion into the Celtic Sea, English Channel, and southern North Sea, indicating a northward shift in distribution. Species distribution models identified distance to coast and colony, bathymetry, and sea surface temperature as key predictors of habitat suitability. Population trends indicate a concerning decline in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Iberian coast, with a recent increase in northern Europe, though insufficient to offset declines in the main areas.

Fisheries, particularly gillnets and purse seines, pose significant threats across the species' range. There is a critical need for data on artisanal longline fisheries to enhance threat assessments. Emerging threats from offshore wind farms do not appear to overlap with the species' primary distribution, but further investigation is needed. Although MPAs partially cover its range, their overlap is low, highlighting the need to update protected area networks and implement management plans.

This study provides a global view of the distribution, habitat suitability, key threats, and population trends of the Balearic shearwater, offering crucial insights for the conservation of this critically endangered species.

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极度濒危的巴利阿里鹱的全球分布、威胁和种群趋势

了解濒危物种的空间分布和种群趋势对改善其保护状况至关重要。我们分析了21年的数据集（2000 - 2020），其中包括极度濒危的巴利阿里海鸥（Puffinus mauretanicus）的海上数量，以了解其分布，栖息地适宜性，种群趋势，与渔业和近海海洋可再生能源等威胁的重叠，以及与海洋保护区（MPAs）的重叠。我们的研究表明，沿西班牙东部海岸、巴利阿里群岛和大西洋伊比利亚海岸的巴利阿里海鸥密度较高，最近扩展到凯尔特海、英吉利海峡和北海南部，表明分布向北转移。物种分布模型确定了到海岸和殖民地的距离、水深和海面温度是生境适宜性的关键预测因子。人口趋势表明，地中海和大西洋伊比利亚沿岸的人口减少令人担忧，北欧的人口最近有所增加，但不足以抵消主要地区的人口减少。渔业，特别是刺网和围网，对该物种的生存范围构成了重大威胁。目前迫切需要关于手工延绳钓渔业的数据，以加强威胁评估。来自海上风力发电场的新威胁似乎与该物种的主要分布不重叠，但需要进一步调查。尽管海洋保护区部分覆盖了其范围，但它们的重叠程度很低，这凸显了更新保护区网络和实施管理计划的必要性。本研究提供了巴利阿里海鸥分布、栖息地适宜性、主要威胁和种群趋势的全球视图，为保护这一极度濒危物种提供了重要见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Biological Conservation 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

10.20

自引率

3.40%

发文量

295

审稿时长

61 days

期刊介绍： Biological Conservation is an international leading journal in the discipline of conservation biology. The journal publishes articles spanning a diverse range of fields that contribute to the biological, sociological, and economic dimensions of conservation and natural resource management. The primary aim of Biological Conservation is the publication of high-quality papers that advance the science and practice of conservation, or which demonstrate the application of conservation principles for natural resource management and policy. Therefore it will be of interest to a broad international readership.