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MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

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Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 297:283-296 (2005)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps297283

copied

Effect of wintering area and climate on the survival of adult Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica in the eastern Atlantic

ABSTRACT:  Despite contrasting population trends ranging from –3 to +11% per annum, the annual survival rates of Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica in the 5 colonies spanning the species range in the east Atlantic were virtually identical over a 10 to 15 yr period, giving no support to the hypothesis that variation in population growth rates is driven by adult survival. The extent to which survival varied among years differed markedly between colonies. Similarities between colonies in the patterns of inter-annual variation in survival did not reflect similarities in wintering areas, as indicated by recoveries of ringed birds, nor the geographic proximity of the colonies. However, survival in 4 of the 5 colonies correlated with sea surface temperatures around each colony 2 yr earlier. The relationship between survival and sea temperature was positively correlated with the effects of sea temperature on recruitment of the Atlantic puffin’s main prey species, the lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus, the herring Clupea harengus and the capelin Mallotus villosus.

KEYWORDS

Adult survival North Atlantic Oscillation Sea surface temperature Population regulation

Michael P. Harris (Corresponding Author)

mph@ceh.ac.uk

Tycho Anker-Nilssen (Co-author)

  • Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7485 Trondheim, Norway

Robin H. McCleery (Co-author)

  • Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK

Kjell Einar Erikstad (Co-author)

  • Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), The Polar Environmental Centre, 9296 TromsÃļ, Norway

Deryk N. Shaw (Co-author)

  • Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust, Fair Isle, Shetland ZE2 9JU, UK

Vladimir Grosbois (Co-author)

  • University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Department of Biology, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
  • Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, UK
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