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Seabird distribution and oceanic upwelling off northwest Africa

Seabird distribution and oceanic upwelling off northwest Africa
Seabird distribution and oceanic upwelling off northwest Africa
Large numbers of seabirds from northern Europe, including the UK, winter in a major zone of upwelling off northwest Africa. This area also attracts seabirds on migration to and from wintering areas farther south, as well as immature seabirds which are too young to breed. In spring 2003, the research ship R.V. Meteor visited this upwelling zone off Mauritania. The factors affecting seabird distribution in the region were assessed by comparing observational data on seabirds with a unique combination of other data from the study area. Fish, zooplankton and phytoplankton are concentrated along the shelf edge and upper slope where relatively cool, nutrient-rich, upwelled waters are brought to the surface, and the highest concentrations of seabirds are also found here. Although upwelling, and the associated concentration of food, appears to be the key control on seabird distribution, this pattern is complicated by human fishing activities, which are also concentrated around the shelf edge.
0007-0335
323-335
Wynn, R.B.
72ccd765-9240-45f8-9951-4552b497475a
Knefelkamp, B.
38ab9b55-1fd0-437c-810f-2fafac3abaa6
Wynn, R.B.
72ccd765-9240-45f8-9951-4552b497475a
Knefelkamp, B.
38ab9b55-1fd0-437c-810f-2fafac3abaa6

Wynn, R.B. and Knefelkamp, B. (2004) Seabird distribution and oceanic upwelling off northwest Africa. British Birds, 97 (7), 323-335.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Large numbers of seabirds from northern Europe, including the UK, winter in a major zone of upwelling off northwest Africa. This area also attracts seabirds on migration to and from wintering areas farther south, as well as immature seabirds which are too young to breed. In spring 2003, the research ship R.V. Meteor visited this upwelling zone off Mauritania. The factors affecting seabird distribution in the region were assessed by comparing observational data on seabirds with a unique combination of other data from the study area. Fish, zooplankton and phytoplankton are concentrated along the shelf edge and upper slope where relatively cool, nutrient-rich, upwelled waters are brought to the surface, and the highest concentrations of seabirds are also found here. Although upwelling, and the associated concentration of food, appears to be the key control on seabird distribution, this pattern is complicated by human fishing activities, which are also concentrated around the shelf edge.

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More information

Published date: 2004
Additional Information: No online access at 25/10/2004

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 11076
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/11076
ISSN: 0007-0335
PURE UUID: 29232547-c904-430e-b03d-7c00c89d9247

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 25 Oct 2004
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 06:44

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Contributors

Author: R.B. Wynn
Author: B. Knefelkamp

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