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Establishing repeatable study plots on Sa Dragonera, Mallorca to assess population trends of the local breeding Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus

Establishing repeatable study plots on Sa Dragonera, Mallorca to assess population trends of the local breeding Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus
Establishing repeatable study plots on Sa Dragonera, Mallorca to assess population trends of the local breeding Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus
The Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Balearic Islands, subject to a severe decline that could lead to the extinction of the species within three generations (Oro et al. 2004). Predation by introduced mammals is considered the main threat facing the species at its breeding grounds, and therefore conservation action is required along with subsequent monitoring in a species where such information is lacking. In order to assess the long-term impact of a rodent eradication project on the breeding success of the species on Sa Dragonera island, a series of study plots were established in April 2013. A survey was carried out to establish the minimum number of known Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS) within each plot. All potential nest sites within each plot were sampled for the presence of a bird(s) using a combination of methods: (i) tape playback, (ii) physical sighting (by eye or with an endoscope) and (iii) obvious signs of occupation. 33 AOS in 12 study plots were identified. This project was not a whole island estimate; rather it led to the establishment of a series of repeatable study plots, providing reference estimates of breeding pairs in defined areas on the island to enable monitoring of future changes in the population size following predator removal.
0267-9310
32-41
Morgan, Greg
037aa31c-0fbb-44b4-b270-3d36410a770e
McMinn, Miguel
2e074f1f-1934-42a1-be35-67d42a3984f4
Wynn, Russell
72ccd765-9240-45f8-9951-4552b497475a
Meier, Rhiannon
987cfb29-5162-484d-b33c-3cb891cd9b68
Maurice, Lou
36f635e4-046e-42cc-9fdc-b04ae4015bab
Sevilla, Biel
72479efe-dc80-4324-80be-709147b922d1
Rodriguez, Ana
92cb0c9c-5af1-4ba3-b0a4-664df1c681ce
Guilford, Tim
6f814dc8-b32a-4dab-9ff2-785e82395657
Morgan, Greg
037aa31c-0fbb-44b4-b270-3d36410a770e
McMinn, Miguel
2e074f1f-1934-42a1-be35-67d42a3984f4
Wynn, Russell
72ccd765-9240-45f8-9951-4552b497475a
Meier, Rhiannon
987cfb29-5162-484d-b33c-3cb891cd9b68
Maurice, Lou
36f635e4-046e-42cc-9fdc-b04ae4015bab
Sevilla, Biel
72479efe-dc80-4324-80be-709147b922d1
Rodriguez, Ana
92cb0c9c-5af1-4ba3-b0a4-664df1c681ce
Guilford, Tim
6f814dc8-b32a-4dab-9ff2-785e82395657

Morgan, Greg, McMinn, Miguel, Wynn, Russell, Meier, Rhiannon, Maurice, Lou, Sevilla, Biel, Rodriguez, Ana and Guilford, Tim (2013) Establishing repeatable study plots on Sa Dragonera, Mallorca to assess population trends of the local breeding Balearic Shearwaters Puffinus mauretanicus. Seabird, 26, 32-41.

Record type: Article

Abstract

The Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus is a Critically Endangered species endemic to the Balearic Islands, subject to a severe decline that could lead to the extinction of the species within three generations (Oro et al. 2004). Predation by introduced mammals is considered the main threat facing the species at its breeding grounds, and therefore conservation action is required along with subsequent monitoring in a species where such information is lacking. In order to assess the long-term impact of a rodent eradication project on the breeding success of the species on Sa Dragonera island, a series of study plots were established in April 2013. A survey was carried out to establish the minimum number of known Apparently Occupied Sites (AOS) within each plot. All potential nest sites within each plot were sampled for the presence of a bird(s) using a combination of methods: (i) tape playback, (ii) physical sighting (by eye or with an endoscope) and (iii) obvious signs of occupation. 33 AOS in 12 study plots were identified. This project was not a whole island estimate; rather it led to the establishment of a series of repeatable study plots, providing reference estimates of breeding pairs in defined areas on the island to enable monitoring of future changes in the population size following predator removal.

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More information

Published date: 2013
Organisations: Geology & Geophysics, Marine Geoscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 378031
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/378031
ISSN: 0267-9310
PURE UUID: 8de12445-b0f2-4cbc-8511-bad4e516a705

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Jun 2015 10:10
Last modified: 11 Dec 2021 06:51

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Contributors

Author: Greg Morgan
Author: Miguel McMinn
Author: Russell Wynn
Author: Rhiannon Meier
Author: Lou Maurice
Author: Biel Sevilla
Author: Ana Rodriguez
Author: Tim Guilford

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