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Distribution and abundance of Wilson’s storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus at two locations in East Antarctica: testing habitat selection models

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Abstract

Over the last decades, Antarctic seabird populations have been studied as bioindicators of the variability in the Southern Ocean marine ecosystem. Little information is available on the distribution and abundance of Wilson’s storm petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) in East Antarctica although the bioindicator value of this species has been investigated. Regional surveys were conducted at two coastal locations, Casey (66°S, 110°E) and Mawson (67°S, 62°E), to locate Wilson’s storm petrel nests using systematic searches in sites selected with a balanced random sampling design. Conducted in ice-free areas of similar size, searches located 553 Wilson’s storm petrel nests at Mawson and 630 at Casey. Comparable densities were observed between locations but regional estimates suggest that Wilson’s storm petrels are more abundant at Casey. Habitat preferences of Wilson’s storm petrels were investigated using resource selection functions based on Generalized Additive and Linear Models (GAMs and GLMs), which allow their ecological niche to be graphically and quantitatively described. The orientation of nests in relation to the prevailing winds was identified as a determinant of nest distribution at both locations. However, selected rock substrate types differed between Mawson and Casey. Snow was confirmed to constrain the spatial distribution of nests, especially at Casey where snow precipitations and accumulation are more common in summer, confirming the results of previous temporal surveys focusing on breeding success. At the southern edge of its geographic distribution, the Wilson’s storm petrel may be subject to more obvious climate related habitat changes in East Antarctica. Such models may provide valuable information to detect the potential effect of climate variations on this species and others, in the context of a broad Antarctic ecosystem monitoring.

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Andrew Lee and Wade Fairley, who participated in long and hard hours of data collection at Casey and Mawson during summers 2002/2003 and 2004/2005, respectively. We thank all Casey and Mawson expeditioners from either summer seasons for their assistance and support. Dr George Jackson helped with early reviews of the manuscript. The Australian Antarctic Division provided logistical support for the survey (ASAC Projects 1219 and 2704). GPS equipment was kindly supplied by the Australian Antarctic Data Center, along with the most knowledgeable help of David Smith and Roger Handsworth. Rupert Summerson produced the digital elevation models for Mawson and survey grids for Casey and Mawson. Part of this study was supported by a grant from the Australian Geographic Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 77, 7001, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Frédérique Olivier

  2. School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 37, 7001, Hobart, TAS, Australia

    Simon J. Wotherspoon

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  1. Frédérique Olivier
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  2. Simon J. Wotherspoon
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Correspondence to Frédérique Olivier.

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Olivier, F., Wotherspoon, S.J. Distribution and abundance of Wilson’s storm petrels Oceanites oceanicus at two locations in East Antarctica: testing habitat selection models. Polar Biol 29, 878–892 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0127-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0127-4

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