A preliminary analysis of the distribution and spatial/temporal patterns of seabirds in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (Santos, Brazil) and surrounding waters

Abstract This study investigates the temporal taxonomic variation of the seabird community, and the spatial distributions of seabirds in the Laje de Santos Marine State Park (PEMLS) and surrounding waters, based on shipboard surveys. The increase in the number of seabird taxa during winter is associated to the presence of migratory birds from the south. During summer, only resident species were observed within the park. Analysis of the spatial distributions of taxa using geographic information systems (GIS) identified three different regions within the study area. The first was close to the coast, where birds interact with fishing activities in search for food; the second was the nesting area that provides shelter for the breeding colonies; and the third, which is farther offshore and more exposed, where a higher number of migratory birds were observed during winter surveys. The PEMLS and surrounding waters have characteristics that are important for the study and preservation of seabirds in Brazil and for the South Atlantic Ocean.

摘要 本研究依托船基调查，针对拉热桑托斯海洋国家公园（PEMLS）及其周边海域的海鸟群落时间分类学变异与海鸟空间分布展开系统探究。冬季海鸟类群数量的增加，与来自南方的迁徙鸟类的到访密切相关；夏季期间，该公园内仅能观测到留居物种。借助地理信息系统（Geographic Information Systems，GIS）对各类群的空间分布进行分析后，研究区域内被识别出三个不同区域：其一紧邻海岸，海鸟在此借助渔业活动觅食；其二为筑巢区，可为繁殖种群提供栖息庇护场所；其三距外海更远、暴露程度更高，冬季调查期间在此观测到的迁徙鸟类数量更多。拉热桑托斯海洋国家公园及其周边海域具备重要生态特征，对巴西乃至南大西洋的海鸟研究与保护工作均具有关键意义。