Differences in foraging range between white-tailed tropicbirds breeding on inner and outer Seychelles Islands

The foraging ecology and distribution of Phaethontiformes, an order of tropical seabirds, remains generally poorly understood, despite being essential to inform their conservation. Here, we tracked, for the first time, the foraging movements of breeding white-tailed tropicbirds Phaethon lepturus, a common but poorly studied seabird, in the Indian Ocean. We compared the foraging movements and habitat preferences of 2 populations, one from Aride Island in the inner Seychelles and the other from Aldabra Atoll in the outer Seychelles, ca. 1200 km to the southwest. We found considerable differences in foraging trip metrics between populations, with birds from Aride having an average foraging range 2 times greater (231 km on Aride vs. 105 km on Aldabra), and both populations feeding far beyond the protected areas around their respective colony. We also found differences in foraging range between incubation and chick-rearing stages and sexes. Using habitat models, we highlight the birds’ prefe..., The data collection methods are described in the paper and its electronic supplementary materials., , # Data from: Differences in foraging range between white-tailed tropicbirds breeding on inner and outer Seychelles Islands

This dataset is published in the following paper:

Ensanyar-Volle O, Appoo J, Bunbury N, Clucas G, Khan N, Rocamora G, Sanchez C, Fayet AL (2023) Differences in foraging range between white-tailed tropicbirds breeding on inner and outer Seychelles Islands. *Marine Ecology Progress Series* 724, 141–154, [https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14454]()

There are two datasets: one with the birds' **GPS data** and associated metadata (*GPS_data.csv*), and one with the birds’ **GPS foraging locations and environmental variables** used in the Generalised Additives Models (GAMs) (*GAM_data.csv*).

## Description of the data and file structure

All variables in each file are listed below. Details about the methods employed to obtain/calculate the variables are in the above paper.

 **GPS_data.csv**

Each row corresponds to a GPS location – note these data are interpolated (see pap...