Seabird observations (Oshoro-maru C040)

The marine ecosystems of the Bering Sea and adjacent Chukchi Sea are
experiencing rapid changes due to reductions in sea ice. In the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea shelf regions, seabirds, as homoeothermic top predators, play a significant role in the trophic energy flow. As mobile predators that can respond quickly to shifts in the distribution of prey (i.e., by switching foraging areas or prey species), changes in their distribution can potentially serve as indicators of fluctuations of trophic relationships. The main objective of this study is to reveal habitat associations of seabirds and their prey.