University of Liverpool seabird tracking in Anguilla 2012-2015

Original provider: University of Liverpool Dataset credits: Dr. Louise Soanes, University of Roehampton, UK Dr. Jonathan Green, University of Liverpool, UK Dr. Jenny Bright, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK Ms. Farah Mukhida, Anguilla National Trust Ms. Susan Zaluski, Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, British Virgin Islands Abstract: The UK Overseas Territories of Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands are located in the north-west Lesser Antilles. Whilst mainland Anguilla lacks any large breeding seabird populations, its offshore cays excel in this area and are home to five globally and 12 regionally important populations. Four of Anguilla’s seven offshore cays are already designated as terrestrial important bird areas (IBAs) due to their important seabird colonies, with Dog Island being the second most important site for breeding seabirds in the region. The British Virgin Islands (composed of 60 cays) support two globally important populations of Magnificent frigatebird and Roseate tern and have three IBAs designated for breeding seabird populations. This study uses GPS tracking data collected from the guild of globally and regionally important seabird populations breeding within these two Territories to identify important foraging areas, and relate these to oceanographic variables and potential threats such as fishing activity and coastal/marine developments. This project is being led by the University of Liverpool (UK) in collaboration with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Anguilla National Trust, Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society and British Virgin Islands National Parks Trust, with support from the Anguillan Government’s Fisheries and Marine Resources Department and the BVI Conservation and Fisheries Department, and funded by the UK’s Darwin Plus Initiative.数据提供方：利物浦大学 数据集贡献者：英国罗汉普顿大学路易斯·索恩斯博士、英国利物浦大学乔纳森·格林博士、英国皇家鸟类保护协会珍妮·布莱特博士、安圭拉国家信托基金法拉·穆希达女士、英属维尔京群岛约斯特范代克保护协会苏珊·扎卢斯基女士 摘要：安圭拉与英属维尔京群岛均为英国海外领地，地处小安的列斯群岛西北部。安圭拉主岛暂无大规模繁殖海鸟种群，但其周边离岸礁岛则是该区域海鸟繁殖的核心区域，栖息着5个全球重要海鸟种群与12个区域重要海鸟种群。安圭拉的7座离岸礁岛中已有4座因其重要的海鸟繁殖群落，被列为陆地重要鸟区（Important Bird Area, IBA），其中多格岛（Dog Island）是该区域海鸟繁殖的第二重要栖息地。由60座礁岛组成的英属维尔京群岛，拥有2个全球重要的丽色军舰鸟（Magnificent frigatebird）与粉红燕鸥（Roseate tern）种群，并设有3处针对海鸟繁殖种群的重要鸟区。本研究通过采集这两处领地内繁殖的全球及区域重要海鸟类群的GPS追踪数据，识别其关键觅食区域，并将这些区域与海洋环境变量、捕捞活动及沿海/海洋开发等潜在威胁进行关联分析。 本项目由英国利物浦大学牵头，联合英国皇家鸟类保护协会、安圭拉国家信托基金、约斯特范代克保护协会与英属维尔京群岛国家公园信托基金共同实施，获得安圭拉政府渔业与海洋资源部以及英属维尔京群岛保护与渔业部的支持，并由英国达尔文Plus倡议（Darwin Plus Initiative）提供资助。