Seabird observations (MR17-05C)

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.
Thus, knowledge of recent changes in the distributions of top predators and their prey should provide useful information about large-scale ecosystem changes in these regions with seasonal sea ice. Short-tailed shearwaters (Ardenna tenuirostris) visit this region between the summer and fall during non-breeding season, and show highest biomass among seabirds distributed in the region during the periods. The main objective of this study is to understand the links between seasonal distribution of short-tailed shearwaters, their prey (i.e., krill) and marine environments.