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Isle of May seabird studies in 2000 2001

Abstract

This report covers the breeding season for seabirds on the Isle of May in 2000. In general 2000 was a highly productive season for Isle of May seabirds with many species breeding early and/or successfully.

European shags had an excellent breeding season with 1.48 chicks per incubated nest averaged across plots, the highest recorded since intensive monitoring began in 1986. Kittiwakes had their most successful season since 1989, with an average of 0.97 chicks per completed nest. Razorbills and Atlantic puffins had average breeding seasons producing 0.68 and 0.73 chicks per laying pair respectively. Although the breeding success of common guillemots was higher than in 1999 it was still slightly below the long-term mean for this species. In contrast to the other species, Northern fulmars had a relatively poor year with breeding success estimated at 0.37 chicks per incubating pair.

These results provide circumstantial evidence that the presence of an industrial fishery on the Wee Bankie might have an adverse effect on some components of the Isle of May seabird community and that closure of the fishery can potentially have an immediate and positive effect on seabird productivity.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Biota

Reference date 2001·04·01

Citation
Bull, J., Wanless, S. & Harris, M.P. 2001. Isle of May seabird studies in 2000. JNCC Report No. 315, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
This report covers the breeding season for seabirds on the Isle of May in 2000.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2020·07·13

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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