Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Response of breeding European Storm Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus to habitat change

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ornithology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mainly through trampling and manuring, ground-nesting seabirds induced significant habitat changes both on vegetation cover and soil in one of the largest French colonies of European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus, Habitat deterioration led to a high level of erosion and the collapse of many former Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus burrows previously occupied by breeding Storm Petrels. The loss of burrows accelerated in recent years since Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo bred on the islet with growing numbers. The main consequence of this disturbance was at first shifting of breeding Storm Petrels from burrows to rocky sites, reflecting some behavioral plasticity to buffer environmental variability. But over 18 years, a significant decrease in breeding numbers of Storm Petrels was recorded and attributed to continuous nest site destruction. Thus, other behavioral responses were also suspected, such as temporary non-breeding or emigration of birds that have to find a new nest site. Such a problem of heavy erosion and loss of nesting habitat could induce serious detrimental effects on burrowing seabirds breeding in a limited number of colonies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker GB, Gales R, Hamilton S, Wilkinson V (2002) Albatrosses and petrels in Australia: a review of their conservation and management. Emu 102:71–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Bancroft WJ, Roberts JD, Garkaklis MJ (2005) Burrow entrance attrition rate in Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus colonies on Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Mar Ornithol 33:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Berrow SD, Croxall JP, Grant SD (2000) Status of White-chinned Petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis Linaeus 1758, at Bird Island, South Georgia. Antarct Sci 12:399–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Bioret F (1989) Contribution à l’étude de la flore et de la végétation de quelques îles et archipels ouest et sud armoricains. Doctoral thesis, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

  • Bioret F, Bouzillé J-B, Godeau M (1988) Exemples de gradients de transformation de la végétation de quelques îlots de deux archipels armoricains. Influence de zoopopulations. In: Géhu J-M (ed) Phytosociologie et conservation de la nature, Strasbourg 1987, Colloques Phytosociologiques, vol XV. Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart, pp 509–531

  • Bioret F, Cuillandre J-P, Fichaut B (1991) Degeneration processes of a microinsular ecosystem put through gulls influence: the isle of Banneg (Finistère, France). Essay of ecological integrated cartography. In: Ravera O (ed) Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems: perturbation and recovery. Ellis Horwood, New York, pp 276–283

    Google Scholar 

  • BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe. Population estimates, trends and conservation status. BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12, BirdLife International, Cambridge

  • Bolton M, Medeiros R, Hothersall B, Campos A (2004) The use of artificial breeding chambers as a conservation measure for cavity-nesting Procellariiform seabirds: a case study of the Madeiran Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro). Biol Conserv 116:73–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Bried J, Jouventin P (2002) Site and mate choice in seabirds: an evolutionary approach. In: Schreiber EA, Burger J (eds) Biology of marine birds. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 263–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Brien Y (1970) Statut actuel des oiseaux marins nicheurs en Bretagne. VIII. Mise au point en 1970: visites récentes et état actuel des effectifs par localité. Ar Vran 3:167–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooke M (1990) The manx shearwater. Poyser, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Brothers NP (1984) Breeding, distribution and status of burrow-nesting petrels at Macquarie Island. Aust Wildl Res 11:113–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Burger J, Gochfeld M (1994) Predation and effects of humans on island-nesting seabirds. In: Nettleship DN, Burger J, Gochfeld M (eds) Seabirds on islands. Threats, case studies and action plans, BirdLife Conservation Series No. 1. BirdLife International, Cambridge, pp 39–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrd GV (1979) Artificial nest structures used by Wedge-tailed Shearwaters at Kilauea Point, Kauai. Elepaio 40:10–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadiou B (2001) The breeding biology of the European Storm-Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus in Brittany, France. Atl Seabirds 3:149–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadiou B (2002) Oiseaux marins nicheurs de Bretagne. Les cahiers naturalistes de Bretagne No. 4, Conseil Régional de Bretagne, Éditions Biotope, Mèze

  • Cadiou B, Yésou P (2006) Évolution des populations de Goélands bruns, argentés et marins Larus fuscus, L. argentatus, L. marinus dans l’archipel de Molène (Bretagne, France): bilan de 50 ans de suivi des colonies. Rev Écol-Terre Vie 61:159–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlile N, Priddel D, Zino F, Natividad C, Wingate DB (2003) A review of four successful recovery programmes for threatened sub-tropical petrels. Mar Ornithol 31:185–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Courchamp F, Chapuis J-L, Pascal M (2003) Mammal invaders on islands: impact, control and control impact. Biol Rev 78:347–383

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cramp S, Simmons KEL (eds) (1977) Handbook of the birds of the Western Palearctic, vol 1. Ostrich to Ducks. Oxford University Press, Oxford

  • Cruz JB, Cruz F (1996) Conservation of the Dark-rumped Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia of the Galápagos Islands, 1982–1991. Bird Conserv Int 6:23–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuillandre J-P, Bargain B, Bioret F, Fichaut B, Hamon J, Henry J (1989) Le Pétrel tempête à Banneg. Première partie: évolution de la colonie entre 1968 et 1989, impact de la prédation par les laridés. Penn ar Bed 135:19–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Danchin E, Cadiou B, Monnat J-Y, Rodriguez Estrella R (1991) Recruitment in long-lived birds: conceptual framework and behavioural mechanisms. Proc Int Ornithol Congr 20:1641–1656

    Google Scholar 

  • de León A, Mínguez E (2003) Occupancy rates and nesting success of European Storm-Petrels breeding inside artificial nest-boxes. Sci Mar 67:109–112

    Google Scholar 

  • de León A, Mínguez E, Harvey P, Meek E, Crane JE, Furness RW (2006) Factors affecting breeding distribution of Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus in Orkney and Shetland. Bird Study 53:64–72

    Google Scholar 

  • del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds) (1992) Handbook of the birds of the world, vol 1. Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona

  • del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds) (1996) Handbook of the birds of the world, vol 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona

  • Ellis JC (2005) Marine birds on land: a review of plant biomass, species richness, and community composition in seabird colonies. Plant Ecol 181:227–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather JA, Coulson JC (1995) The influence of forced site change on the dispersal and breeding of the Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. Col Waterbirds 18:30–40

    Google Scholar 

  • García LV, Marañón T, Ojeda F, Clemente L, Redondo R (2002) Seagull influence on soil properties, chenopod shrub distribution, and leaf nutrient status in semi-arid Mediterranean islands. Oikos 98:75–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Géhu J-M (1986) Des complexes de groupements végétaux à la phytosociologie paysagère contemporaine. Inform Bot Ital 18:53–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Géhu J-M, Rivas-Martinez S (1981) Notions fondamentales de phytosociologie. In: Dierschke H (ed) Syntaxonomie, Berichte der Internationalen Symposien der Internationalen Vereinigung für Vegetationskunde (Rinteln 1980). Cramer, Vaduz, pp 5–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillham ME (1956a) Ecology of the Pembrokeshire Islands. IV. Effects of treading and burrowing by birds and mammals. J Ecol 44:51–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillham ME (1956b) Ecology of the Pembrokeshire Islands. V. Manuring by the colonial seabirds and mammals, with a note on seed distribution by gulls. J Ecol 44:429–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanski I, Gilpin ME (1997) Metapopulation biology: ecology, genetics and evolution. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Hémery G, d’Elbée E, Terrasse JF (1986) Régulation d’une population de Pétrels-tempête Hydrobates pelagicus par reproduction intermittente. CR Acad Sci Ser III 9:353–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Hornung M (1981) Burrow excavation and infill in the Farne Islands Puffin colony. Trans Nat Hist Soc Northumbr 43:45–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Houston DM (1999) The use of nest boxes for Blue Penguins (Eudyptula minor). Ecol Manag 7:7–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Jouventin P (1994) Past, present and future of Amsterdam Island (Indian Ocean) and its avifauna. In: Nettleship DN, Burger J, Gochfeld M (eds) Seabirds on islands. Threats, case studies and action plans, BirdLife Conservation Series No. 1. BirdLife International, Cambridge, pp 122–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Gómez JE, Jacobsen JK (2004) The conservation status of Townsend’s Shearwater Puffinus auricularis auricularis. Biol Conserv 116:35–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Miskelly CM, Taylor GA (2004) Establishment of a colony of Common diving Petrels (Pelecanoides urinatrix) by chick transfers and acoustic attraction. Emu 104:205–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell PI, Newton SF (2004) European Storm-Petrel. In: Mitchell PI, Newton SF, Ratcliffe N, Dunn TE (eds) Seabird populations of Britain and Ireland. Poyser, London, pp 81–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse DH, Buchheister CW (1979) Nesting patterns of Leach’s Storm-Petrels on Matinicus Rock, Maine. Bird-Banding 50:145–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse DH, Kress SW (1984) The effect of burrow loss on mate choice in the Leach’s Storm-Petrel. Auk 101:158–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Mougin J-L (1991) Les paramètres contrôlant la réussite de l’incubation chez le Pétrel de Bulwer Bulweria bulwerii de l’île Selvagem Grande (30°09′N, 15°52′W). Oiseau Rev Fr Ornithol 61:312–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman FI (1970) Ecological effects of Rabbit reduction on Rabbit Island, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria. Proc Roy Soc Victoria 83:235–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Podolsky RE, Kress SW (1989) Factors affecting colony formation in Leach’s Storm-Petrel. Auk 106:332–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Priddel D, Carlile N (1995) An artificial nest box for burrow-nesting seabirds. Emu 95:290–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Priddel D, Carlile N, Wheeler R (2000) Eradication of European Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Cabbage Tree Island, NSW, Australia, to protect the breeding habitat of Gould’s Petrel (Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera). Biol Conserv 94:115–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Probst J-M, Le Corre M, Thébaud C (2000) Breeding habitat and conservation priorities in Pterodroma baraui, an endangered Gadfly Petrel of the Mascarene archipelago. Biol Conserv 93:135–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Richdale LE (1963) Biology of the Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus. Proc Zool Soc Lond 141:1–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocamora G, Yeatman-Berthelot D (1999) Oiseaux menacés et à surveiller en France. Listes rouges et recherche de priorités. Populations. Tendances. Menaces. Conservation. SEOF/LPO, Paris

  • Siorat F (2004) Fou de Bassan. In: Cadiou B, Pons J-M, Yésou P (eds) Oiseaux marins nicheurs de France métropolitaine (1960–2000), Éditions Biotope, Mèze, pp 70–73

  • Tavecchia G, Mínguez E, de León A, Louzao M, Oro D (2008) Living close, doing differently: small-scale asynchrony in demographic parameters in two species of seabirds. Ecology 89:77–85

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thayer JA, Hester MM, Sydeman WJ (2000) Conservation biology of Rhinoceros Auklets, Cerorhinca monocerata, on Año Nuevo Island, California, 1993–1999. Endanger Species Update 17:63–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Tollu B (1984) Le puffin à pieds pâles (Puffinus carneipes) à l’île Saint-Paul (Océan Indien): échec d’une colonisation. Oiseau Rev Fr Ornithol 54:152–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal E, Médail F, Tatoni T (1998) Is the Yellow-legged Gull a superabundant species in the Mediterranean? Impact on fauna and flora, conservation measures and research priorities. Biodivers Conserv 7:1013–1026

    Google Scholar 

  • Warham J (1990) The Petrels, their ecology and breeding systems. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Warham J (1996) The behaviour, population biology and physiology of the Petrels. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Zino F, Oliveira P, King S, Buckle A, Biscoito M, Neves HC, Vasconcelos A (2001) Conservation of the Zino’s Petrel Pterodroma madeira in the archipelago of Madeira. Oryx 35:128–136

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted on the Iroise National Nature Reserve, managed by the NGO Bretagne Vivante-SEPNB with financial support of the Conseil Général du Finistère, property owner of the reserve, and the Direction Régionale de l’Environnement (DIREN Bretagne; French ministry of environment). The study was funded by the Conseil Régional de Bretagne (Nature Contracts ‘breeding seabirds in Brittany’), by the Conseil Général du Finistère and by the EC Life Project ‘marine archipelagos and islets in Brittany’ (ref. LIFE Nature B4-3200/98/470). We are very grateful to Jean-Yves Le Gall and David Bourles, wardens of the Nature Reserve, as well as to the volunteers helping for fieldwork, to the previous observers for collecting data on seabirds since the 1960s, especially Jean-Yves Monnat and Jean-Pierre Cuillandre for their work on Storm Petrels, to Eric Vidal and Ian Mitchell for providing helpful comments on earlier draft of the manuscript and to the latter for checking the English, and also to two anonymous referees who reviewed our manuscript and provided constructive criticism.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bretagne Vivante-SEPNB, 186 rue Anatole France, BP 63121, 29231, Brest Cedex 3, France

    Bernard Cadiou & Delphine Chenesseau

  2. Institut de Géoarchitecture, UFR Sciences et Techniques, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CS 93837, 29238, Brest Cedex 3, France

    Fredéric Bioret

Authors
  1. Bernard Cadiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fredéric Bioret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Delphine Chenesseau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernard Cadiou.

Additional information

Communicated by P. H. Becker.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cadiou, B., Bioret, F. & Chenesseau, D. Response of breeding European Storm Petrels Hydrobates pelagicus to habitat change. J Ornithol 151, 317–327 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0458-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-009-0458-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation