Six pelagic seabird species of the North Atlantic engage in a fly-and-forage strategy during their migratory movements

Many seabird species undergo extensive seasonal migrations, often across large marine ecosystems or between marine areas under different national jurisdictions. With the advances of electronic tracking, especially of the application of Global Location Sensors (GLS or geolocators), it is now possible to study the seasonal movements of seabirds and link breeding populations to non-breeding habitats. To take full advantage of this development for better management and conservation, and to broaden the scope of scientific questions that can be assessed, there is a need for large-scale and multi-species programmes. The SEATRACK project with partners from 10 countries is ongoing and aims to identify the year-round distribution and movements of seabirds breeding in colonies across the northern part of the North Atlantic. By 2020, 14534 loggers were deployed on 11 species, and data from 5440 retrieved loggers have been analyzed and compiled. This Theme Section assembles original research articles based on data collected as part of the SEATRACK project from 2014 to 2019. A series of 11 papers advances the knowledge within 4 research themes: (1) variation in migration strategies among individuals, populations and species; (2) linking migration strategies and winter distribution to seabird demography and population dynamics; (3) linking migration and winter distribution to contaminants in seabirds and (4) the use of GLS data in marine spatial planning. We review existing literature within SEATRACK’s 4 themes with a focus on the temperate and arctic zones of the North Atlantic to provide a framework within which to discuss the 11 contributions and provide recommendations for future research.

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Climate change could overturn bird migration: Transarctic flights and high-latitude residency in a sea ice free Arctic

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-54228-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Manon Clairbaux ◽

Jérôme Fort ◽

Paul Mathewson ◽

Warren Porter ◽

Hallvard Strøm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sea Ice ◽

North Atlantic ◽

North Pacific ◽

Bird Migration ◽

High Arctic ◽

Little Auk ◽

Seabird Species ◽

The North ◽

The North Atlantic ◽

The North Pacific

AbstractClimate models predict that by 2050 the Arctic Ocean will be sea ice free each summer. Removing this barrier between the Atlantic and the Pacific will modify a wide range of ecological processes, including bird migration. Using published information, we identified 29 arctic-breeding seabird species, which currently migrate in the North Atlantic and could shift to a transarctic migration towards the North Pacific. We also identified 24 arctic-breeding seabird species which may shift from a migratory strategy to high-arctic year-round residency. To illustrate the biogeographical consequences of such drastic migratory shifts, we performed an in-depth study of little auks (Alle alle), the most numerous artic seabird. Coupling species distribution models and climatic models, we assessed the adequacy of future wintering and breeding areas for transarctic migrants and high-arctic year-round residents. Further, we used a mechanistic bioenergetics model (Niche Mapper), to compare the energetic costs of current little auk migration in the North Atlantic with potential transarctic and high-arctic residency strategies. Surprisingly, our results indicate that transarctic little auk migration, from the North Atlantic towards the North Pacific, may only be half as costly, energetically, than high-arctic residency or migration to the North Atlantic. Our study illustrates how global warming may radically modify the biogeography of migratory species, and provides a general methodological framework linking migratory energetics and spatial ecology.

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The Currents of the North Atlantic

Scientific American ◽

10.1038/scientificamerican09171892-13940supp ◽

1892 ◽

Vol 34 (872supp) ◽

pp. 13940-13941

Author(s):

Richard Beynon

Keyword(s):

North Atlantic ◽

The North ◽

The North Atlantic

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Power-feed equipment for the North Atlantic link

Proceedings of the IEE - Part B Radio and Electronic Engineering ◽

10.1049/pi-b-1.1957.0006 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 104 (4S) ◽

pp. 51-59

Author(s):

G.W. Meszaros ◽

H.H. Spencer

Keyword(s):

North Atlantic ◽

The North ◽

The North Atlantic

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NATO adaptation to current challenges and mechanisms of Ukraine’s cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Public administration and local government ◽

10.33287/101910 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 73-81

Author(s):

Oleh Poshedin

Keyword(s):

North Atlantic ◽

Task Force ◽

Response Force ◽

Cyber Attack ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Joint Force ◽

Security Environment ◽

The North ◽

The North Atlantic ◽

Area Of Influence

The purpose of the article is to describe the changes NATO undergoing in response to the challenges of our time. Today NATO, as a key element of European and Euro-Atlantic security, is adapting to changes in the modern security environment by increasing its readiness and ability to respond to any threat. Adaptation measures include the components required to ensure that the Alliance can fully address the security challenges it might face. Responsiveness NATO Response Force enhanced by developing force packages that are able to move rapidly and respond to potential challenges and threats. As part of it, was established a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, a new Allied joint force that deploy within a few days to respond to challenges that arise, particularly at the periphery of NATO’s territory. NATO emphasizes, that cyber defence is part of NATO’s core task of collective defence. A decision as to when a cyber attack would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis. Cooperation with NATO already contributes to the implementation of national security and defense in state policy. At the same time, taking into account that all decision-making in NATO based on consensus, Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance quite vague perspective. In such circumstances, in Ukraine you often can hear the idea of announcement of a neutral status. It is worth reminding that non-aligned status did not save Ukraine from Russian aggression. Neutral status will not accomplish it either. All talks about neutrality and the impossibility of Ukraine joining NATO are nothing but manipulations, as well as recognition of the Ukrainian territory as Russian Federation area of influence (this country seeks to sabotage the Euro-Atlantic movement of Ukraine). Think about it, Moldova’s Neutrality is enshrined in the country’s Constitution since 1994. However, this did not help Moldova to restore its territorial integrity and to force Russia to withdraw its troops and armaments from Transnistria.

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