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Desertas Petrels exhibit unique foraging behaviours during hurricane season
Context: New study titled Oceanic Seabirds Chase Tropical Cyclones, Published in Current Biology indicates that Desertas Petrels (Pterodroma deserta), a rare seabird in the North Atlantic, exhibit unique foraging behaviours during hurricane season.
Study Overview:
- Desertas Petrels do not avoid intense tropical cyclones but exploit dynamic conditions for foraging.
- One-third of tracked petrels followed cyclones for days, covering thousands of kilometres.
- This behaviour challenges previous notions that seabirds either circumnavigate cyclones or seek refuge in the calm eye.
- Research Funding: Supported by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Postdoctoral Scholar Program with funding from various endowments and grants.
Overview of Desertas Petrels (Pterodroma deserta):
- It is a small seabird in the gadfly petrel genus Pterodroma, breeds on Bugio Island in the Desertas off Madeira.
- These gadfly petrels are found in temperate and tropical oceans, and their taxonomy remains somewhat uncertain due to their similar appearances.
- Location: Bugio Island, Portugal (off western coast of North Africa).
- Nesting Colony: Only known colony of Desertas Petrels worldwide, with fewer than 200 pairs nesting on a plateau surrounded by steep cliffs.
- Breeding Season: Six months, during which petrels undertake extensive foraging journeys across the Atlantic.
- Foraging Behavior
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- Prey: Small fish, squid, and crustaceans found at depths of 600 to 3,000 feet.
- Foraging Strategy: Petrels exploit cyclone-induced oceanographic changes, including increased prey accessibility in storm wakes.
- Beneficial Conditions: Cyclone wakes provide enhanced foraging opportunities with changes in sea surface temperature and chlorophyll concentration.
Oceanographic Impacts:
- Ecosystem Impact: Study provides insights into how cyclones impact marine ecosystems through the lens of an apex predator.
- Cyclones cause intense vertical mixing in upper ocean layers, bringing deep-water nutrients closer to the surface.
- This phenomenon increases ocean productivity and prey availability for surface-feeding petrels.
- Resilience: Desertas Petrels demonstrate adaptive foraging strategies in response to extreme weather events.