25 years of light-induced petrel groundings in Reunion Island: Retrospective analysis and predicted trends

Chevillon, Leo; Tourmetz, Julie; Dubos, Jérôme; Soulaimana-Mattoir, Yahaïa; Hollinger, Clémence; Pinet, Patrick; Couzi, François‐Xavier; Riethmuller, Martin; Corre, Matthieu Le

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02232

Cited by 14 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…A first estimate of the population size on the basis of sightings at sea between 1978 and 1995 indicated a range of 45 to 400 pairs, with an average estimate of 250 breeding pairs (Attie et al 1997). The population is believed to have declined because of predation by rats and cats at breeding colonies, habitat destruction (Virion et al 2020), and light-induced mortality (Le Corre et al 2003, Chevillon et al 2022. However, no colony was known until 2016 (this study).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…From July 2015 to April 2017, 21 autonomous recording units (ARUs; six SM4, 11 SM3, and four SM2+ from Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.) were deployed at 68 locations. Recording sites were chosen on the basis of previous acoustic surveys conducted by Riethmuller et al (2012) and the location of grounded birds attracted to artificial lights (Le Corre et al 2003, Virion et al 2020, Chevillon et al 2022. ARUs were tied to trees within 300 meters of the targeted cliffs.…”

Section: Automated Acoustic Survey and Record Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Journal of Field Ornithology 93(4): 11 https://journal.afonet.org/vol93/iss4/art11/ Implications for conservation Before the discovery of the two breeding colonies, conservation actions targeting the Mascarene Petrel were limited to rescue campaigns to reduce light-induced mortality (Le Corre et al 2003, Chevillon et al 2022) and to small-scale cat controls at suspected breeding sites (Riethmuller et al 2012;authors, unpublished data). The National Park of Réunion Island was established in 2007 (Fig.…”

Section: Advantages Of New Technologies For Seabird Research and Cons...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 1996, Le Corre et al (2002, 2003 discovered the extent of the impact of urban light on the mortality of fledgling petrels and shearwaters at Réunion Island. This very important mortality is due to the fact that most petrel and shearwater colonies at Réunion Island are located inland and most cities are coastal, so birds fly over illuminated areas each time they commute from their colonies to the sea (Le Corre et al 2002, 2003, Chevillon et al 2022.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since that time, a rescue operation based on large-scale public awareness campaigns has been made annually by a local nongovernmental organization (the Societé d'Etudes Ornithologiques de La Réunion). These campaigns have resulted in the finding of 58 Mascarene Petrels between 1996 and 2021, of which 49 were released successfully (Chevillon et al 2022). A first estimate of the population size on the basis of sightings at sea between 1978 and 1995 indicated a range of 45 to 400 pairs, with an average estimate of 250 breeding pairs (Attie et al 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discovery of the breeding colonies of a critically endangered and elusive seabird, the Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima)

Juhasz¹,

Dubos²,

Pinet³

et al. 2022

JFO

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Seabirds are the most endangered group of birds and among them, the gadfly petrels (genera Pseudobulweria and Pterodroma) are the most threatened and least known. The Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima) is endemic to Réunion Island and is one of the rarest birds in the world. This species was considered extinct in the mid-20th century but was rediscovered in 1970. The population is thought to be in decline because of predation by invasive predators, habitat destruction, and light-induced mortality. The first goal of this paper is to detail the methods that we used to discover the breeding colonies of this species and to determine the threats at these sites. The second goal is to present characteristics of the colonies we found, the threats occurring at these colonies, and the first conservation actions implemented at these sites. We first conducted an island-scale acoustic survey using autonomous recording units (ARUs) to locate the breeding colonies. We then used infrared thermal binoculars to precisely locate the places where birds displayed and landed. Because all discovered breeding sites were on vertical cliffs, we abseiled these cliffs to access the nests. Once burrows were discovered, we deployed infrared camera traps to determine the presence of alien predators or competitors (rats, cats, tenrecs) and to study the behaviors of the birds at the colony. The large-scale acoustic survey revealed the presence of 17 vocally active sites, 16 of which were investigated with infrared thermal binoculars. We observed petrel landings at five of these sites. Two of them were accessible and we abseiled to find the nests. We found 14 occupied burrows at one of these sites and eight at the other. Camera traps revealed the presence of rats and tenrecs at both sites, and cats were detected close to the colonies. The two colonies are on tall vertical cliffs covered with native vegetation, at elevations of 650 m a. s. l. and 1250 m a. s. l., respectively. These findings allowed us to implement conservation actions, such as invasive mammal control, and to start long-term monitoring and applied research for conservation. We are confident that the methods we developed could be used with great success at other places where finding colonies of a cryptic, rare, and nocturnal seabird is particularly challenging.RESUMEN. Las aves marinas son el grupo de aves más amenazado y entre ellas los géneros Pseudobulweria y Pterodroma son los más amenazados y poco conocidos. Pseudobulweria aterrima es endémica de la isla de Reunión y es una de las aves más raras del mundo. Esta especie fue considerada extinta a mediados del siglo 20 pero fue redescubierto en 1970. Se supone que la población está en disminución debido a la depredación por especies invasoras, destrucción del hábitat y la mortalidad inducida por la luz. El primer objetivo de este estudio es detallar los métodos que utilizamos para descubrir las colonias de reproducción de esta especie y determinar las amenazas en estos sitios. El segundo objetivo es presentar las caracter...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Automated Acoustic Survey and Record Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Advantages Of New Technologies For Seabird Research and Cons...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Discovery of the breeding colonies of a critically endangered and elusive seabird, the Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima)

Juhasz¹,

Dubos²,

Pinet³

et al. 2022

JFO

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Isolation and characterization of 50 microsatellite loci for two shearwater species, Ardenna pacifica and Puffinus bailloni

et al. 2022

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BackgroundShearwaters (order Procellariiformes) are an excellent study system to investigate the genetic consequences of the co-called "seabird paradox", as they are able to disperse long distances but many species exhibit natal and breeding philopatry. However, few microsatellite markers are currently available for these taxa, hampering genetic inferences. Methods and resultsIn this study, 25 novel microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for each of two distantly related shearwater species: the wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) and the tropical shearwater (Puffinus bailloni). Polymorphism tests were performed for a total of 91 A. pacifica individuals sampled at Reunion and Round Island, and 48 P. bailloni individuals from Reunion and Europa Island, in the western Indian Ocean. The analyses revealed 23 polymorphic loci for A. pacifica, with the number of alleles per locus (Na) ranging from 2 to 8 (mean = 3.957 ± 0.364). Nineteen polymorphic loci were found for P. bailloni, with Na varying from two to five (mean = 3.053 ± 0.247). The observed heterozygosity (Ho) was relatively low for the two species, with Ho ranging from 0.022 to 0.725 (mean = 0.326 ± 0.044) for A. pacifica and from 0.021 to 0.688 (mean = 0.271 ± 0.051) for P. bailloni, but comparable to the estimates available for other Puffinus species.Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site. ConclusionsThe new microsatellite loci provide a valuable tool for further population genetic studies, and will allow for design of effective conservation and management plans for A. pacifica, P. bailloni and other closelyrelated species.

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A simple but novel approach to calculate seabird light fallout: A case study from Kauaʻi

Vorsino¹,

Nagatani²,

Kim³

et al. 2023

Environmental Challenges

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25 years of light-induced petrel groundings in Reunion Island: Retrospective analysis and predicted trends

Cited by 14 publications

References 29 publications

Discovery of the breeding colonies of a critically endangered and elusive seabird, the Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima)

Discovery of the breeding colonies of a critically endangered and elusive seabird, the Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima)

Isolation and characterization of 50 microsatellite loci for two shearwater species, Ardenna pacifica and Puffinus bailloni

A simple but novel approach to calculate seabird light fallout: A case study from Kauaʻi

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