Islands

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-78963-2

Seabird Island Ecology

Mulder¹,

Ellis²

2010

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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Seabird islands house large colonies of seabirds that spend most of their time at sea but return to land to breed. Seabirds deposit large amounts of nutrients of marine origin on islands; many species also disturb soil and vegetation during the building and maintenance of nests. Physical and chemical disturbance by seabirds alters the chemical composition of soils and vegetation and modifies plant and animal communities. In many cases, the additional nutrients brought in by seabirds subsidise native animal populations, including endemic species frequently found on remote islands. Introduction of predators such as rats, cats and mustelids has resulted in population decreases or local extinction of many seabird species, and this leads to large changes in nutrient cycling and plant and animal populations. Recent efforts at eradication of introduced seabird predators have been successful, but re‐establishment of seabirds and seabird island communities will likely take additional active restoration. Key Concepts: Seabirds deposit nutrients of marine origin in terrestrial environments. Seabirds impose physical disturbance on soils and vegetation in the process of building and maintaining nests. Seabird islands often house endemic and native plants and animals that are no longer found on the mainland. The presence of seabirds selects for plants that are tolerant of high‐disturbance and high‐nutrient conditions. Nutrient subsidies from guano (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus) can support increased primary and secondary productivity. Introduced mammalian predators have eradicated seabirds and other species on many seabird islands. The reduction of seabird populations by introduced predators alters plant and animal communities and nutrient cycling. Eradication of seabird predators is a necessary first step towards restoration of seabird islands. Restoration of seabird islands often requires active management of seabirds, other animals and plant populations. Protection of seabird islands will require international cooperation on land and at sea.

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Seabird Island Ecology

Anderson

¹

,

Mulder

²

,

Ellis

³

2017

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

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Seabird islands house large colonies of seabirds that feed at sea but return to land to breed. Seabirds deposit large amounts of nutrients of marine origin onto islands; many species also disturb soil and vegetation during the building and maintenance of nests. Nutrient subsidies and physical disturbance by seabirds alter island soils and vegetation and modify plant and animal communities. Introduction of non‐native predators has resulted in population decreases or local extinction of many seabird species. Recent efforts at eradication of introduced seabird predators have been successful, but re‐establishment of seabirds and seabird island communities will likely take additional active restoration. Many other factors impact seabird populations such as overfishing, seabirds caught as by‐catch, increases in sea surface temperature, sea level rise, and various sorts of marine pollution, including plastics consumed by seabirds. These factors directly and indirectly affect the ecology of seabird islands. Key Concepts Seabirds deposit nutrients of marine origin in terrestrial environments. Seabirds impose physical disturbance on soils and vegetation in the process of building and maintaining nests. Seabird islands often house endemic and native plants and animals that are no longer found on the mainland. The presence of seabirds selects for plants that are tolerant of high‐disturbance and high‐nutrient (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus) conditions and that increase primary and secondary productivity. Introduced mammalian predators have eradicated seabirds and other species on many seabird islands. The reduction of seabird populations by introduced predators alters plant and animal communities and nutrient cycling. Eradication of seabird predators is a necessary first step towards restoration of seabird islands. Restoration of seabird islands often requires active management of seabirds, other animals and plant populations. Protection of seabird islands will require international cooperation on land and at sea. Several marine environmental issues impact seabird populations and thus also the island communities that are tightly associated with seabird presence.

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Population structure and management of invasive cats on an Australian Island

Koch

¹

,

Algar²,

Schwenk

³

2014

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Invasive predators have a major impact on endemic island species; therefore, information about invasion dynamics are essential for implementing successful control measures. The introduction of feral cats onto Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia, has had devastating effects, with presumably 10 of 13 native terrestrial mammal species being lost because of predation. Detailed records of historical introduction events were lacking; therefore, we analyzed genetic variation of the current population to gain information about past invasion dynamics and current gene‐flow patterns. We analyzed the genetic structure and diversity of feral cats on the island and 2 mainland populations (Peron Peninsula and Steep Point). Analysis of mitochondrial DNA (ND5 and ND6) showed 2 primary haplotypes that we attribute to 2 main introduction events. Pairwise G″ST values indicated high connectivity on the island but some isolation to the mainland populations. Mitochondrial and nuclear data showed no evidence for genetic differentiation of island and mainland populations; however, kinship analyses rejected evidence for on‐going immigration of members of the current cat populations. Overall, our data suggested that gene flow following the main introduction events ceased some years ago. Because current island populations appear to be reproductively isolated from mainland populations, a sufficiently large‐scale eradication measure might successfully diminish feral cat populations long‐term. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.

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Islands

Cited by 28 publications

References 177 publications

Seabird Island Ecology

Seabird Island Ecology

Seabird Island Ecology

Population structure and management of invasive cats on an Australian Island

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