Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators

Lieber, Lilian; Nimmo‐Smith, W. Alex M.; Waggitt, James J.; Kregting, Louise

doi:10.1038/s42003-019-0364-z

Cited by 34 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…In conclusion, understanding how highly mobile marine predators extract information from their underlying environment may help us predict the potential impacts of environmental change [72]. This also concerns the introduction of man-made structures in our coastal seas [73], as these can influence the occurrence, scale and intensity of hydrodynamic features on local scales [74], thereby affecting foraging opportunities [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This coastal change is undoubtedly leading to new interactions between marine predators and installations. While we are yet to understand how this may influence foraging success [4], there is some evidence that installations can even generate new foraging opportunities [5,6]. Foraging strategies may vary in response to physical changes in local conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, with the rapid dynamics associated with seabird flight, temporally or spatially averaged oceanographic data leads to a spatio-temporal mismatch between movement metrics and habitat characteristics at the visited cell and may thus not capture highly localized associations. With emerging technologies to track animals in their natural environment, such as animal-borne GPS tags and accelerometers [29,30], marine radar [31], ornithodolites [32] and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone applications [6,33,34], the development of technical innovations that can link high-resolution animal positions with dynamic, proximate physical cues and variables is at the forefront of understanding where predators forage and why. Specifically, the application of UAV-based approaches can shed new light on individual movement metrics and underlying physical variables, as perceived by the animal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A bird's-eye view on turbulence: seabird foraging associations with evolving surface flow features

2021

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Understanding physical mechanisms underlying seabird foraging is fundamental to predict responses to coastal change. For instance, turbulence in the water arising from natural or anthropogenic structures can affect foraging opportunities in tidal seas. Yet, identifying ecologically important localized turbulence features (e.g. upwellings approximately 10–100 m) is limited by observational scale, and this knowledge gap is magnified in volatile predators. Here, using a drone-based approach, we present the tracking of surface-foraging terns (143 trajectories belonging to three tern species) and dynamic turbulent surface flow features in synchrony. We thereby provide the earliest evidence that localized turbulence features can present physical foraging cues. Incorporating evolving vorticity and upwelling features within a hidden Markov model, we show that terns were more likely to actively forage as the strength of the underlying vorticity feature increased, while conspicuous upwellings ahead of the flight path presented a strong physical cue to stay in transit behaviour. This clearly encapsulates the importance of prevalent turbulence features as localized foraging cues. Our quantitative approach therefore offers the opportunity to unlock knowledge gaps in seabird sensory and foraging ecology on hitherto unobtainable scales. Finally, it lays the foundation to predict responses to coastal change to inform sustainable ocean development.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A bird's-eye view on turbulence: seabird foraging associations with evolving surface flow features

2021

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“…Increasingly, UAVs are being used for monitoring purposes other than population or nest counts. For example, UAV surveys have recorded finescale foraging behaviour of terns in relation to wakes created by strong currents interacting with man-made structures (Lieber et al 2019). In addition, UAVs might also collect time-series data, for example to measure nesting success.…”

Section: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uavs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of digital imaging and analysis in seabird monitoring and research

Edney

Wood

2020

Ibis

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Rapid advances in digital imaging technology offer efficient and cost‐effective methods for measuring seabird abundance, breeding success, phenology, survival and diet. These methods can facilitate understanding of long‐term population trends, and the design and implementation of successful conservation strategies. This paper reviews the suitability of satellites, manned aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and fixed‐position, handheld and animal‐borne cameras for recording digital photographs and videos used to measure seabird demographic and behavioural parameters. It considers the disturbance impacts, accuracy of results obtained, cost‐effectiveness and scale of monitoring possible compared with ‘traditional’ fieldworker methods. Given the ease of collecting large amounts of imagery, image processing is an important step in realizing the potential of this technology. The effectiveness of manual, semi‐automated and automated image processing is also reviewed. Satellites, manned aircraft and UAVs have most commonly been used for population counts. Spatial resolution is lowest in satellites, limiting monitoring to large species and those with obvious signs of presence, such as penguins. Conversely, UAVs have the highest spatial resolution, which has allowed fine‐scale measurements of foraging behaviour. Time‐lapse cameras are more cost‐effective for collecting time‐series data such as breeding success and phenology, as human visits are only required infrequently for maintenance. However, the colony of interest must be observable from a single vantage point. Handheld, animal‐borne and motion‐triggered cameras have fewer cost‐effective uses but have provided information on seabird diet, foraging behaviour and nest predation. The last of these has been important for understanding the impact of invasive mammals on seabird breeding success. Advances in automated image analysis are increasing the suitability of digital photography and videography to facilitate and/or replace traditional seabird monitoring methods. Machine‐learning algorithms, such as Pengbot, have allowed rapid identification of birds, although training requires thousands of pre‐annotated photographs. Digital imaging has considerable potential in seabird monitoring, provided that appropriate choices are available for both image capture technology and image processing. These technologies offer opportunities to collect data in remote locations and increase the number of sites monitored. The potential to include such solutions in seabird monitoring and research will develop as the technology evolves, which will be of benefit given funding challenges in monitoring and conservation.

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“…black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla (Embling et al 2012;Drew, Piatt, and Hill 2013), and terns (e.g. Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea (Savidge et al 2014;Lieber et al 2019) use tidal stream environments (Table 1). Conversely, sea ducks (e.g.…”

Section: Spatial Overlapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the effects of tidal stream marine renewable energy on seabirds: A conceptual framework

Isaksson

Masden

Williamson

et al. 2020

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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We are at a crossroads where many nation states, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), are committing to increased electricity production from "green energy", of which tidal stream marine renewable energy is one such resource. However, many questions remain regarding the effects of tidal energy devices on marine wildlife, including seabirds, of which the UK has internationally important numbers. Guidelines are lacking on how best to use both wellestablished and novel survey methods to assess seabird use of tidal flow areas, leading to a data-rich but information poor (DRIP) situation. This review provides a conceptual framework for assessing the effects of tidal stream energy devices on seabirds, summarises current knowledge and highlights knowledge gaps. Finally, recommendations are given for how best to pursue knowledge on this topic. An overview of the tidal stream marine renewable energy seascape and seabirdsThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has called for a 'massive shift' toward renewable energy in light of determining unequivocal climate warming as a result of anthropogenic activity (Edenhofer et al., 2011; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2014). Consequently, Commented [NI1]: R2: "to best pursue knowledge on this thematic" Commented [NI2R1]: I feel 'thematic' Is a bit vague so put topic instead but open to suggestions. targets for electricity production from renewable sources have been set by governing bodies: '

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Localised anthropogenic wake generates a predictable foraging hotspot for top predators

Cited by 34 publications

References 68 publications

A bird's-eye view on turbulence: seabird foraging associations with evolving surface flow features

A bird's-eye view on turbulence: seabird foraging associations with evolving surface flow features

Applications of digital imaging and analysis in seabird monitoring and research

Assessing the effects of tidal stream marine renewable energy on seabirds: A conceptual framework

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