Conservation of the Azores seabird assemblage
The Azores seabird assemblage comprise seven regular breeding species (four Procellariiformes and three Charadriiformes) plus three occasional/possible breeders. Recent inventories established the importance and priority for conservation of the Azores seabird fauna in Europe. Five of the regular breeders are Species of European Conservation Concern with an Unfavorable Conservation Status (categories 1-3; Tucker & Heath, 1994) and many seabird sites fulfill the criteria for designation as Seabird Sanctuaries (Duffy, 1994). Recent reviews of the past and present status, ecology and conservation of Azores seabirds (Monteiro et al. 1996a,b) assembled dispersed information and provided a comprehensive framework for future research and conservation. Historical population trends inferred from 16th and 17th century chronicles indicate dramatic declines in population levels for most species and regression in breeding distributions. Recent inventories identified important seabird breeding sites and provided crude population estimates (Tucker & Heath, 1994) but it is essential to survey many unexplored potential seabird breeding areas and obtain more accurate population estimates, especially for the Procellariiformes.
The main priorities regarding seabird conservation-orientated research at the Department are:
Relevant references:
- to continue surveys and monitoring of seabird populations, obtain data on productivity and evaluate the importance of the various threats;
- to study ecological isolation and genetic drift (using micro-satellites) between temporally segregated populations of Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro) to clarify their taxonomic status and to understand the speciation mechanism underlying this situation (Monteiro & Furness, in press).
1) Duffy, D. C. 1994. Toward a world strategy for seabird sanctuaries. Col. Waterb., 17: 200-6.
2) Monteiro L. R. Ramos J. A. Furness R. W. 1996a. Past and present status and conservation of the seabirds breeding in the Azores archipelago. Biological Conservation 78: 319-328.
3) Monteiro L. R. Ramos J. A. Furness R. W. del Nevo A. J. 1996b. Movements, morphology, breeding, molt, diet and feeding of seabirds in the Azores. Col. Waterb. 19: 82-97.
4) Tucker, G. M. & Heath, M. F. 1994. Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife International, Cambridge.
5) Monteiro L. R., Furness R. W. (in press) Speciation through temporal segregation of Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro) populations in the Azores? Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences.
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