title: Seabird diversity hotspot linked to ocean productivity in the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem.
abstract: Upwelling regions are highly productive habitats targeted by wide-ranging marine predators and industrial fisheries. In this study, we track the migratory movements of eight seabird species from across the Atlantic; quantify overlap with the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and determine the habitat characteristics that drive this association. Our results indicate the CCLME is a biodiversity hotspot for migratory seabirds; all tracked species and more than 70% of individuals used this upwelling region. Relative species richness peaked in areas where sea surface temperature averaged between 15 and 20°C, and correlated positively with chlorophyll a, revealing the optimum conditions driving bottom-up trophic effects for seabirds. Marine vertebrates are not confined by international boundaries, making conservation challenging. However, by linking diversity to ocean productivity, our research reveals the significance of the CCLME for seabird populations from across the Atlantic, making it a priority for conservation action.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK james.grecian@glasgow.ac.uk.
authors.forename: W James
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6428-719X
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Grecian
authors.affiliation: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9498-5378
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.affiliation: Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Attrill
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5864-0129
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bearhop
authors.affiliation: Institut für Vogelforschung 'Vogelwarte Helgoland', An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kvioq 2, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egevang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Furness
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK.
authors.forename: Brendan J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3845-0034
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Godley
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio) and Departament de Biologia Animal, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8691-9397
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González-Solís
authors.affiliation: CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Cedex 05, Montpellier, France DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grémillet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.affiliation: CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Cedex 05, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lescroël
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthiopoulos
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, UK.
authors.forename: Samantha C
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4498-944X
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.affiliation: British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USA.
authors.forename: Iain J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3614-9862
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Stenhouse
authors.affiliation: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK s.c.votier@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0976-0167
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Votier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002171:Canaries; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D017753:Ecosystem; D009792:Oceans and Seas
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: biologging; human impacts; marine conservation; marine protected areas; migration; upwelling