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How do marine heatwaves impact seabirds?
Extreme heatwaves have had dramatic impacts on marine ecosystems worldwide, and they are increasing in frequency and magnitude. The effect of these periodic heating events on seabirds has been manifested in a variety of biological and behavioural responses, including die-offs, reproductive failures, reduced survival, shifts in phenology of breeding or migration, and shifts in distribution at sea. However, the actual mechanisms by which heating events exert their effects on seabirds are not well understood. For example, how does ocean heating reduce prey availability or quality to cause starvation or breeding failure? How are impacts modulated by the duration and spatial extent of heatwaves? How, and to what degree, can seabirds buffer against heatwave impacts? What are the physiological effects of heating on seabirds and their prey?
This Theme Section was inspired by the “heatwave impacts” symposium at the 3rd World Seabird Conference held in October 2021. The organizers welcome the submission of any studies that demonstrate impacts on seabirds from marine heatwaves and propose specific mechanisms that could explain how ocean heating precipitates changes in seabird biology and behaviour.
If you wish to contribute your work to this Theme Section, please select the “HEAT” Section when you submit your manuscript online and mention in your cover letter that you are interested to have your work included in this Theme Section.
For questions, contact Christine Paetzold (Managing Editor) .
Organizers: John F. Piatt, William J. Sydeman, Peter Dann, Bradley C. Congdon
Editors: John F. Piatt, Robert M. Suryan, William J. Sydeman, Mayumi L. Arimitsu, Sarah Ann Thompson, Rory P. Wilson, Kyle H. Elliott
Status: Submissions are closed.
Important notice: Submissions to this Theme Section after 1 November 2022 are not affected by the changes in MEPS Open Access pricing. Pre-November prices will apply along with a 20% discount.
Individual Theme Section articles are published 'Advance View' as soon as they are ready. Once the Theme Section is completed, they will be fully published in a regular volume of MEPS and given a volume number and page range. Theme Section literature cites within the articles will also be updated at that time.
Schoen SK, Arimitsu ML, Marsteller CE, Piatt JF
Lingering impacts of the 2014-2016 northeast Pacific marine heatwave on seabird demography in Cook Inlet, Alaska (USA)
MEPS HEAT: AV1 | Full text in pdf format
Cushing DA, Kuletz KJ, Sousa L, Day RH, Danielson SL, Labunski EA, Hopcroft RR
Differential response of seabird species to warm- and cold-water events in a heterogeneous cross-shelf environment in the Gulf of Alaska
MEPS HEAT: AV2 | Full text in pdf format
Olin AB, Dück L, Berglund PA, Karlsson E, Bohm M, Olsson O, Hentati-Sundberg J
Breeding failures and reduced nest attendance in response to heat stress in a high-latitude seabird
MEPS HEAT: AV3 | Full text in pdf format
Wagner EL, Pearson SF, Good TP, Hodum PJ, BuhleER, Schrimpf MB
Resilience to a severe marine heatwave at two Pacific seabird colonies
MEPS HEAT: AV4 | Full text in pdf format
Robinson CLK, Bertram DF, Shannon H, von Biela VR, Greentree W, Duguid W, Arimitsu ML
Reduction in overwinter body condition and size of Pacific sand lance has implications for piscivorous predators during marine heatwaves
MEPS HEAT: AV5 | Full text in pdf format
De la Cruz-Pino G, Velarde E, Marín-Hernández M, Inzunza ER, Ezcurra E
Survival vs. reproduction: dimorphic life history strategy in Heermann’s gulls during warm ocean temperature anomalies
MEPS HEAT: AV6 | Full text in pdf format
Oswald SA, Arnold JM
OPINION PIECE: Challenges of quantifying direct heat stress effects of climate change on seabirds
MEPS HEAT: AV7 | Full text in pdf format
Jones T, Parrish JK, Lindsey J, Wright C, Burgess HK, Dolliver J, Divine L, Kaler R, Bradley D, Sorenson G, Torrenta R, Backensto S, Coletti H, Harvey JT, Nevins HM, Donnelly-Greenan E, Sherer DL, Roletto J, Lindquist K
Marine bird mass mortality events as an indicator of the impacts of ocean warming
MEPS HEAT: AV8 | Full text in pdf format
Woehler EJ, Hobday AJ
REVIEW: Impacts of marine heatwaves may be mediated by seabird life history strategies
MEPS HEAT: AV9 | Full text in pdf format
Robinson B, Coletti HA, Ballachey B, Bodkin JL, Kloecker K, Traiger SB, Esler D
Lack of strong responses to the Pacific marine heatwave by benthivorous marine birds indicates importance of trophic drivers
MEPS HEAT: AV10 | Full text in pdf format
Cannell BL, Kendall WL, Tyne JA, Bunce M, Hetzel Y, Murray D, Radford B
Marine heatwaves affect breeding, diet and population size but not body condition of a range-edge little penguin colony
MEPS HEAT:av11 | Full text in pdf format