Menu

Volume 50, No. 1

Search by author or title:

Composition of the seabird community off French Guiana


Authors

CLAIRE PUSINERI1*, LUDIVINE MARTINEZ2, BENJAMIN DE MONTGOLFIER1,3, DINIS GERALDES2, PAUL LENRUME4, AMANDINE BORDIN5, MORJANE SAFI1,3, ALESSANDRA SUARDI2, VIRGINIE WYSS2, BRENDAN LECLERC2,6 & VINCENT RUFRAY4,5
1Ocean Science & Logistic, c/o TOTEM, 4 cité Oyana, 97300 Cayenne, French Guiana, France *(claire.pusineri@gmail.com)
2Cohabys, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
3Aquasearch, ZAC Les Coteaux, 97228 Sainte-Luce, Martinique, France
4Biotope Amazonie, 3 rue Mézin Gildon, 97354 Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana, France
5Groupe d'Étude et de Protection des Oiseaux de Guyane, 431 route d'Atilla Cabassou, 97354 Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana, France
6Comité Régional des Pêches Maritimes et des Elevages Marins de Guyane, Port du Larivot, 97351 Matoury, French Guiana, France

Citation

PUSINERI, C., MARTINEZ, L., DE MONTGOLFIER, B., GERALDES, D., LENRUME, P., BORDIN, A., SAFI, A., SUARDI, A., WYSS, V., LECLERC, B. & RUFRAY, V. 2022. Composition of the seabird community off French Guiana. Marine Ornithology 50: 81 - 94

Received 15 April 2021, accepted 17 December 2021

Date Published: 2022/04/15
Date Online: 2022/03/23
Key words: South America, conservation, diversity, zonation, boat-based campaigns

Abstract

We provide information on the seabirds occurring year-round in waters of the French Guiana Exclusive Economic Zone, based on data obtained from three boat-based campaigns: a campaign by the Groupe d'Étude et de Protection des Oiseaux de Guyane was conducted for four days every two months from July 2011 to June 2012; a campaign by Cohabys was performed for five days per month from January to May 2018; and a campaign by Ocean Science & Logistic consisted of four 10-day surveys conducted in June, July, September, and October 2018. Overall, 30 seabird species within 1110 groups of birds were sighted along 6686 km of surveys conducted during favorable weather conditions (Beaufort < 5). Seabirds of the family Laridae were the most frequently observed, followed by those of the family Procellariidae. In waters over the continental slope, the most frequently observed species were Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus; Brown Noddy Anous stolidus; Wilson's Oceanites oceanicus and Leach's Hydrobates leucorhous storm petrels; Great Ardenna gravis, Manx Puffinus puffinus, and Audubon's Puffinus lherminieri shearwaters; and Masked Booby Sula dactylatra. In waters over the shelf, the most common species were Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla, and Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus. In the coastal area, the most common species were Laughing Gull, Royal Tern, and Cayenne Tern T. acuflavidus eurygnathus. The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens was sighted in all habitats. Monthly presence/absence and associations of species were also analyzed. Our results underlined the high species diversity of seabirds within the waters of French Guiana as well as the diverse uses of available habitats. Indeed, the region is not only a major nesting area, but also a major foraging area for wintering, summering, and migrating species. We recommend strengthening seabird conservation measures and, in particular, increasing the extent of Marine Protected Areas.

References


AUTHIER, M., DORÉMUS, G., VAN CANNEYT, O. ET AL. 2018. Exploring change in the relative abundance of marine megafauna in the Bay of Biscay, 2004-2016. Progress in Oceanography 166: 159-167. doi:10.1016/j.pocean.2017.09.014

BALLANCE, L.T., PITMAN, R.L. & REILLY, S.B. 1997. Seabird community structure along a productivity gradient: Importance of competition and energetic constraint. Ecology 78: 1502-1518. doi:10.2307/2266144

CARBONERAS, C. 1992. Procellariidae (Petrels and Shearwaters). In: DEL HOYO, J., ELLIOTT, A. & SARGATAL J. (Eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions.

CARBONERAS, C., JUTGLAR, F. & KIRWAN, G.M. 2018. Band-rumped Storm Petrel (Hydrobates castro). In: DEL HOYO, J., ELLIOTT, A., SARGATAL, J., CHRISTIE, D.A. & DE JUANA, E. (Eds.) Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions.

CARBONERAS, C., JUTGLAR, F. & KIRWAN, G.M. 2020. Black-bellied Storm-Petrel (Fregetta tropica), version 1.0. In: J. DEL HOYO, J., ELLIOTT, A., SARGATAL, J., CHRISTIE, D.A. & DE JUANA, E. (Eds.) Birds of the World. Ithaca, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

CARLOS, C.J. 2009. Seabird diversity in Brazil: a review. Sea Swallow 58: 17-46.

CHG (COMITÉ D'HOMOLOGATION DE GUYANE). 2010. Liste des oiseaux de Guyane - version mars 2010. Cayenne, French Guiana: Groupe d'Étude et de Protection des Oiseaux de Guyane. [Accessed online at http://gfol1.leseffaroucheursduciel.com/download/liste_guyane_2010_ws53666515.pdf in December 2021.]

CHG. 2020. Liste des oiseaux de Guyane - version mars 2020. Cayenne, French Guiana: GEPOG. [Accessed online at https://cdnfiles2.biolovision.net/www.faune-guyane.fr/pdffiles/news/Liste_CHG_des_Oiseaux_de_Guyane_(mars_2020)intro-9259.pdf in December 2021.]

CLAESSENS, O., RUFRAY, V., TOSTAIN, O. & COMITE D'HOMOLOGATION DE GUYANE. 2014. Les oiseaux rares en Guyane en 2010 et 2011. Rapport du Comité d'homologation de Guyane. Cayenne, French Guiana: GEPOG. [Accessed online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287958649_Les_oiseaux_rares_en_Guyane_francaise_en_2010_et_2011 in April 2021.]

COLCHERO, F., BASS, O.L., JR., ZAMBRANO, R. & GORE, J.A. 2010. Clustered nesting and vegetation thresholds reduce egg predation in Sooty Terns. Waterbirds 33: 169-178.

DAUDT, N.W., MARTINS, S.P., KIRINUS, E.P. & BUGONI, L. 2019. Seabird assemblage at the mouth of the Amazon River and its relationship with environmental characteristics. Journal of Sea Research 155: 101826. doi:10.1016/j.seares.2019.101826

DE BOER, M.N., WILLIAMS, A.C. & SAULINO, J.T. 2014. Observations of pelagic seabirds in the waters offshore Suriname, May-July 2012. Academic Journal of Suriname 2014: 474-491.

DEL HOYO, J., ELLIOT, A. & SARGATAL, J. 1992. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions.

DUJARDIN, J.-L. & TOSTAIN, O. 1990. Les oiseaux de mer nicheurs de Guyane Française. Alauda 58: 107-134.

FROIDEFOND, J.-M. 2012. Physique et chimie du milieu marin : Couleur des eaux. In: GUIRAL, D. & LE GUEN, R. (Eds.) Guyane Océane. Montpellier, France: Roger Le Guen, IRD Éditions.

GILG, O., ME, B., HANSSEN, S.A. ET AL. 2013. Trans-equatorial migration routes, staging sites and wintering areas of a high-Arctic avian predator: The Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus). PLoS One 8: e64614. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064614

GILL, F., DONSKER, D. & RASMUSSEN, P. (Eds). 2021. IOC World Bird List 11.2. Baton Rouge, USA: International Ornithologists' Union. doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.11.2.

GIRONDOT, M. 2012. Rapport correspondant aux observations de Johan Chevalier sur la plateforme de forage. Paris, France: AgroParisTech, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

GOWER, J., YOUNG, E. & KING, S. 2013. Satellite images suggest a new Sargassum source region in 2011. Remote Sensing Letters 4: 764-773. doi:10.1080/2150704X.2013.796433

GUIRAL, D. & LE GUEN, R. (Eds.). 2012. Guyane Océane. Montpellier, France: Roger Le Guen, IRD Éditions.

HAMER, K.C. 2003. Puffinus puffinus Manx Shearwater. BWP Update 5: 203-213.

HANEY, J.C. 1986. Seabird patchiness in tropical oceanic waters: the influence of Sargassum 'reefs.' The Auk 103: 141-151.

HAUSELMANN, A., BÉTREMIEUX, L. & ALCIDE, A. 2013. Réserve naturelle Île du Grand-Connétable : Plan de gestion 2013-2017. Cayenne, French Guiana: Groupe d'Étude et de Protection des Oiseaux de Guyane.

HOWELL, S.N.G. & ENGEL, S.J. 1993. Seabird observations off western Mexico. Western Birds 24: 167-181.

HU, C., MONTGOMERY, E.T., SCHMITT, R.W. & MULLER-KARGER, F.E. 2004. The dispersal of the Amazon and Orinoco River water in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean Sea: Observation from space and S-PALACE floats. Deep-Sea Research Part II 51: 1151-1171. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2004.04.001

HUANG, R.M., BASS, O.L., JR. & PIMM, S.L. 2017. Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) survival, oil spills, shrimp fisheries, and hurricanes. PeerJ 5: e3287. doi:10.7717/peerj.3287

IUCN FRANCE, MNHN, GEPOG ET AL. 2017. La Liste rouge des espèces menacées en France - Chapitres de la Faune vertébrée de Guyane. Paris, France: Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature.

JAQUEMET, S., LE CORRE, M. & WEIMERSKIRCH, H. 2004. Seabird community structure in a coastal tropical environment: Importance of natural factors and fish aggregating devices (FADs). Marine Ecology Progress Series 268: 281-292. doi:10.3354/meps268281

JOHNSON, D., KO, D.S., FRANKS, J.S., MORENO, P. & SANCHEZ-RUBIO, G. 2013. The Sargassum invasion of the eastern Caribbean and dynamics of the equatorial North Atlantic. Proceedings of the 65th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) Conference, Santa Marta, Colombia. Marathon, USA: GCFI.

KIRWAN, G.M., CARBONERAS, C. & JUTGLAR F. 2020. Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri), version 1.0. In: BILLERMAN, S.M., KEENEY, B.K., RODEWALD, P.G. & SCHULENBERG, T.S. (Eds.). Birds of the World. Ithaca, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. doi:10.2173/bow.audshe.01

LARAN, S., BASSOLS, N., DORÉMUS, G., AUTHIER, M., RIDOUX, V. & VAN CANNEYT, O. 2019. Distribution et abondance de la mégafaune marine aux Petites Antilles et en Guyane. Campagne REMMOA - II. Rapport final pour l'Agence Française pour la Biodiversité. La Rochelle, France: Observatoire Pelagis, Université de La Rochelle.

LEE, D.S. & MACKIN, W.A. 2012. West Indian Breeding Seabird Atlas. Last updated 02 February 2012. [Accessed at http://www.wicbirds.net/species.html on 03 Mar 2022.]

LEES, A.C., OLMOS, F. & CAMPOS, A. 2015. Here be gadflies: pelagic birding off north-east Brazil. Neotropical Birding 17: 11-18.

LENTZ, S.J. 1995. Seasonal variations in the horizontal structure of the Amazon Plume inferred from historical hydrographic data. Journal of Geophysical Research 100: 2391-2400. doi:10.1029/94JC01847

LONGHURST, A.R. 2007. Ecological Geography of the Sea. Oxford, UK: Academic Press.

MANNOCCI, L., MONESTIEZ, P., BOLAÑOS-JIMÉNEZ, J. ET AL. 2013. Megavertebrate communities from two contrasting ecosystems in the western tropical Atlantic. Journal of Marine Systems 111-112: 208-222. doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.11.002

MARTINEZ, L., GERALDES, D., SUARDI, A., WYSS, V., DUTRIEUX, E. & CHAINEAU, C.-H. 2019. New sightings records of marine mammals and seabirds off French Guiana. Latin America Journal of Aquatic Research 47: 753-763. doi:10.3856/vol47-issue5-fulltext-4

MOURA, R.L., AMADO-FILHO, G.M., MORAES, F.C. ET AL. 2016. An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth. Science Advances 2: e1501252. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1501252

PETRY, M.V., BASLER, A.B. & DOS SANTOS, C.R. 2016. First record of Fregetta tropica (Procellariiformes: Hydrobatidae) on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Oecologia Australis 20: 119-121. doi:10.4257/oeco.2016.2001.09

PRECHEUR, C. 2015. Ecologie et conservation du puffin d'Audubon (Puffinus lherminieri lherminieri) de la réserve naturelle des îlets de Sainte-Anne (Martinique). PhD dissertation. Fort de France, Martinique: Université des Antilles.

RAMÍREZ, I, PAIVA, V.H., MENEZES, D. ET AL. 2013. Year-round distribution and habitat preferences of the Bugio petrel. Marine Ecology Progress Series 476: 269-284.

RUFRAY, V., CLAESSENS, O. & LE CHG. 2019. Les oiseaux rares en Guyane française entre 2012 et 2014. Rapport du Comité d'Homologation de Guyane. Cayenne, Guyane Française: CHG. [Accessed online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336015425_Les_oiseaux_rares_en_Guyane_francaise_entre_2012_et_2014 in April 2021.]

SEBASTIANO, M., BUSTAMANTE, P., EULAERS, I. ET AL. 2017. Trophic ecology drives contaminant concentrations within a tropical seabird community. Environmental Pollution 227: 183-193. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.040ff.ffhal-01572190ff

SMITH, W.O., JR. & DEMASTER, D.J. 1996. Phytoplankton biomass and productivity in the Amazon River plume: correlation with seasonal river discharge. Continental Shelf Research 16: 291-319.

TEIXEIRA, D.M., NACINOVIC, J.B. & TAVARES, M.S. 1986. Notes on some birds of Northeastern Brazil. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 106: 70-74.

TERNON J.-F. & GUIRAL D. 2012. Physique et chimie du milieu marin : Nature et richesse des eaux. In: GUIRAL D. & LE GUEN R. (Eds.) Guyane Océane. Montpellier, France: Roger Le Guen, IRD Éditions.

THOMPSON, B.C., JACKSON, J.A., BURGER, J., HILL, L.A., KIRSCH, E.M. & ATWOOD J.L. 2020. Least Tern (Sternula antillarum), version 1.0. In: POOLE, A.F. & GILL, F.B. (Eds.). Birds of the World. Ithaca, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

WILLEMS, T., DE BOER, M. & SAULINO, J. 2017. Offshore surprises: New at-sea bird records for Suriname (2013-2015). Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 25: 190-205. doi:10.1007/BF03544397

Search by author or title:

Browse previous volumes: