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Distribution of seabirds in the northern Gulf of Mexico in relation to mesoscale features: initial observations.
Distribution of seabirds in the northern Gulf of Mexico in relation to mesoscale features: initial observations.
- Source :
- ICES Journal of Marine Science / Journal du Conseil; Aug1997, Vol. 54 Issue 4, p545-551, 7p, 3 Charts, 2 Maps
- Publication Year :
- 1997
-
Abstract
- The presence of seabirds was related to offshore surface eddies and the freshwater plume of the Mississippi River in the northern Gulf of Mexico during autumn, winter, spring, and summer 1992–1993. Skuas (Stercorarius spp.) were the most common bird seen in autumn, whereas skuas and gulls (Larus spp.) were the most common in winter. Few birds were seen in the spring, and terns (Sterna spp.) were the most common birds seen in late summer. During summer, terns were associated with the freshwater plume of the Mississippi River. In the winter, herring (Larus argentatus) and laughing gulls (L. artricilla) were associated with areas with steep thermoclines, while pomarine skuas (Stercorarius pomarinus) were found in areas of low productivity. Herring and laughing gulls in the winter, all birds in the spring, and terns in the summer were more common outside eddies. Only pomarine skuas in the winter were seen more commonly inside warm-core eddies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- SEA birds
PLUMES (Fluid dynamics)
EDDIES
LARUS argentatus
LAUGHING gull
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10543139
- Volume :
- 54
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- ICES Journal of Marine Science / Journal du Conseil
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 44591330
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.1997.0251