Bertarelli-Annual-Report-2023-R9-low (1) - Flipbook - Page 14
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Projects
Bertarelli Foundation
Seabird Connectivity
Seabirds are oceanic voyagers – some species can travel
thousands of miles over open ocean, further than any
other animal. However, they also have strong attachments
to particular areas, returning repeatedly to breed
and forage in the same place. The question of where
they go, and why, remains one of the most enduring
mysteries in science. Human activities have negatively
impacted seabird populations globally and a loss of
breeding colonies has led to population collapse and
fragmentation. In the tropical Indian Ocean, the remaining
breeding colonies are frequently restricted to remote and
undisturbed oceanic islands.
The connection of different seabird populations in the
Western Indian Ocean, and their genetic relatedness, is
key to seabird conservation. Isolated populations are less
resilient than inter-connected ones, and the amount of
movement between sites will influence the recolonisation
of islands which have been restored. Identifying sites where
seabirds and their prey interact in the vast open ocean
helps inform how areas are protected and managed.
This multi-team project is working to understand
connectivity among seabird communities at the scale of
the Western Indian Ocean, and also more locally within the
Chagos Archipelago.