Data storage tags for free-ranging seabirds

海鸟是最容易被发现和范围最广的海洋捕食者，它们以许多不同的猎物为食。因此，海鸟经常被研究为变化的猎物和海洋状况的指示器。然而，在过去十年左右的时间里，微芯片技术的进步促进了轻量级数据存储标签(DST)的发展，这种标签可以贴在自由放养的动物身上。这些小型数据存储标签正在彻底改变我们对海洋鸟类在全球海洋生态系统中的活动和栖息地利用的理解。这些DST包含可以记录外部和内部温度、压力、位置和环境光的传感器。当应用到鸟类上时，这些设备可以产生关于觅食和迁徙行为以及栖息地利用的新的和令人兴奋的信息，这些信息以前是不可能进行科学调查的。本提案寻求支持，以获得可以用腿带固定在加拿大东部低北极海洋生态系统中的海鸟的光温DST(5.5克)。本申请中申请的DST用于附着在南大西洋(戈夫岛)筑巢的大剪切水，但这些DST是纽芬兰海岸夏季(南冬季)鱼类的主要海鸟消耗者。因为每个繁殖季节，个别鸟类都会回到相同的筑巢地点，被标记的鸟类将在加拿大水域夏季之后被重新捕获，届时将取回伐木者，并采集微小的血液样本以确定鸟类的性别。我们还将对夏季生长的羽毛进行同位素分析，以评估鸟类在加拿大水域的食物消耗。研究的目的是评估海鸟全年如何迁徙和通过大西洋活动。对海鸟繁殖季节以外的海鸟活动、栖息地协会和行为生态学的了解很少。更好地了解海鸟如何活动和开发海洋资源将有助于我们更好地了解海洋生态系统如何运作，以及如何更好地保护和管理它们。

Seabirds are the most detectable and wide-ranging of marine predators, and they feed on many different prey.  Consequently, seabirds are often studied as indicators of changing prey and ocean conditions.  During the past decade or so advances in micro-chip technology have facilitated the development of lightweight data storage tags (DSTs) that can be attached to free-ranging animals.  These small DSTs are revolutionizing our understanding of the movements and habitat use by marine birds over global ocean ecosystems.  DSTs contain sensors that can record external and internal temperature, pressure, position, and ambient light.  When applied to birds, these devices can yield novel and exciting information about foraging and migratory behaviour and habitat use that was previously impossible to investigate scientifically.  The present proposal seeks support to obtain light-temperature DSTs (5.5 g) that can be attached on leg bands to seabirds inhabiting the low arctic marine ecosystem of eastern Canada.  The DSTs being applied for in this application are for attachment to great shearwaters that nest in the south Atlantic (Gough Island) but which are the major seabird consumers of fish on the Newfoundland banks during summer (austral winter).  Because individual birds return to the same nest-sites each breeding season, tagged birds will be recaptured the following their summers in Canadian waters when loggers will be retrieved and minute blood samples taken to determine the sex of the birds.  We will also conduct isotope analyses of feathers grown during the summer to assess the food consumption of the birds while in Canadian waters.  The aim of the research is to assess how seabirds migrate and move through the Atlantic throughout the year.  Knowledge about seabird movements, habitat associations and behavioural ecology outside of their breeding seasons is scant.  Better understanding of how seabirds move about and exploit ocean resources will help us better understand how marine ecosystems function and how they can be better protected and managed.