Seabird ecology in the North Atlantic

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Animal movements (i.e., dispersal and migration) are key processes in behavioural ecology that have direct implications on the fitness of individuals and population dynamics. Dispersal, the movement from one location to another for the purpose of breeding, can be an important driver of population change, as individuals disperse to avoid inbreeding or unfavorable habitats. Without the ability to disperse, species would become locked at one site, and any change at the site could be disastrous for them. Migration, the return movement between seasonal home ranges, is also important for maintaining populations. Migratory behaviour provides the opportunity to exploit different habitats and, in some cases, provides necessary resources that are important for reproduction that might not be otherwise available. The long-term goal of my research is to understand the drivers of population change, and understanding dispersal and migration are key to achieving this. Thus, the short-term goals of my research are to understand the movement ecology of a colonial top marine predator and how these movements influence past population dynamics and future population trends. I will achieve these goals by addressing three related questions: 1) What factors influence an individuals' propensity to disperse? 2) How do individual differences in ornamentation relate to individual quality/condition and fitness, and how do they link to an individual's recruitment into breeding populations? 3) How do patterns of dispersal and connectivity affect long-term population projections and how might climate change impact those relationships? I will use seabirds, specifically from the family Alcidae, as study species because they are ubiquitous in the North Atlantic, and continued long-term monitoring at Machias Seal Island in the Bay of Fundy and national and international collaborations offer the unique ability to ask broad questions concerning animal movement, habitat selection, and life-history that are logistically difficult and virtually impossible to ask in many other marine systems. Broadly, results of this research will broaden our understanding of animal movement and population dynamics. Specifically, results will provide critical information on seabird ecology that will help fill gaps in our knowledge of their biology and that are critical to our ability to effectively manage these species and predict how their populations might change with a changing climate. Alcids, specifically Atlantic Puffins, are a top marine predator and also an icon of the Canadian marine environment. Further understanding their biology and managing their populations has important implications for both the marine ecosystem as a whole and tourism in Atlantic Canada. Thus, results of my project will provide information required to ensure informed, evidence-based management and ultimately the persistence of this and other related species.