What to expect from alternative management strategies to conserve seabirds? Hints from a dynamic modelling framework applied to an endangered population

Abstract

The worldwide decline of seabird populations due to the combined effects of global and regional changes is creating immense challenges for managers and conservationists. Predicting population responses to proposed management strategies could provide the most effective tools to prevent, halt and reverse ongoing declines. System dynamic modelling frameworks are considered particularly relevant to interrelate biological, ecological and environmental characteristics and to predict population trends. A system dynamics model was designed, compiling diverse information concerning a relict population of the European Shag located in western Iberia, to outline the most effective management options for its conservation. The simulations demonstrate that mortality caused by invasive animals and bycatch mortality were the main reasons for the current population decline. Without management interventions, a decrease of 8% was projected for the next decade, which could be mitigated by specific conservation actions. The results show the usefulness of dynamic modelling frameworks to understand local cause-effect relationships and species responses to ecosystem management under changing environmental conditions. We highlight that the framework proposed, after specific parameterization, could be easily adaptable to other species within similar socioecological systems.

Using long‐term data series to design adequate protected areas that ensure the conservation of inconspicuous small petrel species

“…In this scenario, our research supports the efforts leading to the expansion of the Iberian Atlantic arc SPAs, and help to identify where to apply strict management measures that favour the conservation of the ESP and other seabird species. The expansion of the MPAs network together with efficient enforcement of management measures have demonstrated their success in different areas and marine species limiting human activities as fishing or mitigating bycatch (Augé et al., 2018; De la Cruz, Bastos, et al., 2021; Edgar et al., 2014; Hays et al., 2019). Hence, the expansion and connection of the MPAs network should improve spatial planning in the development of offshore wind energy, which are known to affect seabird species (Garthe et al., 2023; Kelsey et al., 2018).…”