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Distribution extension of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) off the Argentine continental shelf and oceanic adjacent waters

Distribution extension of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) off the Argentine... Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 135–139. SHORT-COMMUNIC ARTICLE ATION June 2019 Distribution extension of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) off the A rgentine continental shelf and oceanic adjacent waters 1 1 2 1,3 Maximiliano Manuel Hernandez , Sofía Copello , Alexander Borowicz & Juan Pablo Seco-Pon Grupo Vertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Mar del Plata, Argentina. Department of Ecology & Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A. Corresponding author: secopon@mdp.edu.ar Received on 14 December 2018. Accepted on 17 April 2019. ABSTRACT: The Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata is endemic of the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, in the South Atlantic Ocean. However, it is scarcely detected in waters off Argentina beyond its traditional distribution along the southwest Atlantic during the breeding season. This study compiles distributional records of Spectacled Petrel for the target area (chiefly between 38 S o o o to 46 S and 23 W to 57 W) obtained in situ, from non-systematic observations at sea, between 2015 and 2018 (totaling 4 trips); and by literature review. Nineteen new sightings of the species are presented. In 46 sightings a total of 65 individuals were recorded chiefly within waters of the Argentine continental s helf (< 200 m) (46%) and oceanic adjacent waters (54%). The bulk of the sightings (95%) were obtained during the species breeding season. In addition, we report the southernmost record of the species in o o oceanic waters for the southwest Atlantic (46 10'S; 57 06'W). KEY-WORDS: breeding season, endemic, Procellaria petrels, range extension, southwest Atlantic. The Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) disperses Spectacled Petrels are threatened mainly by the increased in the South Atlantic Ocean, from the north of Brazil to mortality associated with longline fishing vessels, chiefly Argentina and off the western coast of southern Africa in waters where they overlap with Brazilian fisheries (Enticott & O'Connell 1985). It is considered a vagrant fleet (Olmos 1997, 2001, Bugoni et al. 2009, Branco to the Indian Ocean, where it has been reported in the et al. 2014). The species is listed as “Vulnerable” by the vicinity of Amsterdam Island and Australia (Onley & International Union for the Conservation of Nature Scofield 2007, S hirihai 2008). The species is endemic of (IUCN) (BirdLife International 2018) due to its small Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago breeding range and its susceptibility to stochastic events (Enticott & O'Connell 1985, Ryan 1998, Ryan & and human activities (ACAP 2018). Moloney 2000). Its breeding season begins in September, During the breeding season, the species feeds with egg-laying in late October, hatching in mid- mainly in areas adjacent to Inaccessible Island, notably December, and fledging of chicks in early Mar ch (Ryan on the Walvis Chain, and moving further south on the & Moloney 2000, Ryan et al. 2006). continental shelf of South Africa up to 41 S near the The total breeding population of Spectacled Petrel Agulhas Bank (Enticott & O'Connell 1985, Camphuysen was estimated to be approximately 10,000 pairs in the 2001). However, recent studies conducted with satellite 2004/2005 breeding season (Ryan et al. 2006). However, transmitters showed the Patagonian shelf off Argentina as recent studies updated its population estimate to 14,400 a feeding site by at least some tracked individuals (Reid et th breeding pairs (Ryan & Ronconi 2011). During 19 and al. 2014). Previous platform-of-opportunity based studies th early 20 Centuries the species was threatened by the egg of the at-sea distribution of the Spectacled Petrel revealed predation by wild pigs (Ryan 1998, Ryan et al. 2006), that breeding individuals regularly attend waters of the which has led to a significant reduction in the population southwestern sector of the Atlantic Ocean, including the (Ryan et al. 2006), with a lowest estimate of a few tens Argentine continental shelf (< 200 m depth) and adjacent of pairs in 1937 (Hagen 1952). However, breeding birds oceanic areas (Imberti 2002, Savigny 2002, White et are still affected, to a lesser extent, b y heavy rains on al. 2002, Black et al. 2005, Morrison & Henry 2006, their nesting colonies (Ryan et al. 2006). Currently, the Ginsburg & DeWitt 2013, Chavez et al. 2014, Seco-Pon Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. & Stein-III 2015, Quiñones & Imberti 2018). range of activities and routes of these vessels include (1) This study updates the information on the Spectacled tourism in southern Patagonia, the Antarctic Peninsula Petrel distribution in the Argentine continental shelf and the Malvinas/Falkland Islands (three trips), and (2) region and adjacent oceanic waters during the species' commercial seismic surveys in adjacent oceanic waters breeding season. within the Argentine Basin (one trip). The sightings were Sightings were accomplished opportunistically made during the austral summer (January–February), aboard different vessels performing distinct activities from 2015 to 2018. For each sighting, the sea state and routes within the Argentine continental shelf region (measured on the Beaufort scale) and wind intensity (in and adjacent oceanic waters (see Table 1 for details). The knots) were registered. Table 1. Summary of extant and recent sighting records of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) in waters of the southwest Atlantic off Argentina and o ceanic adjacent waters, 2002–2018. F = flying, E = eating, S = sitting on the water, n.r. = not reported. Date (dd/mm/yyyy) Location No. of birds Behavior Source o o 09/02/2000 48 47'S; 62 21'W 3 S Savigny 2002 o o 03/2000 50 20'S; 57 41'W 1 n.r. White et al. 2002 o o 12/1996 54 23'S; 55 45'W 1 n.r. White et al. 2002 o o 13/03/2000 46 14'S; 59 11'W 1 n.r. Imberti 2002 o o 13/03/2000 45 28'S; 58 54'W 1 n.r. Imberti 2002 o o 14/03/2000 41 44'S; 57 36'W 2 n.r. Imberti 2002 14/02/2004 n.r. 1 n.r. Black et al. 2005 29/03/2006 n.r. 1 n.r. Morrison & Henry 2006 o o 03/02/2013 38 11'S; 54 55'W 1 F Ginsburg & DeWitt 2013 o o 13/02/2014 38 55'S; 56 00'W 3 F Seco-Pon & Stein-III 2015 o o 18/01/2016 38 25'S; 54 48'W 9 S,E Quiñones & Imberti 2018 o o 24/02/2008 38 47'S; 55 44'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 27/02/2008 38 46'S; 55 44'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 04/03/2008 38 39'S; 55 41'W 2 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 09/03/2008 39 03'S; 55 52'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 13/03/2008 39 02'S; 55 53'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 15/03/2008 39 00'S, 55 53'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 19/03/2008 39 04'S; 55 51'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 10/04/2010 36 26'S; 54 09'W 1 S Chavez et al. 2014 o o 30/01/2012 44 20'S; 61 15'W 1 S,E Chavez et al. 2014 o o 24/02/2013 43 49'S; 59 46'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 25/02/2013 43 39'S; 59 41'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 26/02/2013 43 34'S; 59 33'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 27/02/2013 43 27'S; 59 40'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 01/03/2013 42 01'S; 58 33'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 19/11/2013 34 32'S; 52 25'W 2 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 28/05/2014 42 06'S; 58 15'W 1 S Chavez et al. 2014 o o 15/01/2015 39 13'S; 56 08'W 1 F Present study o o 11/01/2016 39 29'S; 53 35'W 1 F Present study o o 09/01/2017 38 28'S; 53 53'W 2 F Present study o o 08/01/2018 42 58'S; 56 47'W 1 F Present study o o 08/01/2018 42 59'S; 56 43'W 1 F Present study o o 09/01/2018 42 58'S; 56 45'W 1 F Present study Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 2019 Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. Date (dd/mm/yyyy) Location No. of birds Behavior Source o o 09/01/2018 42 57'S; 56 46'W 1 S Present study o o 09/01/2018 43 20'S; 56 34'W 2 S Present study o o 11/01/2018 43 05'S; 56 04'W 1 F Present study o o 11/01/2018 43 05'S; 56 17'W 1 F Present study o o 18/01/2018 44 22'S; 57 05'W 1 F Present study o o 19/01/2018 46 10'S; 57 06'W 2 F Present study o o 24/01/2018 43 13'S; 56 23'W 1 F Present study o o 30/01/2018 42 57'S; 55 48'W 1 F Present study o o 30/01/2018 43 13'S; 56 20'W 1 F Present study o o 31/01/2018 43 21'S; 55 51'W 1 F Present study o o 31/01/2018 43 05'S; 55 15'W 2 F Present study o o 01/02/2018 43 18'S; 55 50'W 1 F Present study o o 01/02/2018 43 11'S; 56 29'W 1 F Present study The bulk of the sightings included single individuals (79%), flying at a minimum distance of 200 m from the stern of the ship (Figs. 1 & 2). Few sightings (n = 2) consisted of individuals recorded either floating and/ or actively feeding. Nineteen sightings encompassing up to 23 individuals were made from the vessels (Table 1), mainly between 38°S to 46°S and 23°W to 57°W. Overall (pooled) sightings occurred on the shelf-break and the continental shelf, mainly at depths ranging from 84 m to 6280 m (Fig. 1). The closest position of a Spectacled Petrel sighting from the South American continent was about 95 nautical miles (175 km) SE off Mar del Plata, Argentina. At the time of the sightings, sea state (measured on the Beaufort scale) varied between 2 and 6, and wind speed between 11.7 kt and 29 kt. On some occasions (~5% of total sightings) the species was observed in assemblages together with other seabirds, chiefly the White-chinned Petrel (P. aequinoctialis) and the Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) (tourism and seismic observations combined). The compilation of previous records and the updated information presented here (Fig. 1 & Table 1) clearly denote the use by the Spectacled Petrel, at least by some individuals, of the Argentine continental shelf and adjacent oceanic waters. They were recor ded over 2000 nm (3700 km) from its breeding area and more than 1080 nm (2000 km) from the main area used by the species during the breeding season. Previous studies indicated that breeding adults concentrate their feeding activities Figure 1. Distribution of sightings of Spectacled Petrels along the mid-Atlantic ridge and along the continental (Procellaria conspicillata) in the Argentine continental shelf and shelf edge between 25–40°S, with 50% of the feeding adjacent oceanic waters for the period 2002–2018, based in activities occurring around 500 km from their colony literature review and records from this study. Continuous lines represent the 200 m and 1000 m depth isobaths. (Reid et al. 2014). Despite those findings, sightings of Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 2019 Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. A B A Figure 2. Spectacled Petrels (Procellaria conspicillata) sighted in (A) Argentine continental shelf waters on 15 January 2015 (39 13'S; o o o 56 08'W); and (B) in adjacent oceanic waters off Argentine shelf on 31 January 2018 (43 05'S; 55 15'W). Photo author: J.P. Seco Pon (A), M. Hernandez (B). the species in the Patagonian shelf waters off Argentina ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS were expected as Reid et al. (2014) also revealed the use of this area as a feeding site by at least some individuals. We thank Spectrumgeo Inc. and the crew of the HYSY760 Outside the breeding season, the species is found in during the navigations within waters of the Argentine deeper waters (> 3000 m depth) and shelf edges (1000– Basin, and also the staff and crew of the Seabourn Quest 3000 m depth) (Bugoni et al. 2009). The main wintering during its routing in the southern cone of South America. area of this species occurs along the Brazilian continental One anonymous referee greatly improved a version of the shelf between São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul states, in manuscript with its suggestions and recommendations. south-southeastern Brazil (Bugoni et al. 2009). This study was partially funded by the Universidad The presence of bir ds recorded in Argentine waters Nacional de Mar del Plata, the Agencia Nacional de and adjacent oceanic waters could be due to the propensity Promoción Científica y Técnica (PICT2015-0262 JPSP) of some individuals to attend commercial fishing activities, and CONICET. as is the case of the Spectacled Petrels recorded by Chavez et al. (2014) and Seco-Pon et al. (2017). Still, no bycatch of the species has been recorded so far in fisheries REFERENCES operating within the Argentine Economic Exclusive ACAP [Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels]. Zone (Seco-Pon et al. 2015). Other confirmed re cords of 2018. Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata. http://www.acap. Spectacled Petrels interacting with fisheries in the region aq (Access on 07 April 2019). were obtained in Uruguay ( Jiménez & Domingo 2007, BirdLife International. 2018. The IUCN red list of threatened Jiménez et al. 2011) and southern Brazil (Olmos 1997, Species 2018: Procelaria conspicillata. www.iucnredlist.org/ species/22728437/132659002 (Access on 26 November 2018). Bugoni et al. 2009, Branco et al. 2014). There, the species Black A., Morrison M. & Woods R. 2005. Rare and vagrant birds in is bycaught in longline fisheries at a rate estimated at the Falkland Islands 2004. Wildlife Conservation in the Falkland 0.005 birds/1000 hooks and 0.008 birds/1000 hooks in Conservation 5: 12–14. pelagic longline fishing vessels operating off Uruguay and Branco J.O., Fracasso H.A.A., Pérez J.A.A. & Rodrigues-Filho Brazil, respectively (Jiménez & Domingo 2007, Bugoni J.L. 2014. An assessment of oceanic seabird abundance and distribution off the southern Brazilian coast using observations et al. 2008). obtained during deep-water fishing operations.  Brazilian Journal The paucity of Spectacled Petrel re cords from of Biology 74: 3–15. Argentine waters may be due to a combination of the Bugoni L., D'Alba L. & Furness R.W. 2009. Marine habitat use of relatively low numbers of individuals present in the wintering Spectacled Petrels Procellaria conspicillata, and overlap with longline fishery.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 374: 273–285. waters off Argentina during the breeding season as Bugoni L., Mancini P.L., Monteiro D.S, Nascimento L. & Neves T.S. revealed by the literature review presented here or to the 2008. Seabird bycatch in the Brazilian pelagic longline fishery lack of personnel trained to identify them. Given that and a review of capture rates in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. fisheries remain the main threat posed to this species Endangered Species Research 5: 137–147. (ACAP 2018), it is of great importance to increase the Camphuysen C.J. 2001. The distribution of Spectacled Petrels Procellaria conspicillata in the south-eastern Atlantic.  Atlantic sampling effort to better understand t he distribution and Seabirds 3: 113–124. abundance of this species in the Patagonian shelf region Chavez L.N., Tamini L.L., Coppa J.J. & Aguilar E.E. 2014. and its interaction with human activities. Asociación del Petrel de Anteojos (Procellaria conspicillata) con Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 2019 Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. Ryan P.G. 1998. The taxonomic and conservation status of the buques pesqueros en el Mar Argentino. Hornero 29: 73–79. Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata. Bird Conservation Enticott J. & O'Connell M. 1985. The distribution of the spectacled International 8: 223–235. form of the White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis Ryan P.G., Dorse C. & Hilton G.M. 2006. The conservation status conspicillata) in the South Atlantic Ocean. British Antarctic Survey of the Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata. Biological Bulletin 66: 83–86. Conservation 131: 575–583. Ginsburg P.A. & DeWitt B. 2013. Primera documentación del Petrel Ryan P.G. & Moloney C.L. 2000. The status of Spectacled Petrels de Anteojos (Procellaria conspicillata) para Argentina. Nuestras Procellaria conspicillata and other seabirds at Inaccessible Island. Aves 58: 55–56. Marine Ornithology 28: 93–100. Hagen Y. 1952. Birds of Tristan da Cunha. Results of the Norwegian Ryan P.G. & Ronconi R.A. 2011. Continued increase in numbers of Scientific Expedition to Tristan da Cunha 1937–1938 20: 1–248. Spectacled Petrels Procellaria conspicillata.  Antarctic Science  23: Imberti S. 2002. At-sea records of three rarely reported petrel species in 332–336. the south-western Atlantic Ocean. Marine Ornithology 30: 32–33. Savigny C. 2002. Observaciones sobre aves marinas en aguas Jiménez S. & Domingo A. 2007. Albatros y petreles: su interacción argentinas, sudeste Bonaerense y Patagonia. Cotinga 18: 81–84. con la flota de palangre pelágico uruguaya en el At lántico Seco-Pon J.P., Copello S., Tamini L., Mariano-Jelicich R., Paz J., Sudoccidental (1998–2006). ICCAT Collective Volume of Scientific Blanco G. & Favero M. 2015. Seabird conservation in fisheries: Papers 60: 2110–2117. current state of knowledge and conservation needs for Argentine Jiménez S., Domingo A., Abreu M. & Brazeiro A. 2011. Structure of high-seas fleets, p. 45–88. In: Mahala G. (ed.). Seabirds and the seabird assemblage associated with pelagic longline vessels in songbirds: habitat preference, conservation and migratory behavior. the southwestern Atlantic: implications for bycatch.  Endangered New York: Nova Science Publishers. Species Research 15: 241–254. Seco-Pon J.P., Jiménez S., Pin O., Tamini L., Chavez N., Loureiro A., Morrison M. & Henry A. 2006. Rare and vagrant birds in the Falkland Troncoso P., Coppa J.L., Aguilar E.E.E., Favero M., Copello S. & Islands 2006. Wildlife Conservation in the Falkland Conservation 8: Domingo A. 2017. El Petrel de Anteojos (Procellaria conspicillata) 11–14. en aguas argentinas, Zona Común de Pesca Argentina-Uruguaya: Olmos F. 1997. Seabirds attending bottom long-line fishing off observaciones desde las flotas pesqueras. Tigre: XVIII Simposio southeastern Brazil. Ibis 139: 685–691. Científico Comisión Técnica Mixta del Frente Marítimo. Olmos F. 2001. Revisão dos registros de Procellaria conspicillata no Seco-Pon J.P & Stein-III W. 2015. A second documented record Brasil, com novas observações sobre sua distribuição. Nattereria of Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata in Argentine 2: 16–18. waters. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 23: 29–30. Onley D. & Scofield P. 2007. A lbatrosses, petrels and shearwaters of the Shirihai H. 2008. The complete guide to Antarctic wildlife. Princeton: world. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Princeton University Press. Quiñones J. & Imberti S. 2018. Largest aggregation of Spectacled White R.W., Gillon K.W., Black A.D. & Reid J.B. 2002. The Petrel Procellaria conspicillata in Argentine waters. Cotinga 40: distribution of seabirds and marine mammals in Falkland Island 74–78. waters. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Reid T.A., Ronconi R.A., Cuthbert R.J. & Ryan P.G. 2014. The summer foraging ranges of adult Spectacled Petrels Procellaria Associate Editor: Leandro Bugoni. conspicillata. Antarctic Science 26: 23–32. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 2019 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Ornithology Research Springer Journals

Distribution extension of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) off the Argentine continental shelf and oceanic adjacent waters

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Abstract

Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 135–139. SHORT-COMMUNIC ARTICLE ATION June 2019 Distribution extension of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) off the A rgentine continental shelf and oceanic adjacent waters 1 1 2 1,3 Maximiliano Manuel Hernandez , Sofía Copello , Alexander Borowicz & Juan Pablo Seco-Pon Grupo Vertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Mar del Plata, Argentina. Department of Ecology & Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A. Corresponding author: secopon@mdp.edu.ar Received on 14 December 2018. Accepted on 17 April 2019. ABSTRACT: The Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata is endemic of the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, in the South Atlantic Ocean. However, it is scarcely detected in waters off Argentina beyond its traditional distribution along the southwest Atlantic during the breeding season. This study compiles distributional records of Spectacled Petrel for the target area (chiefly between 38 S o o o to 46 S and 23 W to 57 W) obtained in situ, from non-systematic observations at sea, between 2015 and 2018 (totaling 4 trips); and by literature review. Nineteen new sightings of the species are presented. In 46 sightings a total of 65 individuals were recorded chiefly within waters of the Argentine continental s helf (< 200 m) (46%) and oceanic adjacent waters (54%). The bulk of the sightings (95%) were obtained during the species breeding season. In addition, we report the southernmost record of the species in o o oceanic waters for the southwest Atlantic (46 10'S; 57 06'W). KEY-WORDS: breeding season, endemic, Procellaria petrels, range extension, southwest Atlantic. The Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) disperses Spectacled Petrels are threatened mainly by the increased in the South Atlantic Ocean, from the north of Brazil to mortality associated with longline fishing vessels, chiefly Argentina and off the western coast of southern Africa in waters where they overlap with Brazilian fisheries (Enticott & O'Connell 1985). It is considered a vagrant fleet (Olmos 1997, 2001, Bugoni et al. 2009, Branco to the Indian Ocean, where it has been reported in the et al. 2014). The species is listed as “Vulnerable” by the vicinity of Amsterdam Island and Australia (Onley & International Union for the Conservation of Nature Scofield 2007, S hirihai 2008). The species is endemic of (IUCN) (BirdLife International 2018) due to its small Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago breeding range and its susceptibility to stochastic events (Enticott & O'Connell 1985, Ryan 1998, Ryan & and human activities (ACAP 2018). Moloney 2000). Its breeding season begins in September, During the breeding season, the species feeds with egg-laying in late October, hatching in mid- mainly in areas adjacent to Inaccessible Island, notably December, and fledging of chicks in early Mar ch (Ryan on the Walvis Chain, and moving further south on the & Moloney 2000, Ryan et al. 2006). continental shelf of South Africa up to 41 S near the The total breeding population of Spectacled Petrel Agulhas Bank (Enticott & O'Connell 1985, Camphuysen was estimated to be approximately 10,000 pairs in the 2001). However, recent studies conducted with satellite 2004/2005 breeding season (Ryan et al. 2006). However, transmitters showed the Patagonian shelf off Argentina as recent studies updated its population estimate to 14,400 a feeding site by at least some tracked individuals (Reid et th breeding pairs (Ryan & Ronconi 2011). During 19 and al. 2014). Previous platform-of-opportunity based studies th early 20 Centuries the species was threatened by the egg of the at-sea distribution of the Spectacled Petrel revealed predation by wild pigs (Ryan 1998, Ryan et al. 2006), that breeding individuals regularly attend waters of the which has led to a significant reduction in the population southwestern sector of the Atlantic Ocean, including the (Ryan et al. 2006), with a lowest estimate of a few tens Argentine continental shelf (< 200 m depth) and adjacent of pairs in 1937 (Hagen 1952). However, breeding birds oceanic areas (Imberti 2002, Savigny 2002, White et are still affected, to a lesser extent, b y heavy rains on al. 2002, Black et al. 2005, Morrison & Henry 2006, their nesting colonies (Ryan et al. 2006). Currently, the Ginsburg & DeWitt 2013, Chavez et al. 2014, Seco-Pon Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. & Stein-III 2015, Quiñones & Imberti 2018). range of activities and routes of these vessels include (1) This study updates the information on the Spectacled tourism in southern Patagonia, the Antarctic Peninsula Petrel distribution in the Argentine continental shelf and the Malvinas/Falkland Islands (three trips), and (2) region and adjacent oceanic waters during the species' commercial seismic surveys in adjacent oceanic waters breeding season. within the Argentine Basin (one trip). The sightings were Sightings were accomplished opportunistically made during the austral summer (January–February), aboard different vessels performing distinct activities from 2015 to 2018. For each sighting, the sea state and routes within the Argentine continental shelf region (measured on the Beaufort scale) and wind intensity (in and adjacent oceanic waters (see Table 1 for details). The knots) were registered. Table 1. Summary of extant and recent sighting records of the Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) in waters of the southwest Atlantic off Argentina and o ceanic adjacent waters, 2002–2018. F = flying, E = eating, S = sitting on the water, n.r. = not reported. Date (dd/mm/yyyy) Location No. of birds Behavior Source o o 09/02/2000 48 47'S; 62 21'W 3 S Savigny 2002 o o 03/2000 50 20'S; 57 41'W 1 n.r. White et al. 2002 o o 12/1996 54 23'S; 55 45'W 1 n.r. White et al. 2002 o o 13/03/2000 46 14'S; 59 11'W 1 n.r. Imberti 2002 o o 13/03/2000 45 28'S; 58 54'W 1 n.r. Imberti 2002 o o 14/03/2000 41 44'S; 57 36'W 2 n.r. Imberti 2002 14/02/2004 n.r. 1 n.r. Black et al. 2005 29/03/2006 n.r. 1 n.r. Morrison & Henry 2006 o o 03/02/2013 38 11'S; 54 55'W 1 F Ginsburg & DeWitt 2013 o o 13/02/2014 38 55'S; 56 00'W 3 F Seco-Pon & Stein-III 2015 o o 18/01/2016 38 25'S; 54 48'W 9 S,E Quiñones & Imberti 2018 o o 24/02/2008 38 47'S; 55 44'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 27/02/2008 38 46'S; 55 44'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 04/03/2008 38 39'S; 55 41'W 2 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 09/03/2008 39 03'S; 55 52'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 13/03/2008 39 02'S; 55 53'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 15/03/2008 39 00'S, 55 53'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 19/03/2008 39 04'S; 55 51'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 10/04/2010 36 26'S; 54 09'W 1 S Chavez et al. 2014 o o 30/01/2012 44 20'S; 61 15'W 1 S,E Chavez et al. 2014 o o 24/02/2013 43 49'S; 59 46'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 25/02/2013 43 39'S; 59 41'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 26/02/2013 43 34'S; 59 33'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 27/02/2013 43 27'S; 59 40'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 01/03/2013 42 01'S; 58 33'W 1 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 19/11/2013 34 32'S; 52 25'W 2 F Chavez et al. 2014 o o 28/05/2014 42 06'S; 58 15'W 1 S Chavez et al. 2014 o o 15/01/2015 39 13'S; 56 08'W 1 F Present study o o 11/01/2016 39 29'S; 53 35'W 1 F Present study o o 09/01/2017 38 28'S; 53 53'W 2 F Present study o o 08/01/2018 42 58'S; 56 47'W 1 F Present study o o 08/01/2018 42 59'S; 56 43'W 1 F Present study o o 09/01/2018 42 58'S; 56 45'W 1 F Present study Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 2019 Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. Date (dd/mm/yyyy) Location No. of birds Behavior Source o o 09/01/2018 42 57'S; 56 46'W 1 S Present study o o 09/01/2018 43 20'S; 56 34'W 2 S Present study o o 11/01/2018 43 05'S; 56 04'W 1 F Present study o o 11/01/2018 43 05'S; 56 17'W 1 F Present study o o 18/01/2018 44 22'S; 57 05'W 1 F Present study o o 19/01/2018 46 10'S; 57 06'W 2 F Present study o o 24/01/2018 43 13'S; 56 23'W 1 F Present study o o 30/01/2018 42 57'S; 55 48'W 1 F Present study o o 30/01/2018 43 13'S; 56 20'W 1 F Present study o o 31/01/2018 43 21'S; 55 51'W 1 F Present study o o 31/01/2018 43 05'S; 55 15'W 2 F Present study o o 01/02/2018 43 18'S; 55 50'W 1 F Present study o o 01/02/2018 43 11'S; 56 29'W 1 F Present study The bulk of the sightings included single individuals (79%), flying at a minimum distance of 200 m from the stern of the ship (Figs. 1 & 2). Few sightings (n = 2) consisted of individuals recorded either floating and/ or actively feeding. Nineteen sightings encompassing up to 23 individuals were made from the vessels (Table 1), mainly between 38°S to 46°S and 23°W to 57°W. Overall (pooled) sightings occurred on the shelf-break and the continental shelf, mainly at depths ranging from 84 m to 6280 m (Fig. 1). The closest position of a Spectacled Petrel sighting from the South American continent was about 95 nautical miles (175 km) SE off Mar del Plata, Argentina. At the time of the sightings, sea state (measured on the Beaufort scale) varied between 2 and 6, and wind speed between 11.7 kt and 29 kt. On some occasions (~5% of total sightings) the species was observed in assemblages together with other seabirds, chiefly the White-chinned Petrel (P. aequinoctialis) and the Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis) (tourism and seismic observations combined). The compilation of previous records and the updated information presented here (Fig. 1 & Table 1) clearly denote the use by the Spectacled Petrel, at least by some individuals, of the Argentine continental shelf and adjacent oceanic waters. They were recor ded over 2000 nm (3700 km) from its breeding area and more than 1080 nm (2000 km) from the main area used by the species during the breeding season. Previous studies indicated that breeding adults concentrate their feeding activities Figure 1. Distribution of sightings of Spectacled Petrels along the mid-Atlantic ridge and along the continental (Procellaria conspicillata) in the Argentine continental shelf and shelf edge between 25–40°S, with 50% of the feeding adjacent oceanic waters for the period 2002–2018, based in activities occurring around 500 km from their colony literature review and records from this study. Continuous lines represent the 200 m and 1000 m depth isobaths. (Reid et al. 2014). Despite those findings, sightings of Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(2): 2019 Spectacled Petrel attendance at the southwest Atlantic Hernandez et al. A B A Figure 2. Spectacled Petrels (Procellaria conspicillata) sighted in (A) Argentine continental shelf waters on 15 January 2015 (39 13'S; o o o 56 08'W); and (B) in adjacent oceanic waters off Argentine shelf on 31 January 2018 (43 05'S; 55 15'W). Photo author: J.P. Seco Pon (A), M. Hernandez (B). the species in the Patagonian shelf waters off Argentina ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS were expected as Reid et al. (2014) also revealed the use of this area as a feeding site by at least some individuals. We thank Spectrumgeo Inc. and the crew of the HYSY760 Outside the breeding season, the species is found in during the navigations within waters of the Argentine deeper waters (> 3000 m depth) and shelf edges (1000– Basin, and also the staff and crew of the Seabourn Quest 3000 m depth) (Bugoni et al. 2009). The main wintering during its routing in the southern cone of South America. area of this species occurs along the Brazilian continental One anonymous referee greatly improved a version of the shelf between São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul states, in manuscript with its suggestions and recommendations. south-southeastern Brazil (Bugoni et al. 2009). This study was partially funded by the Universidad The presence of bir ds recorded in Argentine waters Nacional de Mar del Plata, the Agencia Nacional de and adjacent oceanic waters could be due to the propensity Promoción Científica y Técnica (PICT2015-0262 JPSP) of some individuals to attend commercial fishing activities, and CONICET. as is the case of the Spectacled Petrels recorded by Chavez et al. (2014) and Seco-Pon et al. (2017). Still, no bycatch of the species has been recorded so far in fisheries REFERENCES operating within the Argentine Economic Exclusive ACAP [Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels]. 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Journal

Ornithology Research – Springer Journals

Published: Jun 1, 2019

Keywords: breeding season; endemic; Procellaria petrels; range extension; southwest Atlantic

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