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  • WG-FSA-13/42 - Fatty acid and stable isotope analyses to identify diets of Antarctic toothfish caught in February–March 2013 in the southern Ross Sea (88.1.K) and the eastern Antarctic Sea (58.4.1.C)remove

Identification of marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas for penguins in South Shetland and South Orkney Islands: a comparison of two different approaches

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Document Number:
WG-EMM-17/35
Author(s):
M.P. Dias, A.P.B. Carneiro, V. Warwick-Evans, C. Harris, K. Lorenz, P. Trathan
Submitted By:
Dr Marta Söffker (European Union)
Approved By:
Ms Doro Forck (CCAMLR Secretariat)
Abstract

• We provide a method of analysing penguin tracking data to identify marine IBAs, based on pre-existing approaches but revised according to the specific ecology of Pygoscelis penguin species;

• Key improvements to the pre-existing approach include 1) refining track interpolation methods, and 2) revision of parameters for the kernel analysis (the smoothing factor and the utilization distribution);

• We applied the revised method to 24 datasets of tracking data (three species, seven colonies and three different breeding stages – incubation, brood and crèche);

• We compared the results of the marine IBA protocol with the results of habitat models, developed with data collected at other colonies;

• We show, for the first time, that maps of predicted distributions based on habitat suitability models can be used with a high degree of confidence to identify marine IBAs for penguins;

• The results reported here provide a new method for the designation of a network of marine IBAs in Antarctic waters for penguins, based on tracking data (when available) and habitat modelling, which can contribute to an evidence-based, precautionary, management framework for krill fisheries.