Highly Mobile Seabirds Reveal Areas of Conservation Importance Across the Atlantic Ocean
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Countries have committed to expanding the marine protected area (MPA) network to 30% of the world's ocean by 2030, more than tripling current coverage, and focusing on areas important for biodiversity. For such expansion to translate into effective conservation of marine biodiversity, it must rely on the best available knowledge. Here, we analyze tracking data on > 13,000 individuals (44 species, eight families) to map the distribution of highly mobile seabirds in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas throughout the year. We identify regions important year‐round or seasonally. The High Seas are as important as national waters for highly mobile seabirds but are even less protected. Current Atlantic MPAs hold < 14% of tracked species density, but their expansion to 30% of the ocean could protect up to two thirds. We share this new knowledge layer to support national and international efforts and policies to strategically expand the Atlantic MPA network.
Source: Conservation Letters
DOI: 10.1111/con4.70075
Authors: Marie‐Morgane Rouyer, Ana S. L. Rodrigues, Tammy E. Davies, Bethany L. Clark, Elizabeth J. Pearmain, Nina Bhola, Ana P. B. Carneiro, Jacob González‐Solís, João L. Guilherme, Aida Abdennadher, Isabel Afán, Jose A. Alves, Tycho Anker‐Nilssen, José Manuel Arcos, Kelly M. Atkins, Marie Auger‐Méthé, Mark Baran, Nadito Jesus Pina Barbosa, Alastair Baylis, Stuart Bearhop, Ashley Bennison, Alice Bernard, Philip Bertrand, Manuel Biscoito, Thomas W. Bodey, Maria I. Bogdanova, Loïc Bollache, Anne‐Sophie Bonnet‐Lebrun, Thierry Boulinier, Vegard Sandøy Bråthen, Joël Bried, Leandro Bugoni, Letizia Campioni, Paulo Catry, Jacopo G. Cecere, Filipe Rafael Ceia, Olivier Chastel, Signe Christensen‐Dalsgaard, Marco Cianchetti‐Benedetti, Thomas A. Clay, Ian Robert Cleasby, Sydney Morgan Collins, Nicolas Courbin, Jóhannis Danielsen, Francis Daunt, Herculano De Andrade Dinis, Federico De Pascalis, Nina Dehnhard, Giacomo Dell'Omo, Sébastien Descamps, Antony W. Diamond, Ben J. Dilley, Ewan William James Edwards, Carsten Egevang, Kyle H. Elliott, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Alexey Ezhov, Ana Isabel Fagundes, Annette L. Fayet, David A. Fifield, Ruben Fijn, Manuela G. Forero, Jérôme Fort, Morten Frederiksen, Robert W. Furness, Giorgia Gaibani, Stefan Garthe, Maria Gavrilo, H. Grant Gilchrist, Olivier Gilg, Carina Gjerdrum, José P. Granadeiro, W. James Grecian, Jonathan A. Green, David Grémillet, Tim Guilford, Keith C. Hamer, Erpur Snær Hansen, Sveinn Are Hanssen, Stephanie M. Harris, Autumn‐Lynn Harrison, April Hedd, Marcos Hernández‐Montero, Nicholas P. Huffeldt, Simona Imperio, Dariusz Jakubas, Ruth Jeavons, Mark Jessopp, Patrick G. R. Jodice, Kasper Lambert Johansen, Georgios Karris, Yann Kolbeinsson, Stephen W. Kress, Lucas Krüger, Ulrike Kubetzki, Jude V. Lane, Johannes Lang, Jannie Fries Linnebjerg, Svein‐Håkon Lorentsen, Donald E. Lyons, Mark Maftei, Maria Magalhães, Heather L. Major, Mark Mallory, Elizabeth A. Masden, Juan F. Masello, Laura McFarlane Tranquilla, Flemming Ravn Merkel, Teresa Militão, Børge Moe, Anders Mosbech, Joan Navarro, Leia Navarro‐Herrero, Verónica Costa Neves, Mark A. Newell, Stephen Francis Newton, Bergur Olsen, Steffen Oppel, Daniel Oro, Oliver Padget, Vítor Hugo Paiva, Allison Patterson, Jorge Miguel Pereira, Aevar Petersen, Maria Virginia Petry, Richard A. Phillips, Admilton Pina, Ingrid L. Pollet, Christopher John Pollock, Aurore Ponchon, Ben James Porter, Petra Quillfeldt, John L. Quinn, Flavio Quintana, Jean‐François Rail, André Francis Raine, Iván Ramírez, Raül Ramos, Jaime A. Ramos, Chris P. F. Redfern, Tone Kristin Reiertsen, Gregory J. Robertson, Robert A. Ronconi, Diego Rubolini, Sarah Saldanha, Ángel Sallent, Mariona Sardà‐Serra, Niels Martin Schmidt, Andy Schofield, Judy Shamoun‐Baranes, Dave Shutler, Ingvar Atli Sigurðsson, Mónica C. Silva, Iain J. Stenhouse, Hallvard Strøm, Mike Swindells, Stephanie C. Symons, Geir Helge Rødli Systad, Chris B. Thaxter, Paul M. Thompson, Thorkell Lindberg Thórarinsson, Alice M. Trevail, Rob S. A. van Bemmelen, Diego Vicente‐Sastre, Stephen Votier, Ewan D. Wakefield, Sarah Wanless, Ross M Wanless, Saskia Wischnewski, Katarzyna Wojczulanis‐Jakubas, Joanna B. Wong, Lucy Joanna Wright, José C. Xavier, Stavros M. Xirouchakis, Marco Zenatello, Francis Zino, Maria P. Dias
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Université de Montpellier, Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, BirdLife international, British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, University of Cambridge, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat de la Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Vulture Conservation Foundation, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Institut de Ciències del Mar, University of Iceland, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, University of Aveiro, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, University of Exeter, University of British Columbia, SUNY Plattsburgh, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Center for Northern Studies, Norwegian Polar Institute, Museu de História Natural do Funchal, University of Aberdeen, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Arctique, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université, Universidade dos Açores, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Ornis italica, ISPA - Instituto Universitário, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, University of Coimbra, Environmental Defense Fund, University of California, Santa Cruz, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Havstovan, Associação Projecto Vitó, University of New Brunswick, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Oxagen (United Kingdom), Grønlands Naturinstitut, McGill University, Agencia Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigacao Tecnologia e Inovacao, Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, Universidade da Madeira, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Estación Biológica de Doñana, LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés, Aarhus University, University of Glasgow, Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Carleton University, University of Lisbon, Durham University, University of Liverpool, University of Cape Town, University of Oxford, University of Leeds, Nátturustofa Suðurlands, Bangor University, National Zoological Park, Lund University, University of Gdańsk, University of the Highlands and Islands, University College Cork, United States Geological Survey, Clemson University, Ionian University, National Audubon Society, Cornell University, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, DHI, Oregon State University, Acadia University, Environmental Research Institute, Bielefeld University, University of Venda, Universitat de València, Swiss Ornithological Institute, Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Laboratório Associado TERRA, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale, Cardiff University, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos, Newcastle University, University of Milan, Asociación de Naturalistas del Sureste, University of Amsterdam, Náttúrufræðistofnun, Biodiversity Research Institute, British Trust for Ornithology, Heriot-Watt University, University of Crete
Language: English
Topic: Avian ecology and behavior
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W7213270134