Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) is located on the California coast, just north of Point Conception. This location, being close to the boundary where the cold waters of the California Current meet the warmer waters of the Southern California Bight, provides a unique opportunity to study seabird population biology in a dynamic system. Additionally, the California coastline north of Point Conception experiences much exceptionally strong, seasonal wind-generated upwelling events. As a result, there is much interannual fluctuation in biological productivity and food web structure in this area. As top predators of marine ecosystems, seabirds are greatly influenced by these interannual fluctuations.
For more information download a one-page technical brief: New Surveys Show Changes in Coastal Seabird Populations.
Contact: Dan Robinette
Jaime Jahncke
PROJECT GOALS
The overarching goal of Vandenberg Seabird Program is to study how seabird populations respond to oceanographic variability. We strive to achieve the following goals within the context of using seabirds as indicators of marine ecosystem status and health:
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Maintain our 10+ year time series (1999-present) of seabird breeding population size, distribution, and reproductive success.
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Document the use of coastal habitats by roosting seabirds.
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Document the use of the Vandenberg State Marine Reserve and adjacent waters by foraging seabirds and marine mammals.
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Document interannual variability in the diets of California Least Terns, Pigeon Guillemots, and Brandt's Cormorants.
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Develop strategies for managing endangered seabird populations while maintaining the health of surrounding ecosystems.
FOCAL SPECIES
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Brandt's Cormorant
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Pelagic Cormorant
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Western Gull
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California Brown
Pelican
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Black Oystercatcher
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California Least Tern
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Ashy Storm-Petrel
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Pigeon Guillemot
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PRODUCTS
Recent Findings:
Use of Black Oystercatcher diet and foraging habits to assess the efficacy of the Vandenberg marine ecological reserve
Occurrence of Northern Anchovies in Least Tern diet responds to changes in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Publications:
A potential new colony of Ashy Storm-Petrels on the mainland coast of California
Spatial patterns of recruitment in a demersal fish as revealed by seabird diet
IN THE NEWS
Coastal America Partnership Award 2009 - Pursima Point Least Tern Management Team - see page 15 of the Coastal America Update Newsletter
PARTNERS
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Unites States Fish and Wildlife Service
Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology
Biologist at Vandenberg State Marine Reserve conducting surveys.
