Author: Mallory, Mark L.

Source: Environmental Reviews, Volume 14, Number 3, September 2006 , pp. 187-216(30)

Publisher: NRC Research Press

Abstract:

The northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis is a ubiquitous seabird found across the North Atlantic Ocean and into the Canadian Arctic. However, we know little of its ecology in the Arctic, which is unfortunate, because it possesses many traits that make it an excellent biomonitor of the condition of Arctic marine environments. Presently, Arctic fulmars face threats from harvest, bycatch in fisheries, and fouling in oil spills while the birds are in their winter range (the North Atlantic). However, during breeding, migration, and overwintering, they may also experience stress from ecotourism, contaminants, particulate garbage, and climate change. In this paper I review the effects of all of these threats on fulmars and I describe how the ecology of these birds makes them particularly suitable for tracking contaminants, garbage, and the effects of climate change in the Arctic marine ecosystem. I also highlight our key existing knowledge gaps on this species and how additional research will strengthen the utility of fulmars as biomonitors. Key words: northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis, Arctic, contaminants, climate change, pollution.

Le fulmar boréal, Fulmarus glacialis, est un oiseau marin ubiquiste qu'on retrouve sur l'ensemble de l'océan Atlantique nord, et jusque dans l'Arctique canadien. Cependant, on connaît peu de choses sur son écologie dans l'Arctique, ce qui est malheureux parce qu'il possède plusieurs caractères qui en font un excellent biomoniteur de la condition des milieux marins de l'Arctique. Actuellement, les fulmars boréaux sont menacés par la récolte, les prises accidentelles, et les salissures par les déversements d'huile, alors que les oiseaux occupent leur habitat d'hiver (Atlantique nord). Cependant, au cours de la reproduction, de la migration et de l'hivernage, ils peuvent également rencontrer divers stress venant de l'écotourisme, de contaminants, surtout les déchets, et du changement climatique. L'auteur passe en revue les effets de toutes ces menaces qui pèsent sur les fulmars, décrit comment l'écologie de ces oiseaux en font des indicateurs particulièrement fiables pour déceler les contaminants, les déchets et les effets des changements climatiques dans l'écosystème marin arctique. On souligne également les déficiences de connaissances déterminantes actuelles de cette espèce, et comment une recherche additionnelle consolidera l'utilité des fulmars comme biomoniteurs.Mots clés : fulmar boréal, Fulmarus glacialis, Arctique, contaminants, changement climatique, pollution.[Traduit par la rédaction]

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2006-09-01

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• Published since 1993, this annual electronic-only journal presents authoritative reviews on a wide range of environmental science and associated environmental studies topics, with emphasis on the effects on and response of both natural and manmade ecosystems to anthropogenic stress. The authorship and scope are international, with critical reviews submitted and invited on such topics as climate change, harvesting impacts, acid rain, pesticide use, lake acidification, air and marine pollution, ecology of oil spills, biological control, food chain biomagnification, rehabilitation of polluted aquatic systems, erosion, agroforestry, and bio-indicators of environmental stress.
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