Negative effects of climate change and fishing activities on Alaskan seabird populations (2002-2011)

Aadi Patangi 

Seabird populations along the Alaskan coast have been rapidly declining due to anthropogenic climate change and other associated factors. This study examines the effects of sea surface temperature (SST) and fishing activity on the abundance of Alaskan seabird species. We downloaded bird observation data from the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and then matched the seabird abundance data with SST data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and fishing data from the NOAA Fisheries Longline Survey. We analyzed relationships between bird abundance and fish caught or SST. Our findings reveal that seabirds exhibit an optimal temperature range for thriving, with a clear Gaussian distribution of observations relative to SST. Non-migratory birds showed higher average SST preferences compared to all species combined. In addition, we also observed a significant positive correlation between bird abundance and fish caught, likely driven by nutrient-rich upwellings in heavily fished areas. This result suggests that overfishing can pose significant risks to seabird populations by reducing fish density and food resources. These include reduced prey availability, bycatch mortality, and nutrient-deficient discards that harm seabird populations. This study highlights the need for improved fishing practices and climate mitigation efforts to preserve seabird populations and their ecosystems.