New NIOO publication: Linking theory with empirical data: Improving prediction through mechanistic understanding of lake #ecosystem complexity under #globalchange. #theorydatasynergy #scaling #experimentaldata #longtermmonitoring
https://doi.org/10.1127/fal/2022/1457

Dramatic decline (72%) in #butterfly 🦋occupancy in #Denmark over 26 yr. During 1993-2014, FIVE SPECIES declared regionally #extinct. #BiodiversityCrisis #InsectDecline #InsectArmageddon #TimeSeries #LongTermMonitoring https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320723003099

✨New #AdriftLab paper✨ “Pumice ingestion in #seabirds: interannual variation, and relationships with chick growth and plastic ingestion” 🐦🌋 #OpenAccess (free to download) HERE ➡️ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-023-04203-6

We analysed the amount of ingested #pumice (on LEFT in photo) from 739 Flesh-footed & 173 Wedge-tailed #Shearwaters from #LordHoweIsland during 2011-2022 #LongTermMonitoring

Pumice mass did not vary over time, except for one higher year for each species (2016 for FFSH & 2014 for WTSH), and there was no effect of pumice mass on chick body size at fledgling.

Our results are consistent with the coexistence over geological time of seabirds and floating pumice & provides further evidence that ingested pumice does not cause #Plasticosis or other harm like #IngestedPlastic does
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389422019112

Big thanks to Gabbi for providing the photo used in Figure 1 and to @nhm_london and Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation for their endless support!! 🙏 @SeabirdSentinel @TheLabAndField

🎉New @AdriftLab paper 🎉 in ICES Journal of Marine Science!! Download it for free (#OpenAccess) HERE ➡️ https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/advance-article/doi/10.1093/icesjms/fsad048/7083385

So, what did we find? Well, in young #seabirds, body mass influences the likelihood of survival in the critical period between nest departure & recruitment to the breeding population. For this study, we measured #shearwater chicks to determine how body condition changed over 13 years (an incredible long-term dataset!).

During 2010–2022, we found chick body mass & 3 measures of size (eg. wing length) declined by up to 0.23  mm/yr with body mass declining by 16 g/yr 📏📉😢

In the 1st photo, a healthy chick is shown on the LEFT while an undersized chick which we more commonly observed is shown on the RIGHT.

Overall, the number of chicks fledging (leaving the nest) at <400 g has increased sharply in recent years (see photo 2), meaning significant numbers of birds are unlikely to survive after departing the island

This paper highlights the value of #LongTermMonitoring & critical role #philanthropy has played: literally NONE of this world-class science would have been possible without support from generous donors, especially Detached Hobart - we are forever grateful! 😍🐦💙 Huge thanks to Justin Gilligan for providing the stunning (yet sad) 📸, they made all the difference to this paper! Finally, a massive thanks to @nhmscience and Esperance Tjaltjraak for supporting our team 🙏

#AdriftLab #Morphometrics #LordHoweIsland #OceanHealth #BioIndicator #TippingPoint #BiodiversityCrisis #Sentinel @TheLabAndField