Pelagic Trip - Student Scholarship Spotlight
My name is Eric Heisey, and I am a PhD student at UC Berkeley. I am an avid birdwatcher and aspiring conservation biologist with interests in all things avian, with particular interests in how sustainable agriculture can conserve bird diversity, conservation psychology, and seabirds. As such, I was very grateful to receive Mendocino Coast Audubon’s student scholarship on the September 7th pelagic boat trip out of Fort Bragg with Noyo Pelagics.
As I started my degree last fall, I conducted a study using an emerging method of advanced statistical modeling to investigate how seabirds respond to changing oceanic climates offshore central and southern California. By analyzing 25 years of seabird surveys from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) database alongside ocean climate indicators, my research found that most seabird species (over 95%) either remained stable or actually increased in abundance during warm-water years, often linked to El Niño events. Species like Sabine’s Gull, Sooty Shearwater, and Black-vented Shearwater even increased in abundance during warmer conditions, suggesting they may be resilient to future ocean warming.
Not all species responded well, however. Alcids declined in response to warm water conditions, with the endangered Guadalupe Murrelet standing out as especially vulnerable. Birds were more likely to decline in warm years within 5 kilometers of shore, likely due to reduced upwelling and shifting prey availability, while offshore populations appeared less affected.
I also looked at the impacts of overfishing and fishery collapse on seabirds offshore California, which showed a much stronger negative impact on seabird populations. Common Murre was the species most strongly impacted, though over half of the 42 species I analyzed declined in response to overfishing.
Overall, the study suggests that while many seabird species may adapt to rising ocean temperatures, those tied to colder, nutrient-rich waters will need targeted conservation efforts. It should also emphasize the importance of careful fisheries management, as it impacts not only human economic interests, but the birds and marine systems as well. Continued monitoring through pelagic outings like those offered by Noyo Pelagics will be important in helping us further understand the risks of climate change and overfishing on seabirds.
If you have any interest in reading the full paper, it has not yet been published, but feel free to reach out to me at eric.heisey@berkeley.edu and I would be happy to send it your way. Thanks again to the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society for supporting me on this trip, it was a fantastic experience, and I hope to get back on the water offshore Fort Bragg again soon!
