Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Puffinus pacificus, and development on Heron Island,Great Barrier Reef, Australia

摘要: The Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus, colony on Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, has been the subject of a long-term study since 1984 to monitor effects development. During this time, there considerable development in tourist resort, university research station and national park ranger quarters. Several methods have used record analyse development. Prior specialised burrow-viewing equipment, Shearwater population estimates had based on indirect such as footprints cleared burrow entrances. Investigation actual contents, relayed electronically from a camera inserted into burrows showed that all previous needed revision, even halving earlier populations estimates. We also photographic surveys changes island habitats over time. Ultimate Environmental Threshold (UET) technique was estimate several environmental factors. Traditional breeding areas been lost shearwater through construction buildings, paving areas, blocking flight paths compaction tracks. However, species appears compensated despite significant modification island's natural habitats. Nesting behaviour has been altered disturbed egg-hatching rates lowered. Because life span could be up to 30 years, more long-term is true