Tropical Shearwater population stability at Reunion Island, despite light pollution

摘要: Seabirds are exposed to numerous threats at sea and on land, they among the most endangered birds worldwide. Procellariids attracted by artificial light, this causes massive fallout various places of world. In Reunion Island, Tropical Shearwaters Puffinus bailloni heavily impacted light pollution. To assess population trends species, we conducted two large-scale acoustic surveys across island (in 1996/1997 in 2013/2015) analysed numbers lights rescued local wildlife rescue center between 1996 2015. We detected 220 colonies 2013/2015, including 124 previously surveyed 1996/97 96 newly discovered colonies. The average vocal activity recorded was similar during suggesting no marked change size. Some 13,200 were found grounded since due attraction, which 88 % successfully released. number reported increased 19-fold This increase a combination factors that difficult disentangle: (1) increasing public awareness; (2) pollution; (3) absence collapse. Indeed, both indicate Shearwater Island did not decline 2013/2015. suggest campaigns annually strongly contributed stability. Thus, recommend maintaining operations, but also reduce