Study reveals high functional diversity of seabirds in remote Pacific ridge ecosystem
A comprehensive study of seabirds in the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges in the Southeast Pacific found 36 species with distinct ecological roles and low functional redundancy. The region, recognized as globally significant for biodiversity, lies mostly beyond national jurisdiction and faces threats from fishing, pollution, and seabed mining. The findings highlight the need for international conservation protections to preserve both species and their unique ecological functions.
Researchers conducted the first trait-based assessment of seabird functional diversity in the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges (SGNRs), analyzing data from 11 oceanographic surveys between 2014 and 2017 across 3,500 kilometers of transects. They recorded 36 seabird species comprising 8,179 individuals and evaluated functional diversity using ten foraging-related traits including diet, foraging behavior, and morphology. The analysis revealed a seabird assemblage with low functional richness but high divergence, meaning species occupy distinct ecological niches with minimal overlap. Nesting and non-nesting seabirds showed different functional structures, with low overall functional redundancy indicating that species loss would likely result in the loss of unique ecological roles. Since 73% of the SGNRs lie beyond national jurisdiction, the seabirds face unregulated threats from fishing, plastic pollution, and potential seabed mining, making international conservation efforts under the High Seas Treaty essential for protecting both biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Limitations & open questions
The study does not specify which seabird species are endemic to the region, nor does it detail the specific ecological roles or functional traits that distinguish the 36 species from one another. Additionally, the paper does not provide quantitative projections of how ecosystem processes such as nutrient subsidies would be affected by specific species losses.
What different sources said
- bioRxivCenter
The Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges EBSA support a highly functional diversity of seabirds
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