Abstract
Latham Island, Tanzania, was surveyed in August 2004 — the first known survey of the island outside the period October–March — and in December 2005. On both surveys, four species of seabird were breeding at the island. Larger numbers of swift tern Sterna bergii thalassina and common noddy Anous stolidus plumbeigularis were breeding in August than in December, but the converse was true for masked booby Sula dactylatra melanops and sooty tern Sterna fuscata nubilosa. The estimated breeding populations of the four species were: masked booby (3 700 pairs), swift tern (320 pairs), sooty tern (4 400 pairs) and common noddy (4 000 pairs). These represent about 20%, 50%, <1% and 25% respectively of the overall populations of these subspecies. Information is presented on moult, measurements of birds, eggs and nests, and on the construction and densities of nests. The plateau of the island was not substantially modified by the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004, but the structure of the surrounding beach changed noticeably between the two surveys. In December 2005, few carcasses or skeletal remains of seabirds were seen and the large numbers of boobies and sooty terns breeding then suggest that populations of seabirds were not greatly reduced by the tsunami of 2004.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
