Review of the diet and foraging behaviour of three species of tubenoses breeding in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

Malta holds globally important breeding populations of Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, Yelkouan Shearwater Puffinus yelkouan, and Mediterranean Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis. The three species of Procellariiformes are highly pelagic seabirds that feed exclusively at sea, making use of Maltese waters for foraging, but also forage in high sea areas and in Italian, Libyan and Tunisian waters during the breeding season. The EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project (2011-2016) LIFE10 NAT/MT/090 and the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project (2006-2010) LIFE06/NAT/MT/097 have identified Marine Important Bird Areas for the Maltese populations of these three species of tubenoses, including their foraging hotspots in the Maltese Fishing Management Zone (25 nm). However, it is also crucial to identify the relevant prey the birds are taking from these areas, especially for assessing interactions with fisheries and aquaculture. Here we present a review of the diet and foraging behaviour of the three aforementioned species. In combination with information on key areas at sea that these species use, information on important food sources and foraging behaviour are important further steps in assessing (and if necessary) mitigating threats imposed on these seabirds by fisheries.