RT journal article
T1 Global distribution, threats and population trends of the critically endangered Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus
A1 Cruz Muñoz, Andrés de la
A1 Pereira, Jorge M.
A1 Muñoz Arroyo, Gonzalo
A1 Ramos, Jaime A.
A1 Alonso, Hany
A1 Arcos, José Manuel
A1 Rodríguez, Beneharo
A1 Bécares, Juan
A1 Ramos, Fernando
A1 Tornero, Jorge
A1 Saavedra, Camilo
A1 Vázquez, José Antonio
A1 García Barón, Isabel
A1 Astarloa, Amaia
A1 Louzao, Maite
A1 Laran, Sophie
A1 Dorémus, Ghislain
A1 Waggitt, James
A1 Paiva, Vitor H.
A2 Biología
K1 At-sea censuses
K1 Fishing gears
K1 Habitat suitability
K1 Impacts
K1 Marine protected areas
K1 Oceanographic variables
K1 Offshore windfarms
K1 Seabirds
K1 Species distribution models
AB Knowledge of the spatial distribution and population trends of threatened species is essential to improve their conservation status. We analysed a 21-year dataset (2000−2020) with at-sea counts of the critically endangered Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) to understand its distribution, habitat suitability, population trends, overlap with threats such as fisheries and offshore marine renewables, and overlap with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Our study reveals higher densities of Balearic shearwaters along the eastern Spanish coast, Balearic Islands, and the Atlantic Iberian coast, with recent expansion into the Celtic Sea, English Channel, and southern North Sea, indicating a northward shift in distribution. Species distribution models identified distance to coast and colony, bathymetry, and sea surface temperature as key predictors of habitat suitability. Population trends indicate a concerning decline in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Iberian coast, with a recent increase in northern Europe, though insufficient to offset declines in the main areas. Fisheries, particularly gillnets and purse seines, pose significant threats across the species' range. There is a critical need for data on artisanal longline fisheries to enhance threat assessments. Emerging threats from offshore wind farms do not appear to overlap with the species' primary distribution, but further investigation is needed. Although MPAs partially cover its range, their overlap is low, highlighting the need to update protected area networks and implement management plans. This study provides a global view of the distribution, habitat suitability, key threats, and population trends of the Balearic shearwater, offering crucial insights for the conservation of this critically endangered species.
PB Elsevier
SN 0006-3207
YR 2025
FD 2025-05
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39141
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/39141
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 10-nov-2026