Climate Change: Seabird Populations Dropped by a Staggering 70 Percent

Seabird populations have actually dropped by a staggering 70 percent since the 1950s. These findings, in particular, are a stark indication that marine ecosystems are rapidly declining.

"Seabirds are particularly good indicators of the health of marine ecosystems," said Michelle Paleczny, one of the researchers, in a news release. "When we see this magnitude of seabird decline, we can see there is something wrong with marine ecosystems. It gives us an idea of the overall impact we're having."

In this latest study, the researchers compiled information on more than 500 seabird populations from around the world. This represented 19 percent of the global seabird population. In the end, the researchers found that overall populations declined by 69.6 percent, which is equivalent to the loss of about 230 million seabirds in 60 years.

So what caused the decline? It's due to a variety of factors, including overfishing of the fish that seabirds rely on for food. In addition, birds become tangled in fishing gear and are killed by oil and pollution. Non-native predators have also taken a toll on seabird colonies, and habitat loss also plays an important role.

"Our work demonstrates the strong need for increased seabird conservations effort internationally," said Paleczny. "Loss of seabirds causes a variety of impacts in coastal and marine ecosystems."

The findings show the true impact of humans on the world's oceans. As seabird populations decline, so too will coastal ecosystems. This is especially important to note when planning conservation efforts in order to save various species.

The findings are published in the journal PLOS One.

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