Abstract
We assessed temporal and spatial patterns of chronic oiling of seabirds in California during 2005-2010, using data on: (1) live oiled birds reported to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) from throughout the state, and (2) dead oiled birds found during systematic monthly beached-bird surveys in central California. A mean of 245 (±141 SD) live miscellaneous oiled birds (not associated with known oil spills) were reported to the OWCN per year, and 0.1 oiled dead birds km-1 per month were found on beach surveys in central California. Chemical fingerprinting of oiled feathers from a subset of these birds (n=101) indicated that 89% of samples tested were likely from natural petroleum seeps off southern and central California. There was a pronounced peak during late winter in the number of oiled birds reported in southern California, which we theorize may be related to large storm waves disturbing underwater seeps.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 155-163 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Marine Pollution Bulletin |
Volume | 79 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 15 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Monterey Formation
- Oil fingerprinting
- Seabirds
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science
- Pollution