UMR ENTROPIE, IRD, IFREMER, CNRS, University of Reunion, University of New Caledonia, Noumea, New Caledonia.
University of Aix-Marseille, CNRS, IRD, University of Avignon, IMBE, Centre IRD, Noumea, New Caledonia.
PLoS One. 2022 Apr 27;17(4):e0267408. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267408. eCollection 2022.
The Tahiti petrel (Pseudobulweria rostrata) is a rare and declining seabird whose breeding biology and nest-site selection are poorly known. Nest-site selection is critical to seabird population fitness, and understanding the factors driving it is essential for designing effective conservation measures. Here, we measured several variables (topographical, physical and environmental) to characterize Tahiti petrel nesting habitats and burrows (i.e., width, height, depth and type: rocky cavity, dug into the soil or under a root) on Nemou Island in New Caledonia. The data were clustered using the HCPC (Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Component) method to identify principal habitat groups. This method was combined with logistic regressions to examine the influence of the variables on nest-site selection and breeding success. Our results showed that nest-site selection is linked to habitat groups (a combination of substrate and vegetation data), slope, orientation and soil depth, while breeding success is only influenced by nest characteristics (i.e., burrow type and width). Tahiti petrels prefer to nest on steep slopes in mature forests with rocky substrate and deep soil. Burrows were scatterred in small sub-colonies or isolated pairs, suggesting that nest-site selection depends on habitat quality rather than conspecific density. The study also revealed that breeding success is lower in rocky cavities and increases in burrows with wide entrances. Our nest-site selection survey is the first for the genus Pseudobulweria, and provides critical information for designing effective conservation programs in New Caledonia and the Pacific.
塔希提信天翁（Pseudobulweria rostrata）是一种珍稀且数量不断减少的海鸟，其繁殖生物学和巢址选择知之甚少。巢址选择对海鸟种群的适应性至关重要，了解驱动巢址选择的因素对于制定有效的保护措施至关重要。在这里，我们测量了几个变量（地形、物理和环境）来描述新喀里多尼亚Nemou 岛上的塔希提信天翁筑巢栖息地和洞穴（即宽度、高度、深度和类型：岩石洞穴、挖入土壤或在树根下）。使用 HCPC（基于主成分的层次聚类）方法对数据进行聚类，以识别主要的栖息地组。该方法与逻辑回归相结合，以检验变量对巢址选择和繁殖成功率的影响。我们的研究结果表明，巢址选择与栖息地组（基质和植被数据的组合）、坡度、方位和土壤深度有关，而繁殖成功率仅受巢特征（即洞穴类型和宽度）的影响。塔希提信天翁更喜欢在有岩石基质和深土壤的成熟森林中陡峭的斜坡上筑巢。洞穴散布在小的亚群或孤立的对中，这表明巢址选择取决于栖息地质量而不是同种密度。该研究还表明，在岩石洞穴中的繁殖成功率较低，而在入口较宽的洞穴中的繁殖成功率较高。我们的巢址选择调查是 Pseudobulweria 属的首次调查，为在新喀里多尼亚和太平洋地区制定有效的保护计划提供了关键信息。
