Monthly anchoveta consumption of guano birds, 1953 to 1982
1987
Muck, P. | Pauly, D. (German Agency for Technical Cooperation c/o Programa Cooperativo Peruano. Aleman de Investigacion Pesquera, Callao (Peru) | International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management, Makati, Metro Manila (Philippines))
Anchoveta consumption by Peruvian guano birds (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii, Sula variegata, Pelecanus thagus) was estimated for the period 1953 to 1982 for the area 4-14 degrees South latitude using an analytical consumption model and monthly seabird population estimates based on field counts. Highest estimates were obtained for 1955-1956 with about 2 million metric tonnes (t) per year of anchoveta being consumed by the guano birds. Due to the continuous decline of the guano bird populations, their anchoveta consumption dropped to values of less than 20,000 t at the beginning of the 1970s and an average of around 30,000 t between 1970 and 1982. Population decline of guano birds is most probably caused by reduced anchovy availability, a consequence of the combined effects of the heavy anchovy fishery and El nino related periods of low food vulnerability.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by University of the Philippines at Los Baños