Appendix 3 Monthly flight directions for the five key species observed during the 2020-2021 boat-based survey

Figure 4.1:
Wind diagram of flight directions for Gannet during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.1 Wind diagram of flight directions for Gannet during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.2:
Wind diagram of flight directions for Kittiwake during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.2 Wind diagram of flight directions for Kittiwake during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.3:
Wind diagram of flight directions for Guillemot during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.3 Wind diagram of flight directions for Guillemot during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.4:
Wind diagram of flight directions for Razorbill during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.4 Wind diagram of flight directions for Razorbill during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

 

Figure 4.5:
Wind diagram of flight directions for Puffin during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Figure 4.5 Wind diagram of flight directions for Puffin during the 2020-2021 Berwick Bank boat-based surveys

Appendix 4 Environmental Data
 

4.1.1 Environmental Variables

Measurements of mean surface temperature and mean salinity were collected using the CTD tag and can be related to the seabird abundances. Figure 4.6 to Figure 4.9 show the differing environmental conditions per hour for the Berwick Bank site 2 project area, whereas Figure 4.9   Open ▸ shows the mean temperature and mean salinity for each hour for the Berwick Bank site 3 area. These are shown with the abundances of the five key seabird species in each figure. The second CTD tag was lost in June (Table 3.5) and so data for Berwick Bank site 2 in June could not be compared alongside the July, August and May Berwick Bank site 2 data.

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Figure 4.6:
Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 4 July 2020 Berwick Bank site 2 boat survey. GU = Guillemot, RA = Razorbill, PU = Puffin, GX = Gannet, KI = Kittiwake.

Figure 4.6 Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 4 July 2020 Berwick Bank site 2 boat survey. GU = Guillemot, RA = Razorbill, PU = Puffin, GX = Gannet, KI = Kittiwake.

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Figure 4.7:
Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 7 August 2020 Berwick Bank site 2 boat survey

Figure 4.7 Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 7 August 2020 Berwick Bank site 2 boat survey

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Figure 4.8:
Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 7 May 2021 Berwick Bank site 2 boat survey

Figure 4.8 Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 7 May 2021 Berwick Bank site 2 boat survey

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Figure 4.9:
Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 9 June 2021 Berwick Bank site 3 boat survey

Figure 4.9 Mean temperature and mean salinity across the day during the 9 June 2021 Berwick Bank site 3 boat survey

 

Our results show no clear pattern between environmental variables and seabird presence within the survey area. It is understood that marine productivity relies on variables such as temperature and salinity (Lalli & Parsons, 1997), with pelagic shoaling fish (such as sandeels, sprat and herring) movements influenced by upwelling and frontal tides, and so as prey abundance near the surface decreases during times of reduced mixing, bird presence is also influenced. For example, Embling et al. (2012) showed that kittiwake abundance could be linked to changes in salinity (along with temperature, density and chlorophyll fluorescence).