This brief summarizes the paper “Seabirds and climate change: roadmap for the future” by Sydeman et al., which was published in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series in 2012.


What are some of the predicted effects of global climate change?

Scientists predict significant global temperature increases due to rising greenhouse gas concentrations. Much of this heat will continue to be absorbed by the oceans, exacerbating other anticipated physical changes such as decreased sea ice mass and rising sea levels. These environmental changes are likely to have a notable impact on the dynamics of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, it is necessary for scientists to provide policymakers with substantial research on the effects of climate change.

What role do seabirds play in the study of the effects of climate change on the natural world?

Seabirds are unique in that they live at the barrier between the ocean and the atmosphere and rely on both terrestrial and marine habitats for survival. Because of this, seabird species are both good indicators and constant casualties of global climate change. Seabirds rely primarily on micronekton (small fish and squids) and mesozooplankton (krill and copepods) for food; these small species are highly susceptible to climactic variation, so seabird productivity also reflects climate change through effects of food availability.

What was the goal of our analysis?

We prepared a literature review for a a variety of studies to lay out past, present, and possible future developments of the effects of climate change on seabird populations. We used studies from both the northern and southern hemispheres that focused on a host of factors, including timing of breeding and migration, habitat choice, range, demographic traits, food habits, and community structure. We analyzed results from these papers in order to identify patterns and explore possible inconsistencies, thus providing a comprehensive view of how climate change is affecting seabirds.

What did we conclude?

It is clear that seabirds are responding to climate change on a global scale and thus can be of use to us in demonstrating the potential future effects of this phenomenon. However, the methods by which scientists study these species could be adjusted in order to provide a more comprehensive view, linking climate, oceanographic conditions, food resources, and seabird responses. Integrated ecosystem science is the future of accurately predicting changes in seabird populations.


Although many of the studies included in this analysis are highly credible and respected in the scientific world, not all of them have the duration to eliminate the chance that the variation is due to expected decadal variability rather than human-caused climate change. To address this issue, we recommend that data continue to be collected on developments in the seabird sphere so that scientists can make statistically significant inferences.