Seabird Populations and Ecosystem Recovery on Macquarie Island: A Palaeoecological Perspective

Macquarie Island's seabird populations exhibit significant recovery following the eradication of invasive species, as revealed by a palaeoecological study combining peat core analysis and contemporary monitoring. Radiometric dating and geochemical analyses of marine-derived nutrients from guano deposition demonstrated that seabird presence fluctuated dramatically over time, with notable declines during periods of invasive species dominance. The study underscores the effectiveness of invasive species eradication in restoring seabird populations and highlights the importance of integrating palaeoecological data with ongoing monitoring to assess ecosystem recovery. These findings provide critical insights for conservation management in subantarctic environments.

Smith, M. Seabird Populations and Ecosystem Recovery on Macquarie Island: A Palaeoecological Perspective. https://doi.org/10.5204/thesis.eprints.253802