Environmental Ad!i!Sessment of theJ6 Akskan 2V611 Continental Shelf Final Reports of Principal Investigators Volume 12. Biological Studies ~?+o AT ‘O%c+,c ~.c. YO # . $ I ] U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ez ~ National Oceanic 8/ Atmospheric Administration z 9 c, * ~+: Office of Marine Pollution Assessment w‘~o%ww OF ~~++ Environmental AssessmentW6 of the Alaskan Continental Shelf Final Reports of Principal Investigators Volume 12. Klological Studies LB. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (Mice of Marine Pollution Assessment ulm.,avw,cMM- -.. w ,.”0 -..au., LB. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Bureau of bud Management w August 1981 The facts, conclusions and issues appearing in these reports are based on interim results of an Alaskan environmental studies program managed by the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP) of the Nationa Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce, and primarily funded by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of Interior, through interagency agreement. DISCLAIMER Mention of a corrmnercial company or product does not constitute an endorsement by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Use for publicity or advertising purposes of information from this publication concerning proprietary products or the tests of such products is not authorized ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume 12 - Biological Studies Page —Ru PI/Agency Title 83 Hunt, G.L. et—— al. Reproductive Ecology, Foods and 001 -University of California Foraging Areas of Seabirds Nesting Irvine, CA on the Pribilof Islands, 1975-1979 259 Blackburn, J.E. et—— al. Pelagic and Demersal Fish Assessment 259 -Alaska Department of in the Lower Cook Inlet Estuary Fish and Game System Kodiak, AK 603 Rogers, D.E. et—— al. Epipelagic Meroplanktonj Juvenile 603 -University of Fish, and Forage Fish: Distribution Washington and Relative Abundance in Coastal Seattle, WA Waters Near Yakutat iii FINAL REPORT Contract No. 03-5-002-72 Research Unit No. 83 1 April 1975 - 30 September 1980 Reproductive Ecology, Foods and Foraging Areas of Seabirds Nesting on The Pribilof Islands, 1975 - 1979 George L. Hunt, Jr., Zoe Eppley, Barbara Burgeson and Ron Squibb Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California, Irvine California 92717 OF CONTENTS ● ● 5 List of tables . ● * b ● . ● ● .* ● ● . ● ● ● ● . List of figures . ● . ● ☛ ● ✎ ● . ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● 7 ✎ ✎ Acknowledgements .0 ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● Summary of objectives, ~ontlusions and implications respect to (XS oil and gas development ● . * ● . ● . 8 ● ● ✎ 14 Introduction . , ● ● . s ● ● * ● ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● 20 ● ● Current State-of’ Knowledge ● ● 9 ● ● * ● ● . ❉ ● ☛ ● ● ● 22 ● ● ✎ s . ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ . ● ● ● ● ● ● 27 ./ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ✎ Study Areas . ● . ● ● e ● ● ● ● 27 \ Pelagic Studies . ✎ ● . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 32 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● !! Foods Studies . ● ● ● ● ● ● . 9 48 Reproductive Biology Studies ● ✎ ● . ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● e 52 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 9 ● . PROCELLARIllAE . ● . ● ● ● ● ● . a 60 Northern Fulm.ar . ✎ ● . ● ✎ ● ● b ● ● ● ● ● ● ● * ● ● v Pelagic distribution ● ● ● ● ● ✌☛ ● ‘e ● ● ● ❉ ● ● ● ● ● ● 60 Diet . ● . ● ● ● 9 4 ● . ● ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● 9 69 ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ❉ ● ● ● ‘b ● ● ● ● Nesting . ● . 9 71 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● i v ● Shearwaters b ● . ● ● ● ● . * “. 74 Storm-petre< s ● ● ✘ ✎ ● ● ● . ● . ● ● ● 9 ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● 77 PHALACROCORACIDAE ● ✎ ● ✎ ● a . ● ✎ . ● ● ● . ✎ ● ● ● ● ● . 82 Pelagic Cormorant ● ✎ ● . ● . ● ● ● * . ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 82 ● Red-faced Cormorant ● 4 ● . ● ● ● ● . ● ● . ● ☛ ● ● a . 83 Pelagic distribution ● ● ● . ● ● ● . ● b ● ● ● ● . ● . 84 ● ● Diet. ● ● ● . ● ● ● ● ● ● 9 ● 9 ● ● ● 84 ~ ● ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ● b ● . ● . Nesting . + ● ● . b 87 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● ● . ● . ● ✎ ● ● 9 96 + ● ● ● Glaucous-winged Gull . ● ● ● . ● ● ● b ● ● ● ● . b . 96 ● ● ● Black-legged Kittiwake . ✎ . ● ● ● ● ● ● . * ● Pelagic distribution ● ● ● ● 9 ● . ● * ● ● ● 9 9 ● ● ● ● ● Diet. ● ● . ● ● ● ● ● ● . ● * * ● ● ● ● Nesting . ● ● 9 ● ● ● ● ● ☛ * ● * b 2 Red-leg?ed Kittiwake . ● , . ● ● . , . ● 121 Pelaglc distribution . ● ● . ● ● 9 ● ● ☛ ✎ . ● . ✌ 122 Diet. ● ✎ ● ✎ ● . ✎ ● ☛ ● . ✌ . , ✎ 127 Nesting . ● ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . ✃ . , ✎ 131 ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ALCI17AC. ● . ● . .* ✎ ● ● ● ✎ . ✎ ✌ ● . 144 Common P!urre . ✎ ● ● ● ● ● ✎ ☛ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ . ✎ 144 ● Pelaqic distribution of murres ● ✎ . ✎ ✌ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● 144 Diet’. ● ✎ ● ● ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✌ ✎ ✎ ✌ ✎ ● 155 ✎ Nesting . ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ . ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ● 158 Thick-billed Murre . ,. .0 ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ 169 ✎ Diet. ● . .0 ● ✎ ● . ✌ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ 169 Nesting . ✎ ● .0 ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ 174 Parakeet Auklet . ✎ ● . ● ✎ ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ☛ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 187 Pelagic distribution of auklets ✎ . ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ 187 Diet . ● * ● ● , . ✎ . ✌ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● 193 Nesting . ✎ . ✎ ✎ , . ✎ , ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 194 Crested Auklet ● ● ● . ● . ✎ ● , . ● , ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ● 195 17iet . ● ✎ ✎ . ✎ ● ✎ ● ● . ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 195 Nesting . ✎ ● ✎ . ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ ☛ ✌ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ 196 Least Auklet . ● ● ● . ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 198 Diet . ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● 199 Nesting . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ● . ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● 201 Horned Puffin ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● 203 Pelaqic distribution ● ● ✎ ● ● ● ● . ✎ ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ 0 ✎ ● ✎ 204 Diet”. ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ● 204 Nesting . ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● . ● ● ✌ ✎ ✎ ● ● ● ☛ ● 207 Tufted Puffin . ✎ ● ● ● ● ✎ ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ 212 Pelagic distribution ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● e ✎ ☛ ✎ 213 I_)ieto . ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ 213 Nesting . ✎ ✎ ✌ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ 217 DISCUSSION Reproductive ecology and variability ● ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ● . ✎ ✎ ☛ 219 Trophic dynamics . ● . ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ . ✎ ● ✎ 223 Pelagic distribution . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . ● ✎ ● ✎ ✎ ✎ . ● ✎ ✎ 232 SUMMARY. ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● ✎ . ✎ ✎ ✎ 236 Implications for management , , ● ● ● ✎ ● ● ✎ ✎ e . ✎ ✎ ✎ 237 Literature Cited . ● ✎ ✎ ✎ ● . ✎ ✌ ✎ 240 3 Appendix 1 - Estimates of marine bird populations in 249 the easternBeringSea~ . ...”.. - Appendix ‘2 Vonthly changes in the pelagic distributio*4..***n “ 251 of murres ● 9..*-* “g” I TCT n~ TAD I ~C L-1.)1 u r lft[>LL.J TABLE PAGE 1. Cruises made by P .83 to study the pelagic distribution of seabirds . 32 2. Reproductive success of Northern Fulmars, Pribilof Islands, 1976-1978 . 73 3. Phenology of Red-faced Cormorants, St. Paul Island, 1975-1978. 89 4. Phenology of Red-faced Cormorants, St. George Island, 1976-1978. 90 5. Reproductive biology of Red-faced Cormorants, Pribilof Islands, 1975-1978 . 94 6. Phenology of Black-1egged Kittiwakes, St. Paul Island, 1975-1979 . ..’...... 108 7. Phenology of Black-1egged Kittiwakes, St. George Island, 1976-1978. 109 8. Nest attendance patterns of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Pribilof Islands, 1977-1979 . 11s 9. Reproductive success of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Pribilof Islands, 1975-1979 . 117 10. Growth rates and fleding weights of Black-legged Kittiwake chicks, Pribilof Islands, 1975-1979 . 120 11. Phenology of Red-legged Kittiwakes, St. Paul Island, 1975 -1979 . 132 12. Phenology of Red-1egged Kittiwakes, St. George Island, 1976-1978. 133 13. Nest attendance patterns of Red-legged Kittiwakes, Pribilof Islands, 1977-1979 . 139 ’14. Reproductive success of Red-legged Kittiwakes, Pribilof Islands, 1975-1979X . 140 15. Growth rates and fledging weights of Red-1egged Kittiwake chicks, Pribilof Islands, 1975-1979 . 142 16. Phenology of Common Murres, St. Paul Island, 1975-1978. ● . 160 17. Phenology of Common IIurres, St. George Island, 1976-1978. 161 5 TABLE PAGE 18. Reproductive success of Common Murres at minimum-disturbance sites, Prihilof Islands, 1976 -1978 . ..co. .~o .~.**[email protected]~ 166 19* Growth rates and fledging weights of Common Murre chicks, Pribilof Islands, 1976-1978 . 167 20 ● Phenology of Thick-billed Murres, St. Paul Island, 1975 -1978 ..*.*.... .c.**00.- 17s 21. Phenology of Thick-billed Murres, St. George Island, 1976 -1978 . 176 * 22. Time spent away from the nest for known-sex Thi-ck-billed Murres, St. Paul Island, 1978 . 184 23. Reproductive success of Thick-billed Murres at minimum-disturbance sites, Pribilof Islands, 1976-1978. , . .,, . 185 * 24. Growth rates and fledging weights of Thfck-bilTecl Murre chicks, Pribilof’ Islands, 1975-1979 ● c ● ● ● c 186 25. Phenology of l-formed Puffins, St. Paul Island, 1975 -1977 . .0....... •**~***** 210 26. Reproductive success of Horned Puffins, St. Paul Island, 1975 -1979 . ..*oo 211 27. Growth rates of Horned Puffin chicks, St. Paul Island, 1975 -1979 . 212 d 28. Estimates of food consumption by Pribilof Islands seabirds ,. ● , ● ● ● 227 . 29. Relative abundance of young pol lock, 1975-1978 * . 230 Appendix 1-1. Estimates of marine bird populations in the eastern13eringSea . ● . ● . ● . ● . ● ● . 250 6 LIST OF FIGURES — FIGURE PAGE 1. Distribution of major seabird colonies in the easternBeringSea . 15 2. Study Areas, St. Paul Island . , . ● ● c ● 28 3. Study Areas, St. George Island . 28 4. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - February . 33 5. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - March . 34 6. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - April . 35 7. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - May . 36 8. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - June . 37 9. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - July . 38 10. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - August . 39 11. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - September . 40 12. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - October . 41 13. Sightings Effort Plots: All surveys - November . 42 14. Sample sizes for histogram