1 - Instituto de Biologia da UFRJ
1 - Instituto de Biologia da UFRJ
1 - Instituto de Biologia da UFRJ
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Figure 2. Average number of Kelp Gull pairs (bars) and average Southern<br />
Oscillation In<strong>de</strong>x (line) at each summer in Admiralty Bay. Error bars are<br />
stan<strong>da</strong>rd errors.<br />
Figure 4. Variation of Temperature as a response to Southern Oscillation<br />
In<strong>de</strong>x (SOI).<br />
greater number of ice-free areas, but there were few bree<strong>de</strong>rs<br />
as a function of high SOI.<br />
The variations of El-Niño have an influence on Antarctic<br />
waters and can affect the animal population and ecological<br />
processes within populations. In the short term such effect<br />
reduces the numbers of breeding pairs and as a consequence<br />
the breeding success of the population. In the long term,<br />
recruitment rates can be affected, and it may imply in lower<br />
growth rates.<br />
Figure 3. Variation of average number of Kelp Gull pairs in response to<br />
the average Southern Oscillation In<strong>de</strong>x. Trend line is a quadratic function<br />
represented by the equation Y = 1.6*X – 1.75*X 2 +6.34; R 2 = 0.62.<br />
(Lescroël et al., 2009; Beaulieu et al., 2010). One explanation<br />
for such changes is the increasing influence of ENSO in<br />
Antarctica (Croxall et al., 2002). The 2009/10 summer was<br />
the col<strong>de</strong>st in the last <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s (INPE, 2010). We verified<br />
in surveys that there were few ice-free areas, reducing<br />
the availability or suitability of breeding habitat, but the<br />
subsequent summer (2010/11) was warmer providing a<br />
Acknowledgements<br />
This work integrates the National Institute of Science and<br />
Technology Antarctic Environmental Research (INCT-<br />
APA) that receives scientific and financial support from the<br />
National Council for Research and Development (CNPq<br />
process: n° 574018/2008-5) and Carlos Chagas Research<br />
Support Foun<strong>da</strong>tion of the State of Rio <strong>de</strong> Janeiro (FAPERJ<br />
n° E-16/170.023/2008). The authors also acknowledge the<br />
support of the Brazilian Ministries of Science, Technology<br />
and Innovation (MCTI), of Environment (MMA) and Inter-<br />
Ministry Commission for Sea Resources (CIRM).<br />
82 | Annual Activity Report 2011