WHOI PO

Title: Seabird foraging along tropical cyclones: linking marine ecology and ocean dynamics
Abstract:
Tropical cyclones (TCs) are powerful atmospheric disturbances that can profoundly impact marine ecosystems. While their immediate effects can be severe, TCs can also create ecological opportunities by enhancing pelagic primary and secondary production. Recent studies on the Desertas Petrel (Pterodroma deserta) reveal that, contrary to previous assumptions, these wide-ranging seabirds do not avoid cyclonic systems but instead actively exploit the turbulent waters within cyclone wakes. In these regions, surface chlorophyll concentrations increase and sea surface temperatures drop, creating highly productive foraging grounds. This behavior suggests that TCs may play a previously overlooked role in shaping the foraging ecology and demography of mid-latitude pelagic seabirds.

Building on this ecological perspective, we will also examine the interactions between tropical cyclones and ocean eddies, focusing on how variations in ocean stratification influence the upper-ocean heat budget within the cold wakes of TCs. Understanding these dynamics offers new insights into how ocean structures, such as eddies, interact with atmospheric disturbances, potentially providing valuable tools for predicting seabird distribution in a changing ocean.