In the Seabird-MPA project, we investigate how seabirds may benefit from marine protected areas and how seabirds can help design nature positive solutions in marine spatial planning.
Our research
The project aims to investigate how the reproduction of two coastal seabird species, the black-backed seagull and the common eider, may benefit from a network of different marine protected areas (e.g. no-take area, lobster reserve, nature reserve) in Tvedestrand, South of Norway. Methods include individual GPS-tracking of spatial use, analysing ecophysiological parameters, monitoring of breeding success, and quantifying biodiversity through e-DNA linked to diet quality within vs outside marine protected areas.
Collaborating partners
- Norwegian Institute for Marine Research: Alf Ring Kleiven, Portia Joy Nillos-Kleiven
- BirdLife Norway: Morten Helberg, Sine Hagestad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research: Anna Nilsson, Sindre Molværsmyr, Frode Fossøy
- University of Oslo: Joël Durant
- Equinor: Tonje Waterloo, Anne-Laure Szymanski and Anita Skarstad
Project leader
- Norith Eckbo (USN, project leader)
- Morten Helberg (BirdLife Norway, co-project leader)
Members, students and candidates
- Jørn Henrik Sønstebø
- Kristine Olaussen
- Mari Burger (MSc student, USN)
- Susannah Gilbu (MSc student, USN)
- Mette Sandøy (MSc student, USN)
- Carina Haukjem (MSc student, USN)
- Celina Aas Tønnessen (BSc student, USN)
- Hanna Madsbakken Haug (MSc student, UiA)
- Julia Radtke (Fullbright internship, USN)
