MEPS 755:163-177 (2025)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14785

ABSTRACT: Climate change is regarded as a major threat to seabird populations globally. While the impacts on certain species are well-studied, the majority remain understudied, which may limit our understanding of the key mechanisms linking climate change to population dynamics. This information is important to identify vulnerable species and inform potential conservation responses. To address this gap, we reviewed literature on the impacts of climate change on the demography of 25 seabird species breeding in the UK and Republic of Ireland from relevant studies conducted within the wider North-East Atlantic. We found regional and species-specific variations in research effort, with the North Sea being the most studied area. The most frequently studied species were common guillemot Uria aalge (n = 35), black-legged kittiwake Rissa tridactyla (n = 29), and European shag Gulosus aristotelis (n = 25). Breeding productivity and population abundance were the primary demographic parameters investigated. The North Atlantic Oscillation and sea surface temperature were commonly used to describe climate influences, often linked to bottom-up mechanisms affecting demography through changes in prey availability. Breeding productivity was the most monitored demographic rate across species; this may lead to important mechanisms affecting other demographic rates, such as survival, being overlooked. Regional and species-specific disparities in research could bias the identification of key mechanisms. Despite these uncertainties, current literature highlights the importance of climate impacts through the food chain and severe storm events affecting seabirds. In response, climate change adaptation should prioritise management of fish stocks near breeding colonies and coastal management to protect vulnerable colonies from storm events.

KEY WORDS: Seabirds · Climate change · Review · Monitoring · Demographic consequences · Bias