A multiscale seasonal examination of the risk of harm to seabirds from vessels based on co-occurrence in Alaskan waters.

ABSTRACT: Alaska's seascape supports globally significant seabird populations, including vulnerable and threatened species, and hosts economically important commercial fisheries and marine transportation corridors. Seasonal patterns of seabird movements and vessel traffic create a complex landscape of risk, defined as high levels of co-occurrence (overlap) between seabirds and vessels. Areas of high overlap increase risk of detrimental impacts, such as exposure to artificial light from ships, bycatch, behavioral disturbance, collision, and oil spills. To investigate this risk landscape, we combined satellite-based automatic identification system (AIS) vessel traffic data (2015-2022) with at-sea, ship-based seabird observation data from the North Pacific Pelagic Seabird Database (2006-2022). We used

SUBMITTER: Kapsar K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856794 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature