Don’t forget the guillemots

Discussion on management interventions in the Baltic Sea often circles around fisheries and nutrient run-off to solve the problems with algal blooms, dead zones and declining fish stocks.

In order to evaluate different management options, ecologists often use “food-web models” that focus on a few key species, while largely ignoring species occurring in lower numbers or with limited ecological function. For iconic or threatened species, another kind of “demographic” models may be used to assess management alternatives.

However, few assessments combine insights from both these kinds of modelling approaches. A recent study published in Ecology and Evolution does just that, looking at guillemots in the Baltic Sea.

“Linking the two models makes it possible to uncover important trade-offs associated with management alternatives and support conservation of less common species,” the authors write.

The study was carried out by a team from Sweden, USA and Denmark, including centre researcher Susa Niiranen. Martina Kadin who lead the study is a former PhD-student of the SRC, but now works for the University of Washington and the Swedish Museum of Natural History.

Niiranen, Kadin and their co-authors argue that the study results can be critical for decision-makers.

Six scenarios

The researchers combined modelling approach was used to analyse management of a set of key environmental factors in the Baltic Sea, including cod fisheries and eutrophication. They then projected the near (2016–2040) and distant (2060–2085) future impacts on survival of guillemots under six scenarios.

The demographic part of the model identified quantity of sprat (Sprattus sprattus) as the main factor influencing guillemot survival. Sprat is the main prey of Baltic Sea guillemots. Most simulations tested by the researchers resulted in increased survival of the birds, in the near and distant future. However, in the scenario of reduced nutrient input and precautionary cod fishing, guillemot survival was projected to be lower in both future periods due to lower sprat stocks. A substantial decline of the guillemot population was projected in the near future (24% per 10 years) and a smaller reduction (1.1% per 10 years) in the distant future.

“To date, many stakeholders and Baltic Sea governments have supported reduced nutrient input and precautionary cod fishing and implementation is underway. Negative effects on non-focal species have previously not been uncovered, but our results show that the scenario is likely to negatively impact the guillemot population,” the authors write.

Managing cod, eutrophication and guillemots

To understand why solving the problems of nutrient pollution and overfishing of cod could be negative for the guillemots you have to go back to the 1990s. During this time, sprat increased dramatically due to the collapse of the cod in the eastern Baltic. This was caused by high cod fishing pressure in combination with eutrophication effects and changes in climate, and the increase in sprat turned out to benefit guillemots.

Does this imply that we should refrain from management of cod and nutrients? No, says the authors. In fact, they come up with several strategies that could mitigate the potential negative effects on guillemots without compromising the objectives of cod recovery and reduced nutrient input. Examples include continued efforts to remove the nest predator American mink, and to reduce other sources of guillemot mortality, for example, disturbance and predation by white-tailed eagles, as well as bycatch in fishing gear.

In conclusion, the researchers say their work could help to reduce the risk of aiming for objectives that are not simultaneously achievable. They also emphasise that it is important to consider conflicting objectives both when deciding on management actions and when designing how to evaluate their success. Their new combination of modelling techniques can prove to be useful in this context, they conclude:

“Conflicting objectives will be inherent in management of any ecosystem, but integration of modelling techniques allows for better-informed decisions when aiming to balance diverse interests and drivers of change.”