What the study found
The study found that total seabird mortality during the 2023-2024 marine heat wave in eastern Australia was very large, with more than 629,000 birds estimated to have died. Estimated losses included more than 13,900 sable shearwaters and more than 608,000 short-tailed shearwaters.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say that beach counts capture only a fraction of seabird deaths because most birds die at sea. The study suggests that better total-mortality estimates are important for understanding how such events affect populations.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used three community science data repositories to examine seabirds found dead on beaches in eastern Australia during the 2023-2024 marine heat wave. They refined mortality estimation models using measures of searcher efficiency, meaning how well people detect carcasses, and carcass persistence, meaning how long carcasses remain available to be found.
What worked and what didn't
The approach produced estimated total mortality for two seabird species: sable shearwaters and short-tailed shearwaters. The abstract does not report comparisons with alternative methods or describe any parts of the approach that did not work.
What to keep in mind
The estimates are based on beach-washed birds and on models refined with searcher efficiency and carcass persistence measures. The abstract does not describe further limitations beyond noting that beach records represent only a fraction of deaths.
Key points
- The study estimated more than 629,000 seabird deaths during the 2023-2024 marine heat wave in eastern Australia.
- Estimated mortality included more than 13,900 sable shearwaters and more than 608,000 short-tailed shearwaters.
- The authors note that birds recorded on beaches are only a fraction of total seabird mortality.
- Three community science data repositories were used to examine dead seabirds found on beaches.
- Mortality models were refined using searcher efficiency and carcass persistence measures.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Marine heat wave caused large seabird mortality in eastern Australia
- Authors:
- Jennifer L. Lavers, William Fulton, Silke Stuckenbrock, Alexander L. Bond
- Institutions:
- Natural History Museum, Charles Sturt University, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Marine Research Centre
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-22
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash · Unsplash License
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