Warming waters are driving key prey species, like mackerel and capelin, further north. This forces gannets to fly longer distances for food, increasing their energy expenditure and decreasing breeding success.
One of the most pressing issues identified in the research is the high incidence of . Gannets often mistake brightly colored plastic, such as red fishing lines or synthetic nets, for nesting material. Download File Barbera & Collar - Gannet.zip
Recent outbreaks of H5N1 have caused mass mortality. Interestingly, some survivors develop a permanent black iris , which serves as a visible marker of their resilience against the virus. Warming waters are driving key prey species, like
Guardians of the North: The Northern Gannet’s Fight Against a Plastic Tide The Northern Gannet ( Moruscap M o r u s bassanusb a s s a n u s Gannets often mistake brightly colored plastic, such as
Beyond plastic, gannets are facing a "perfect storm" of environmental stressors:
Studies have found that in certain wintering areas, such as off the coast of Mauritania, up to 20.2% of gannets observed were entangled in marine debris.
), with its striking blue eyes and six-foot wingspan, is one of the most iconic seabirds of the North Atlantic. Known for spectacular plunge-dives from heights of up to 30 meters, these birds are masters of the ocean. However, recent research—including pioneering work by and Collar —reveals that these sentinels of the sea are increasingly under threat from a "silent killer": marine plastic debris. The Danger of Entanglement