Integrating animal tracking data into spatial conservation prioritisation for seabirds during their breeding season

Understanding the spatial-temporal marine habits is crucial to conserving air-breathing marine animals that breed on islands and forage at sea. This study, focusing on little penguins from Phillip Island, Australia, employed tracking data to identify vital foraging areas during breeding season. Long-term data from sub-colonies and breeding stages were analysed using 50%, 75%, and 90% kernel utilisation distributions (KUDs). Breeding success, classified as low, average, or high, guided the exploration of site, year, and breeding stage-specific habitats. Using Marxan, a widely used conservation planning tool, the study proposes both static and dynamic spatial-temporal scenarios for protection based on KUDs. The dynamic approach, requiring less space than the static strategy, was more efficient and likely more acceptable to stakeholders. The study underscores the need for comprehensive data in conservation plans, as relying on one nesting site’s data might miss essential foraging areas for penguins in other locations. This study demonstrates the efficacy of animal tracking data in spatial conservation prioritisation and marine spatial planning. The dynamic areas frequented emerged as a strategy to safeguard core regions at sea, offering insights to improve the conservation of iconic species like little penguins and promoting the health of islands and the entire marine ecosystem.