Distribution and Migration of the Solander's Petrel Pterodroma solandri in the North Pacific in Relation to Sea Surface Water Temperatures

Abstract

Pterodroma solandri were observed in the North Pacific during several cruises on the R. V. Tansei Maru and R. V. Hakuho Maru from 1980 through 1986.
(1) P. solandri concentrated mainly along the Polar front in the Northwest Pacific during the breeding season and distributed widely from west to east in the North Pacific during the nonbreeding season.
(2) The closest sightings of this bird to land were made in the vicinity of Miyake Is. in February and another in the area 100 nautical miles offshore of Sanriku in September.
(3) P. solandri occurred in areas where surface water temperatures ranged from 8°C to 28°C. They were particularly abundant in areas with water temperature of 8°C in May and in another months. They distributed on average in areas with water temperatures ranged from 12°C to 26°C. From the above observations it is concluded that they favour the warm areas as the circumstances of breeding grounds and moreover they are the kind of species which select areas of cool waters as habitats.