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abstract

The paper presents a quantitative account of the abundance of seabirds (excluding penguins) in relation to environmental features in a small area of the Southern Indian Ocean. Plankton-eating birds were abundant. Piscivorous birds were less numerous, but their biomass was slightly higher than that of the planktivores. Cephalopod-eaters and species in a mixed-diet class were widespread, but not as abundant as either planktivores or piscivores. Planktivores were most abundant in a narrow latitudinal band at 61� - 63癝. High planktivore abundance was correlated positively (about 33 %) with relatively warm air and surface-water temperatures and low barometric pressure, and high piscivore abundance (about 32 %) with weak winds and cloudy to wet weather. The abundance of cephalopod-eaters correlated very poorly (about 4 %) with these variables.