The sudden decline in the population of seabirds on the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding waters is being viewed as the result of global warming, a new research has revealed. Tens of thousands of seabirds were unable to breed due to warmer water from more frequent and intense El Nino events meant there is insufficient food to raise their young, a research compiled by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said.

The research forms the basis of a report commissioned by the marine park authority and Queensland Environment Protection Agency to address the impact of climate change on seabirds that has painted a grim picture of seabird population, the Australian reported.

"Recent analyses at key sites have revealed significant decline in the population of some of the most common seabird species, which raises concerns regarding the threatening processes acting on these populations" the report said. The report, "Seabirds and Shorebirds in Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in a Changing Climate" said reef was home to between 1.3 and 1.7 million seabirds and half the world's population of several species.

The result of the research by Bradley Congdon and five other seabird experts has been published in another report, Climate Change and Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment. They have found out that recent climate changes were adversely affecting seabird population. In Coral Sea, population of great frigatebirds declined by 6 to7 per cent annually between 1992 and 2004 and failed to recovere despite a return of more favourable conditions since the El Nino event of 1997-98.

(Hindu, 14/10/2008)