Long-term studies are essential to determine demographic parameters and population trends in seabirds. However, studies to date have focused mainly on the larger and accessible species. While small seabirds (< 200 g) play a major role in marine ecosystems, their nesting habitat, which is typically fragile convoluted burrows, largely preclude long-term surveys. This study evaluated the installation of artificial burrows as a tool to facilitate ongoing long-term research on small burrowing seabirds. We tested the use and acceptance of artificial burrows during the chick-rearing period of common diving petrels ( Pelecanoides urinatrix ) on Mayes Island, Kerguelen Archipelago, southern Indian Ocean. The growth rate, mass at fledging and fledging rate of chicks were similar between artificial and natural burrows. Similarly, there was no difference in occupancy rate 1 and 2 years after artificial burrows were installed. The installation of artificial burrows during the chick-rearing period of a small burrowing seabird appears to be an effective way to facilitate ongoing monitoring and research and, therefore, we recommend the wider use of artificial burrows to facilitate monitoring and research of other small burrow-nesting procellariiform species.

中文翻译：

---

人工洞穴作为潜水海燕长期研究的工具

长期研究对于确定海鸟的人口统计参数和种群趋势至关重要。然而，迄今为止的研究主要集中在较大且易于获取的物种上。虽然小型海鸟（< 200 克）在海洋生态系统中发挥着重要作用，但它们的筑巢栖息地（通常是脆弱的错综复杂的洞穴）在很大程度上排除了长期调查。这项研究评估了人工洞穴的安装作为一种工具，以促进对小型洞穴海鸟的长期研究。我们在南印度洋凯尔盖朗群岛的梅耶斯岛测试了普通潜水海燕 (Pelecanoides urinatrix) 在养雏期间人工洞穴的使用和接受情况。人工和天然洞穴之间的生长速度、雏鸡质量和雏鸡的雏鸡率相似。相似地，安装人工洞穴后 1 年和 2 年的入住率没有差异。在小型穴居海鸟的雏鸡饲养期间安装人工洞穴似乎是促进持续监测和研究的有效方式，因此，我们建议更广泛地使用人工洞穴，以促进对其他小型洞穴的监测和研究。筑巢 procellariiform 物种。