New light has been cast on one of nature’s most elegant feedback loops as scientists throw the spotlight on the role of seabirds as powerful connectors between ocean and land.

In a groundbreaking global synthesis published today in Nature Reviews Biodiversity, researchers from Lancaster University have revealed how these marine wanderers shuttle nutrients across ecosystems and why protecting them could be a game-changer in tackling the triple planetary crises of climate change, ocean decline, and biodiversity loss.

Led by Dr Holly Jones of Northern Illinois University, the research team – featuring scientists and conservation leaders from BirdLife International, The Nature Conservancy, Lancaster University, and Island Conservation – has introduced the concept of the ‘circular seabird economy’ – a natural process by which seabirds move nutrients from sea to land and back again, driving productivity and ecological resilience across entire landscapes.

“Seabirds function as biological pumps,” said Dr Jones. “By consuming prey in the ocean and depositing nutrients on land, they connect ecosystems in ways that are both powerful and measurable.”

Drawing on decades of ecological research, the paper illustrates how seabird guano – a substance rich in nitrogen and phosphorus – acts as a potent natural fertiliser. On islands, these nutrients stimulate lush vegetation, while runoff into nearby waters fuels coral growth, enhances fish biomass, and fortifies marine ecosystems against the stresses of a warming world.

“These nutrient flows have dramatic ecological benefits,” says Professor Nick Graham of Lancaster University, a co-author on the paper. “They quite literally feed life from ridge to reef.”

Yet the very species that sustain this global nutrient cycle are in peril. Nearly one-third of seabird species are threatened with extinction, and the islands where most breed rank among the planet’s most vulnerable biodiversity hotspots.

The study pinpoints major knowledge gaps – particularly in overlooked habitats like mangroves, seagrass beds, and oyster reefs – and urges greater integration between marine and terrestrial research.

“Seabirds influence ecosystems across vast spatial scales, yet many of their marine impacts remain understudied,” said Dr Casey Benkwitt of Lancaster University. “Understanding these connections is essential for effective conservation.”

The study’s authors have emphasised that seabird recovery offers one of the most powerful nature-based solutions available. Proven interventions – such as invasive species eradication, social attraction, and chick translocation – can all re-establish lost nutrient flows and restore ecosystem balance.

“We now have the science to show that seabird restoration is one of the most effective tools for ecosystem recovery,” said Stephanie Borrelle, Marine and Pacific Regional Coordinator at BirdLife International. “By reconnecting nutrient pathways, we can rebuild resilience in both island and marine systems.”

Ranging from remote sensing to eco-acoustics and environmental DNA, emerging technologies are transforming how scientists monitor seabird impacts across ocean and island environments. But the study’s authors caution that data alone will not save seabirds.

“Seabirds are deeply woven into the cultures of coastal and island peoples,” says Laura-Li Jeannot, a PhD researcher at Lancaster University. “Future research must embrace Indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge to create a more holistic picture of the circular seabird economy.”

As seabird populations decline, the stakes for ocean and island ecosystems rise. Understanding and restoring these nutrient pathways could unlock cascading benefits – for coral reefs, fisheries, coastal protection, and the communities that depend on them.

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