#Ecology

Revolutionary research published in Current Biology has fundamentally transformed scientific understanding of seabird behavior and its ecological implications for coastal environments worldwide. Japanese scientists using innovative belly-mounted cameras documented that streaked shearwaters defecate almost exclusively while flying, never while resting on water surfaces, contradicting decades of assumptions about marine bird physiology and behavior.

This discovery carries profound implications for Thailand’s extensive coastlines, coral reef systems, and marine tourism industry, where understanding nutrient cycling, disease transmission pathways, and ecological relationships between seabirds and coastal environments affects millions of visitors, fishing communities, and conservation efforts across the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea regions.

Researchers found streaked shearwaters defecate almost always while flying. The finding appears in Current Biology and surprised the research team (Current Biology DOI).

This discovery matters to beachgoers and coastal managers. The behavior affects nutrient flows and disease risks near shores.

Scientists attached small cameras to the bellies of 15 streaked shearwaters. The devices recorded nearly 36 hours of footage and 195 defecation events (ScienceNews, Gizmodo).

The birds excreted at regular intervals. The typical interval was every four to ten minutes (New York Times).

In recent years, the concept of sustainable development has become ever more urgent as Thailand and the global community face mounting environmental crises, social inequalities, and existential threats stemming from unsustainable growth patterns. While the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a secular, global roadmap, Thailand’s unique cultural and religious heritage offers its own, rich contribution to the pursuit of sustainability—most notably through the principles of Buddhism. By exploring the intersections between Buddhist philosophy and sustainable development, Thai society stands poised to shape a future rooted in not just economic and ecological stability, but also in spiritual well-being and ethical harmony.