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Scientists confirm seabirds mostly poop midair. Here is why it matters to Thailand
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science
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).
#seabirds
#ecology
#marinebiology
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