VARIATIONS IN MARINE BIRD COMMUNITIES OF THE CALIFORNIA CURRENT, 1986-1994

Concurrent sampling (1986-94) off central and southern California reve aled strongly concordant fluctuations in abundance of several of the C alifornia Current's most numerous seabirds. Pronounced anomalies of ab undance occurred in 1986, 1988-89, and 1992-93. In 1986 and 1992-93, s ea-surface temperatures were high; cold-water species were scarce; and warm-water species were abundant. In 1988-89 the reverse patterns hel d. These patterns exemplify bird populations' short-term response to l arge-scale change in oceanic conditions, particularly sea-surface temp erature, In addition to these short-term responses, our surveys reveal ed long-term (7-8 year) declines of cold-water species and similarly l ong-term increases of warm-water species, The temporal contrast of the se changes underlines the ecological importance of continuous, long-te rm records of animal abundance.