Table 6 Habitat characteristics of wintering locations for black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) from October thru February in 2008/09, 2009/10, and 2010/11

Bering Sea

 Residency Time (d)

2.1 ± 1.0

2.8 ± 1.0

2.0 ± 0.8

 SST (°C)

4.65 ± 2.2

5.23 ± 0.94

5.87 ± 1.85

 Distance to Seamount (km)

455 ± 285

242 ± 133

362 ± 230

 SSH (cm)

−9.12 ± 3.78

−8.34 ± 2.06

−10.96 ± 3.35

 EKE (cm² s⁻²)

70.4 ± 35.9

39.1 ± 15.9

54.6 ± 27.2

 Distance to Eddy Edge (km)

143 ± 71

131 ± 48

169 ± 84

 Chl a (mg m⁻³)

1.40 ± 0.99

1.68 ± 2.21

2.25 ± 2.79

 Wind speed (m s⁻¹)

9.17 ± 1.39

8.94 ± 0.70

8.49 ± 1.48

Subarctic Gyre (West)

 Residency Time (d)

2.0 ± 0.7

2.2 ± 0.9

2.0 ± 0.5

 SST (°C)

7.75 ± 1.95

5.61 ± 1.78

5.33 ± 1.17

 Distance to Seamount (km)

392 ± 130

357 ± 118

348 ± 114

 SSH (cm)

−17.99 ± 3.28

−14.83 ± 2.15

−15.49 ± 3.0

 EKE (cm² s⁻²)

49.4 ± 19.1

58.9 ± 18.2

59.0 ± 28.4

 Distance to Eddy (km)

127 ± 29

124 ± 21

114 ± 11

 Chl a (mg m⁻³)

0.63 ± 0.22

0.55 ± 0.13

0.66 ± 0.32

 Wind speed (m s⁻¹)

8.85 ± 1.52

9.64 ± 1.25

9.46 ± 0.90

Subarctic Gyre (East)

 Residency Time (d)

2.0 ± 0.7

2.1 ± 0.8

1.8 ± 0.7

 SST (°C)

7.82 ± 1.34

6.33 ± 1.54

6.58 ± 1.22

 Distance to Seamount (km)

766 ± 221

770 ± 228

744 ± 192

 SSH (cm)

−14.78 ± 5.39

−10.79 ± 3.48

−13.55 ± 2.89

 EKE (cm² s⁻²)

38.6 ± 12.6

58.9 ± 76.0

44.3 ± 34.4

 Distance to Eddy (km)

152 ± 35

163 ± 40

147 ± 37

 Chl a (mg m⁻³)

0.64 ± 0.28

0.48 ± 0.20

0.50 ± 0.21

 Wind speed (m s⁻¹)

9.31 ± 1.70

9.49 ± 2.13

9.77 ± 2.07

Polar Front

 Residency Time (d)

2.1 ± 0.6

2.0 ± 0.5

1.9 ± 1.3

 SST (°C)

9.67 ± 1.22

8.50 ± 1.43

8.83 ± 1.68

 Distance to Seamount (km)

119 ± 390

122 ± 324

131 ± 325

 SSH (cm)

2.78 ± 6.72

5.30 ± 7.91

−0.89 ± 4.72

 EKE (cm² s⁻²)

75.2 ± 23.8

67.7 ± 18.9

55.3 ± 32.5

 Distance to Eddy (km)

119 ± 21

122 ± 22

131 ± 42

 Chl a (mg m⁻³)

0.35 ± 0.05

0.32 ± 0.05

0.32 ± 0.06

 Wind speed (m s⁻¹)

9.76 ± 0.95

9.91 ± 0.84

9.19 ± 2.61