A Computer-Assisted Plotting Program for Analysing the Dispersion of Pelagic Seabirds and Environmental Features

Abstract. A computer assisted plotting program for combining statistics and distribution maps is described. The program sorts data according to a combination of 28 variables, plots the data in mercator map form, and provides numerical summaries of the data plotted. The program is especially useful in analyses of large data sets spread over large geographical areas. It can be used to test hypotheses in a wide variety of research fields. The utility of the program is demonstrated by an analysis of the dispersion of the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans at sea in relation to the incidence of wind strength in the Southern Ocean.