A Manx Shearwater among flowers on Skomer, photograph by Chris Perrins

Patricia Serafini (Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Contaminação Aquática e Imunoquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil) and colleagues have published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin on organic pollutants and plastic ingestion with Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Anthropogenic pollution poses a threat to marine conservation by causing chronic toxic effects. Seabirds have contact throughout their lives with pollutants like plastic, metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs).  We assessed 155 Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus) stranded along the Brazilian coast, analyzing associations between organic pollutants, plastic ingestion, biomarkers (transcript levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor, cytochrome P450-1A-5 [CYP1A5], UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase [UGT1], estrogen receptor alpha-1 [ESR1], and heat shock protein-70 genes) and enzymes activity (ethoxy-resorufin O-deethylase and glutathione S-transferase [GST]).  Plastic debris was found in 29 % of the birds. The transcription of UGT1 and CYP1A5 was significantly associated with hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and PCBs levels.  ESR1 was associated with HCB and Mirex, and GST was associated with Drins and Mirex.  While organic pollutants affected shearwaters more than plastic ingestion, reducing plastic availability remains relevant as xenobiotics are also potentially adsorbed onto plastics.”

Reference:

Patricia P. Serafini, Bárbara P.H. Righetti, Ralph E.T. Vanstreels, Leandro Bugoni, Clei E. Piazza, Daína Lima, Jacó J. Mattos, Cristiane K.M. Kolesnikovas, Alice Pereira, Marcelo Maraschin, Isadora Piccinin, Tim Guilford, Luciana Gallo, Marcela M. Uhart, Rafael A. Lourenço, Afonso C.D. Bainy & Karim H. Lüchmann, 2024.  Biochemical and molecular biomarkers and their association with anthropogenic chemicals in wintering Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus).  Marine Pollution Bulletin 203. 116398.

29 October 2024

This Hawaiian Petrel (with a wing visible) was found entombed in a bee hive in its burrow in the Upper Limahuli Preserve, Kauai, photograph by C. Nagle

André Raine (Archipelago Research & Conservation, Hanapēpē, Kauai, Hawaii, USA) and colleagues have published in the journal Human–Wildlife Interactions on the impacts of feral honey bees on breeding Endangered Hawaiian Petrels Pterodroma sandwichensis and Critically Endangered Newell’s Shearwaters Puffinus newellii.

The paper’s abstract follows

“The ʻaʻo (Puffinus newellii; Newell’s shearwater) and ʻuaʻu (Pterodroma sandwichensis; Hawaiian petrel) are both endangered seabirds endemic to the Hawaiian Archipelago. For the last decade, multiple colonies on the islands of Kauaʻi and Lānaʻi have been the focus of intensive management (particularly predator control) and monitoring programs. Management has been effective at reducing the number of introduced mammalian predators recorded within colonies with a resultant increase in reproductive success rates for both seabird species.  However, in recent years a new threat has emerged—feral honey bees (Apis mellifera; bees)—which were deliberately introduced to the Hawaiian Islands starting in 1857 for beekeeping.  Between 2011 and 2021, 17 bee swarms were recorded at seabird burrows on both islands combined, consisting of 14 Hawaiian petrel burrows and 3 Newell’s shearwater burrows.  Ten (58.8%) of these incidents resulted in the bees taking over the burrow and building a hive inside.  Of the 10 takeovers, all resulted in a failed breeding season in that year, and 6 resulted in a seabird mortality (including 2 instances where both adults of a breeding pair were killed).  Furthermore, for burrows where bee takeovers occurred, only 30.0% of pairs reinitiated breeding in the following year, despite the hive being removed as soon as it was discovered.  An analysis of microhabitat data revealed that bee swarms were more likely at burrows located at the base of cliff walls.  We discuss management strategies that can be implemented, including reactive methods such as bee vacuums and proactive methods such as bee swarm traps using pheromones, to mitigate species conservation threats.  Addressing this issue is critical, as climate change may increase the likelihood of these events occurring in the future”.

Reference:

Raine, A.F., Driskill, S., Rossiter, S., Rothe, J., Pias, K.. Sprague, R. & Dutcher, A. 2023.  The impact of feral honey bees on endangered seabirds in the Hawaiian islands.  Human–Wildlife Interactions 17( 2) doi.org/10.26077/939d-5fe9/.

28 October 2024

The 11th International Symposium on Avian Influenza will take place from 24-26 June 2025 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.  Abstracts are due by 1 November, 2024.

“We are looking forward to getting everyone together in one room to share experiences and the latest science.  We are striving for global representation, covering avian influenza in poultry, wild birds, mammals, with topics ranging from working on the front lines of outbreaks to conducting virologic research in the lab.”

Topics include:

Global reports on avian influenza

Diagnostics, vaccination, or other mitigation strategies for poultry and wildlife

Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in poultry

Notable outbreaks, field and molecular epidemiology, and surveillance in wild birds

Biosecurity, mitigation, control, and post-epidemic considerations in poultry

Mortality estimations, impacts on harvest, conservation considerations, and potential mitigation strategies in wild birds

Avian influenza in mammals, pandemic preparedness, and health

Transmission pathways or pathobiology, immune responses

For more information, see an informational flyer.

25 October 2024

The Mouse-Free Marion Project has released its 11th Quarterly Newsletter for October 2024, now available online on the project’s website.  All the previous newsletters from No. 1 of April 2002 can also be found online.

The latest issue commences with an editorial by Anton Wolfaardt, the MFM Project Manager.  Articles follow by Monique van Bers, the MFM Project Overwintering Research Assistant on Marion Island on her field work underway.  Liezl Pretorius, MFM Research and Reporting Officer then introduces Abuyiselwe Nguna and Yinhla Shihlomule, the two researchers who are tracking Marion Island’s long-term seabird monitoring colonies.  Species followed include ACAP listed Grey-headed and Wandering Albatrosses, Northern Giant Petrels and Grey Petrels, some of which were first monitored way back in the 1980s.

The newsletter ends with the news that the project has formed a cycling team, now with 29 members with its own jersey, to help raise awareness and funds via sponsorships. Membership is open from anywhere in the world.  A running shirt is also in production.  Enquiries to info@mousefreemarion.org.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 24 October 2024