Jenn Lavers (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia) and colleagues report on plastics ingested by Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Ardenna pacifica on Lord Howe Island in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Annual rates of plastic production have been increasing rapidly since the 1950s. Inadequate or improper disposal of plastic products has contributed to a significant increase in plastic debris in the world's oceans and a corresponding increase in the number of species negatively affected by this debris. Here we investigate trends in the type, amount, and colour of ingested plastic over time, and determine whether ingested plastic contributes to reduced health of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) on Lord Howe Island, Australia. The results show no clear influence of ingested plastic on body condition, while trends in the prevalence, number, and mass of plastic items ingested per bird during 2005 and 2013–2018 were more variable. There was some evidence adult birds are selecting plastic by colour. Future monitoring of this pan-tropical seabird would provide a unique opportunity to gather data from multiple sites, concurrently.”

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters

Reference:

Lavers, J.L., Ian Hutton, I & Bond, A.L. 2018.  Ingestion of marine debris by Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna pacifica) on Lord Howe Island, Australia during 2005–2018.  Marine Pollution Bulletin 133: 616-621.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 June 2018

José Granadeiro (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Lisbon, Portugal.) and colleagues have published in the journal Bird Conservation International on Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris bathing at sea near to their colonies.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Tracking studies of seabirds have generally focused in identifying areas used for foraging, in the hope of highlighting regions of energy transfer which may be important for seabird and general ecosystem conservation and special management. However, some sea areas may serve functions other than providing nutritional resources, which may be equally relevant, particularly if used by large numbers of individuals. In this paper, based on a study of 4 breeding colonies in the Falkland Islands and on 314 individuals tracked, we show that virtually all (97.8%) black-browed albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris (BBA) bathe in the close vicinity of the colony, remaining in the area for nearly an hour, before departing on a foraging trip. This compares with only 20 to 40% of the individuals landing close to the colony at the end of a foraging trip. The observed utilization of marine areas by BBA in a radius of 1 to 5 km around the nesting colony is one order of magnitude higher than elsewhere, including foraging hotspots. Clearly, even long-range flying birds such as albatrosses can make an intensive use of the sea-surface in the immediate vicinity of the colonies, and therefore any threats to seabirds in these areas (disturbance, pollutants, collision with artificial structures and light attraction) can potentially have a major impact at the population level. As such, the close neighbourhood of seabird colonies are potentially highly sensitive areas, and this needs to be taken into account when carrying out risk assessments or during marine spatial planning exercises.”

Blcak-browed Albatross on the sea surface, photograph by Kollette Grobler

Reference:

Granadeiro, J.P., Campioni, L. & Catry, P. 2018.  Albatrosses bathe before departing on a foraging trip: implications for risk assessments and marine spatial planning. Bird Conservation International 28: 208-215.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 June 2018

Stéphanie Jenouvrier (Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA) and colleagues have published open access in the Journal of Animal Ecology on climate effects on Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Recent studies unravelled the effect of climate changes on populations through their impact on functional traits and demographic rates in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but such understanding in marine ecosystems remains incomplete.

Here, we evaluate the impact of the combined effects of climate and functional traits on population dynamics of a long‐lived migratory seabird breeding in the southern ocean: the black‐browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris, BBA). We address the following prospective question: “Of all the changes in the climate and functional traits, which would produce the biggest impact on the BBA population growth rate?”

We develop a structured matrix population model that includes the effect of climate and functional traits on the complete BBA life cycle. A detailed sensitivity analysis is conducted to understand the main pathway by which climate and functional trait changes affect the population growth rate.

The population growth rate of BBA is driven by the combined effects of climate over various seasons and multiple functional traits with carry‐over effects across seasons on demographic processes. Changes in sea surface temperature (SST) during late winter cause the biggest changes in the population growth rate, through their effect on juvenile survival. Adults appeared to respond to changes in winter climate conditions by adapting their migratory schedule rather than by modifying their at‐sea foraging activity. However, the sensitivity of the population growth rate to SST affecting BBA migratory schedule is small. BBA foraging activity during the pre‐breeding period has the biggest impact on population growth rate among functional traits. Finally, changes in SST during the breeding season have little effect on the population growth rate.

These results highlight the importance of early life histories and carry‐over effects of climate and functional traits on demographic rates across multiple seasons in population response to climate change. Robust conclusions about the roles of various phases of the life cycle and functional traits in population response to climate change rely on an understanding of the relationships of traits to demographic rates across the complete life cycle.”

Black-browed Albatross, photograph by Oli Yates

Read a popular article on the paper here.

Reference:

Jenouvrier, S., Desprez, M., Fay, R., Barbraud, C., Weimerskirch, H., Delord. K. & Caswell, H. 2018.  Climate change and functional traits affect population dynamics of a long-lived seabird.  Journal of Animal Ecology https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12827.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 26 June 2018

Speaking at Forest and Bird’s 2018 Conference this last weekend, the Green Party Conservation Minister for New Zealand, Eugenie Sage MP, has committed NZ$2 million over the next three years to complete planning, including field trials, towards making sub-Antarctic Auckland Island free of introduced feral pigs and cats and House Mice.  The feasibility funding comes from a four-year budget appropriation of NZ$81.3 million aimed towards achieving a predator-free New Zealand by 2050.

Five ACAP-listed species breed on the main Auckland Island: the Gibson’s subspecies of the Antipodean Albatross Diomedea antipodensis gibsoni, Southern Royal Albatross D. epomophora, White capped Albatross Thalassarche steadi, Light-mantled Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata and Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus (click here).

A feral pig on Auckland Island

In her speech the Minister said:

“This is an ambitious project on the 46,000 ha Auckland Island and a major step towards the goal of New Zealand being predator free by 2050.  The funding will allow greater understanding of the scale and complexity of the problem and help guide decisions about eradicating pigs, cats and mice from Auckland Island.

“Any decision to proceed will require a long-term commitment of resources and effort. Early estimates suggest the potential cost of eradication may be in the order of [NZ]$40 million to [NZ]$50 million over eight to 10 years.  Introduced pigs and cats have devastated Auckland Island’s native wildlife and plants. Mice are also a problem by competing for food with native birds, and attacking seabird chicks.

“Eradicating these pests from New Zealand’s fifth-largest island would see Auckland Island become the country’s largest pest-free island. It would complete the removal of introduced predators from all of New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands, cementing our reputation as a world leader in predator control.

“The vision for a pest-free New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands builds on previous eradication success in the region: Auckland Island (goats by 1992), Enderby Island (rabbits and mice 1993), Rose Island (rabbits in 1993), Campbell Island (rats in 2001) and more recently Antipodes Island (mice in 2016). No mammalian pests occur on the sub-Antarctic Snares and Bounty Islands.”

In addition Australia has eradicated all the introduced mammalian pests on Macquarie Island that falls within the region (click here for the story of the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project).

The new funding follows on from the Department of Conservation advertising for a Pest Eradication Project Leader for Auckland Island last year.  Auckland Island falls within the Auckland Islands National Nature Reserve and is part of New Zealand's Sub-Antarctic Islands World Heritage Site inscribed in 1998.

White-capped Albatross, photograph by Graham Parker

Read more on the funding announcement here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 25 June 2018