Jennifer Provencher (Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada) and colleagues have published in the journal Analytical Methods on a standardized methodology for assessing plastic pollution in seabirds and other marine megafauna.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Plastic pollution has become one of the largest environmental challenges we currently face.  The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has listed it as a critical problem, comparable to climate change, demonstrating both the scale and degree of the environmental problem.  Mortalities due to entanglement in plastic fishing nets and bags have been reported for marine mammals, turtles and seabirds, and to date over 690 marine species have been reported to ingest plastics.  The body of literature documenting plastic ingestion by marine megafauna (i.e. seabirds, turtles, fish and marine mammals) has grown rapidly over the last decade, and it is expected to continue grow as researchers explore the ecological impacts of marine pollution.  Unfortunately, a cohesive approach by the scientific community to quantify plastic ingestion by wildlife is lacking, which is now hindering spatial and temporal comparisons between and among species/organisms.  Here, we discuss and propose standardized techniques, approaches and metrics for reporting debris ingestion that are applicable to most large marine vertebrates.  As a case study, we examine how the use of standardized methods to report ingested debris in Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) has enabled long term and spatial trends in plastic pollution to be studied.  Lastly, we outline standardized metric recommendations for reporting ingested plastics in marine megafauna, with the aim to harmonize the data that are available to facilitate large-scale comparisons and meta-analyses of plastic accumulation in a variety of taxa.  If standardized methods are adopted, future plastic ingestion research will be better able to inform questions related to the impacts of plastics across taxonomic, ecosystem and spatial scales.

Northern Fulmar corpse entangled with plastic

Reference:

Provencher, J., Bond, A., Aver-Gomm, S., Borrelle, S., Bravo Rebolledo, E., Hammer, S., Kühn, S., Lavers, J., Mallory, M., Trevail, A. & van Franeker, J. 2016.  Quantifying ingested debris in marine megafauna: a review and recommendations for standardization.  Analytical Methods  DOI: 10.1039/C6AY02419J.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 October 2016

Biologist Kimberley Kliska currently based on Australia’s Macquarie Island reports on the latest census of ACAP-listed Northern Giant Petrels Macronectes halli after losses incurred during the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP).

“Over the past three weeks, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife team of ranger Chris and wildlife ranger Marcus along with field biologist Kim and the assistance of trusty volunteers (Ali and George–BOM, chef Rocket and carpenter Joe), have been searching the featherbed for breeding northern giant petrels.  This work is part of the long-term monitoring of giant petrels on Macquarie Island to determine the population trend of these species informing international conservation management.

Northern giant petrels are one of two giant petrel species that breed on Macquarie Island annually, the other being the southern giant petrel.  Northern giant petrels are listed as a rare and vulnerable species under state and federal legislation, respectively.  Historically, the population has suffered from incidental mortality in fisheries and also predation by pest species, such as rats and mice.  The coastal nesting locations of giant petrels also leave them vulnerable to inundation by storm events and large waves: in October 2015 their population was impacted when many nests were washed away by large waves.

As both a scavenger and a predator that consumes small fish and the remains of carcasses, the giant petrels play a vital role in the Macquarie Island ecosystem.  Because of this, they were one species impacted during the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP), where in small numbers the giant petrels suffered incidental mortality through consumption of poisoned rabbit carcasses.  The census aims to monitor population recovery post MIPEP and meet Australia’s international obligations for monitoring threatened species.

The census, conducted in the north west of the island, counts and maps all the northern giant petrel nests in a set area each year.  This provides a comparable number of breeding attempts annually. A follow-up census in January counts all the surviving chicks, which provides an indication of breeding success. Last year the census showed that the population is stable and has continued to increase post-MIPEP.  This year it appears there is a slight increase in breeding numbers, however only time will tell if the chicks survive to continue the cycle.”

Taken from Macquarie’s weekly on-line newsletter (click here for census photos).

Northern Giant Petrel, photograph  by Marienne de Villiers

Read more about MIPEP here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 18 October 2016

The 13th Scientific Committee of Antarctic Research (SCAR) Antarctic Biology Symposium is to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2021.

"As a major gateway to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, Christchurch is the ideal place for Antarctic researchers to meet.  Our modern central city facilities including the new Convention Centre, accommodation and hospitality venues and our location in the heart of the South Island make Christchurch an enticing destination for conferences."  Read more here.

White-capped Albatross - a New Zealand endemic, photograph by Graham Parker

Click here for information on the 12th SCAR Biology Symposium to be held in Leuven, Belgium in July 2017.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 17 October 2016

“The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group will be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center in downtown Tacoma, Washington, USA, 22-25 February 2017.  In keeping with the locale for the meeting, the theme is “Sound to Sea: Marine Birds Across the Seascape” and we are planning a robust scientific program, with a variety of technical sessions and symposia.

Tacoma is ideally situated along the shores of southern Puget Sound where you’ll find great places to run, hike, kayak, paddle board and, of course, birdwatch – Puget Sound is a nationally significant wintering area for a wide diversity of marine birds.  Boasting stunning natural surroundings, with Mount Rainier in full view, you can enjoy the mesmerizing outdoors just minutes from the downtown.

Tacoma’s downtown core has undergone significant urban renewal with growing food, music and artistic scenes.  Conference attendees will have easy access to museums, urban parks, fine dining, nightlife, microbreweries, and local coffee and tea shops.  Within walking distance of the conference hotel, attendees will find the Washington State History Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Tacoma Museum of Glass. A bit further away, you will find the Point Defiance Zoo located in the vast and beautiful Point Defiance Park.”

The Pacific region supports three breeding albatrosses: Black-footed, Laysan and Short-tailed,  seen here together on Kure Atoll

“As in past years, the PSG Annual Meeting will include invited and contributed papers, including plenary speakers.  We have four Special Paper Sessions and three symposium.  Contributed sessions include topics familiar to PSG members such as breeding biology, conservation biology, and tracking & distribution.”

Registration, abstract submission (deadline 28 November) and travel award applications are now open (click here).

John Cooper, ACAP Information Office, 14 October 2016