The phylogeography of many seabird species remains poorly known.  They are highly mobile organisms supposedly free from geographical barriers to dispersal, which should theoretically prevent population differentiation through isolation.   However, population differentiation within a species can be significant despite high mobility (Friesen et al. 2007).  Many species of seabirds are highly philopatric, partially or completely removing the effects of dispersion. Petrels (family Procellariidae) are among those species.  Despite a large number of ecological studies on petrels, little is known of their phylogenetic relationships and their phylogeography, and many taxonomic issues are yet to be resolved.

The overall objective of the proposed project is to study the phylogenetic and phylogeographic characteristics of the Procellariidae to describe better their current distribution, and attempt to characterize the population differentiation processes that took place among species in this family.  From a large collection of field and museum samples (genetic samples of nearly 4000 individuals from 44 different species; morphological data from 12 000 museum specimens already available) and behavioural data (vocalization data for most species), the aim of this PhD project will be to improve our understanding of procellariid evolution and biogeography by selecting a few emblematic case studies (e.g. speciation radiation in the Pterodroma genus; species complex or super species in either Pterodroma or Puffinus) and by expanding already available data sets.  For instance, whether retained ancestral genetic variation is masking contemporary barriers to gene flow, and how past population bottlenecks contribute to contemporary genetic structure, could be evaluated using coalescent-based methods.  This work will be strongly anchored in conservation biology, since half of the petrel species are currently threatened.

Applicants should have a Master’s degree in a relevant field, experience with molecular laboratory techniques, experience with phylogenetics and phylogeography and an excellent background knowledge in evolutionary biology below, at and above the species level.

To apply send CV with your publication record, a list of skills relevant to the project, contact information for two academic references, and a one-page cover letter by 25 May 015 to Eric Pante (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Vincent Bretagnolle (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Balearic Shearwater at sea

Read the full advert here.

Reference:

Friesen, V.L., Burg, T.M. & McCoy, K.D. 2007.  Mechanisms of population differentiation in seabirds.  Molecular Ecology 16: 1765-1785.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 21 May 2015

Elisa Dierickx (Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biologyand Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA) and colleagues have published in the journal Evolutionary Applications on the genetics of Black-footed Albatrosses Phoebastria nigripes.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Evaluating the genetic and demographic independence of populations of threatened species is important for determining appropriate conservation measures, but different technologies can yield different conclusions.  Despite multiple studies, the taxonomic status and extent of gene flow between the main breeding populations of Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), a Near-Threatened philopatric seabird, are still controversial.  Here we employ double-digest RADseq to quantify the extent of genome-wide divergence and gene flow in this species.  Our genome-wide dataset of 9,760 loci containing 3455 single nucleotide polymorphisms yielded estimates of genetic diversity and gene flow that were generally robust across seven different filtering and sampling protocols and suggest a low level of genomic variation (θ per site = ~0.00002 – 0.00028), with estimates of effective population size (N_e = ~500 – 15,881) falling far below current census size.  Genetic differentiation was small but detectable between Japan and Hawaii (F_ST ≈ 0.038 – 0.049), with no F_ST outliers.  Additionally, using museum specimens, we found that effect sizes of morphological differences by sex or population rarely exceeded 4%.  These patterns suggest that the Hawaiian and Japanese populations are distinguishable and should be considered separate Management Units, although the evolutionary and adaptive consequences of this differentiation remain to be identified.

Black-footed Albatross, photograph by Cynthia Vanderlip

Reference:

Dierickx, E.G., Shultz, A.J., Sato, F., Hiraoka, T.& Edwards, S.V. 2015.  Morphological and genomic comparisons of Hawaiian and Japanese Black-footed Albatrosses (Phoebastria nigripes) using double digest RADseq: implications for conservation.  Evolutionary Applications DOI: 10.1111/eva.12274.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 20 May 2015

Sebastián Jiménez (Recursos Pelágicos, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos, Montevideo, Uruguay) and colleagues have written in the Marine Pollution Bulletin on levels of marine debris found in the stomachs of albatrosses.  A total of 128 specimens was examined from the south-west Atlantic: 16.4% contained between one and four debris items in their stomachs.  Plastic fragments were most common, but some fisheries-related items were recorded.  Debris was most frequent in great albatrosses Diomedea spp. and very rare in mollymawks Thalassarche spp.

The paper’s abstract follows:

Plastics and other marine debris affect wildlife through entanglement and by ingestion.  We assessed the ingestion of marine debris by seven albatross species in the southwest Atlantic by analyzing stomach contents of birds killed in fisheries.  Of the 128 specimens examined, including four Diomedea species (n = 78) and three Thalassarche species (n= 50), 21 (16.4%) contained 1–4 debris items, mainly in the ventriculus.  The most common type was plastic fragments.  Debris was most frequent  (25.6%) and, particularly, Diomedea sanfordi (38.9%) and very rare in Thalassarche species (2.0%), presumably reflecting differences in foraging behavior or distribution.  Frequency of occurrence was significantly higher in male than female Diomedea albatrosses (39.3% vs. 18.0%).  Although levels of accumulated debris were relatively low overall, and unlikely to result in gut blockage, associated toxins might nevertheless represent a health risk for Diomedea albatrosses, compounding the negative impact of other human activities on these threatened species.”

Northern Royal Albatross at sea, photograph by Aleks Terauds

With thanks to Richard Phillips for information.

Reference:

Jiménez, S., Domingo, A, Brazeiro, A., Defeo, O. & Phillips, R.A. 2015.  Marine debris ingestion by albatrosses in the southwest Atlantic Ocean.  Marine Pollution Bulletin doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.034.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 May 2015

At the close of the Fifth Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (MoP5) held in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain from 4 – 8 May 2015 it was announced that Dr Marco Favero of Argentina is to become ACAP’s Executive Secretary from 1 February next year.  Marco’s appointment follows a careful selection and interview process that culminated at MoP5.  He will be only ACAP’s second Executive Secretary, following Warren Papworth who is scheduled to retire at the end of January next year after six years in the position (click here).

Dr Marco Favero of Argentina

Since 2007 Marco has been the Chair of ACAP’s Advisory Committee, in which position he has chaired five of its meetings, most recently AC8 in Punta del Este, Uruguay in September last year.

Marco was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1963 and studied marine biology at the Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.  After his graduation in 1986, he started a 20-year research project in Antarctica, and later earned his Doctoral degree for his thesis on Antarctic seabird ecology.  His background in the biology and ecology of top marine predators comprises over 200 publications including research articles and presentations at scientific conferences, one of the most recent of which has been featured in ACAP Latest News (click here).

Marco Favero is currently Head of the Seabird Ecology and Conservation Group at the Institute for Marine and Coastal Research (IIMyC, CONICET - University of Mar del Plata), and a Principal Investigator at the National Research Council in Argentina.

From left: Marco Favero, Warren Papworth and  Ricardo Losa Giménez (MoP5 Chair, Spain) in Tenerife

Selected Literature:

Favero, M. & Seco Pon, J.P. 2014.  Challenges in seabird by-catch mitigation.  Animal Conservation 17: 532–533.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 18 May 2015