The G68 Team (Left to Right): Lucy Dorman, Joyfull Ntobeko Gaju, Philani Siyabonga Ngcobo, Sibusiso Maduna, Rebekah Goodwill, Mphumzi Brooklyn Zilindile, Eddy Mfezeko Xaki, Khuliso Collen Maphaha, Mayembe Kapenda; photograph courtesy of Antarctic Legacy of South Africa

The South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) has announced the 68^th Gough Island overwintering team (G68) has departed to Gough Island to continue long-term scientific programmes. 

Meteorologists will maintain meteorological records for the South African Weather Service (SAWS). This remote weather station has been manned and providing data for forecasting and research on a daily basis since 1956. 

Seabird monitoring by the UK’s Gough Island Restoration Programme (GIRP) will also continue. The introduction of House Mice to the island in the early 19^th century has devastated some local seabird populations (including ACAP-listed species) which have become a source of food for these small yet resourceful creatures. GIRP’s ambitious objective is to eradicate House Mice from the island and prevent the extinction of seabird species affected by the invasive mice, such as the Critically Endangered Tristan Albatross Diomedea dabbenena. The project suffered a setback earlier this year when footage of a mouse was captured by a camera trap, dashing hopes that the eradication attempt had been a success. Further mice were then discovered on the island. Efforts are now underway to understand what might have enabled mice to survive the eradication operation.

The team departed on 20 August 2022 aboard the South African Antarctic research and supply vessel the S.A. Agulhas II which briefly stopped at Tristan da Cunha to offload passengers and cargo before making the onward journey to Gough. G68 will be stationed on Gough Island for approximately 13 months, replacing the G67 team members who are close to finishing their stint. 

Posted 26 August 2022

A Tristan Albatross chick attacked by House Mice on Gough Island, photograph by Kate Lawrence

Araceli Samaniego (Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Wildlife Research on the possible role of alien slugs in the failure of the 2021 attempt to eradicate the albatross- and petrel-killing House Mice of Gough Island.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Context: House mice (Mus musculus) are the main drivers of biodiversity declines on Gough Island (6500 ha; 40°21′S, 009°53′W), central South Atlantic. A mouse eradication operation was planned, the largest global attempt targeting only this species. Understanding and managing challenges of operating at such scales are crucial for maximising the chance of eradication success. The Gough Island mouse eradication attempt was implemented between June and August 2021, after years of planning and trials. We expected poor weather and negligible non-target bait consumption.

Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of expected and unexpected challenges faced during the eradication operation on Gough Island, namely poor weather and rapid bait disappearance.

Methods: We set up bait degradation plots across the primary habitats to monitor the impact of expected heavy rain on bait pellets. In contrast, bait availability monitoring and slug laboratory trials were set up ad hoc in response to unexpected observations of high bait consumption by invasive slugs in the lowlands, where both slugs and mice are more abundant.

Key results: Bait degradation rates were very different between the highlands and the lowlands, with bait in the highlands lasting about six times longer, despite bait pellets receiving more precipitation and the highlands being persistently under cloud. Bait availability in the lowlands dropped by >80% within a few days of the second and third bait application, down to critically low levels (∼2 kg ha⁻¹). Importantly, mouse activity was negligible by this time. Non-native slugs appeared to be the main cause of such a sudden drop in rodent bait availability.

Conclusions: The expected rainy weather was not a significant direct cause of bait degradation in the short term. In contrast, the unexpected slug interference, overlooked in earlier planning trials, resulted in major adjustments of the baiting strategy. Indeed, the rapid bait disappearance in the lowlands triggered the third bait application over this area, at a higher rate. This was not enough, as mice are still present.

Implications: This is the first report of slug interference during aerial rodent eradications. Our results illustrate how interference by non-target species could affect future pest eradications using baits and should, as far as possible, be assessed early during planning.”

Reference:

Samaniego A., Jolley W. & McClelland, P. 2022.  A lesson for planning rodent eradications: interference of invasive slugs during the Gough Island mouse eradication attempt in 2021.  Wildlife ResearchWildlife Research  doi.org/10.1071/WR22024..

John Cooper, ACAP News Correspondent, 25 August 2022, updated 26 August 2022

Applications are still open for ACAP’s 2022 Secondment Programme. 

Applicants are advised to focus proposals on tasks contained within the work programmes of the Advisory Committee (Annex 4, MoP7 Report) and Secretariat (see Annex 2, MoP7 Report). Previous successful proposals have included:

• Habitat selection of the Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) in the South-West Atlantic: importance of marine fronts and fishing activity 
• Connecting knowledge, people and countries: Advancing in outreach, understanding of threats and mitigation measures for the conservation of Pink-footed Shearwater (Ardenna creatopus) throughout its cycle. 

Progress reports from previous and ongoing secondments (including the examples above) can be found in the Advisory Committee Information Papers from previous meetings, here. Proposals should aspire to foster cross-Party collaboration, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building within Parties. Applicants are encouraged to develop proposals that account for any ongoing practical challenges and limitations associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications will only be accepted from ACAP Parties.  Applicants are encouraged to contact the Working Group Convenors, the Advisory Committee Chair or Vice-chair, or the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to help identify ACAP priority areas for their proposal. Completed applications are to be submitted to relevant ACAP National Contact Points, who will then forward them to the ACAP Secretariat.

Applications must be received by the ACAP Secretariat by close of business on Monday, 26 September 2022. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by Tuesday, 8 November 2022.

Click here for more information, including application criteria, and the application form.  Also available in French and Spanish.

Image credit: Waved Albatrosses by Antje Steinfurth

Posted 24 August 2022

The FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, based in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, South Africa is a leading ornithological research institute dedicated to postgraduate studies in avian biology and conservation.  The ‘Fitztitute’ has been active for many years conducting research in the Southern Ocean, notably on the suite of seabirds breeding on sub-Antarctic Marion Island, including on all its eight species of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels, as well as on plastic pollution.  This research has continued under its fifth and current Director, Peter Ryan.

The ‘Fitztitute’ has conducted research on Grey-headed Albatrosses, such as these two chicks attacked by House Mice on Marion Island; photograph by Ben Dilley

Applications for the position of Director of the FitzPatrick Institute, at the level of Associate Professor or Professor are now requested.  “In addition to a proven record of internationally recognized scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to stimulate research and postgraduate studies, this position demands innovation, strategic foresight, and the ability to thrive within a dynamic African environment; as well as experience of managing teams of biologists and support personnel.”

Requirements for the job:

• A relevant PhD and proven record of internationally recognized scholarship and a demonstrated commitment to stimulate research and postgraduate studies;
• A strong track record of teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
• A track record of attracting external funding;
• A track record of providing inspiring and unifying leadership and mentorship to diverse teams;
• A record of forging interdisciplinary and cross-institutional linkages; and
• Proven administrative and managerial skills, including the ability to formulate budgets and control expenditure.

Responsibilities:

• To maintain a research programme, involving postgraduate student training, in avian biology, particularly studies of living birds and their conservation.
• To provide educational and research leadership in modern approaches to avian biology and conservation.
• To contribute to teaching in the Department of Biological Sciences.
• To foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for students from a diversity of backgrounds.

Full information on making an application is available from here.  The deadline for applications is 23 September 2022.

John Cooper, ACAP News Correspondent, 23 August 2022