ACAP Latest News

Read about recent developments and findings in procellariiform science and conservation relevant to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels in ACAP Latest News.

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Sexing albatrosses and petrels from faecal and tissue samples utilizing real time PCR assays

Cassandra Faux (Australian Antarctic Division) and colleagues present a method for sexing seabirds from tissue and faecal samples in the journal Theriogenology, tested on Black-browed Thalassarche melanophris and Shy T. cauta Albatrosses and Northern Macronectes halli and Southern M. giganteus Giant Petrels.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Sex identification of birds is of great interest in ecological studies, however this can be very difficult in many species because their external features are almost monomorphic between the sexes.  Molecular methodology has simplified this process but limitations still occur with widely accepted methods using PCR and gel electrophoresis, especially when applied to degraded DNA.  Real time PCR assays are emerging as a more efficient, sensitive and higher throughput means of identification, but there are very few techniques validated utilising faecal samples and small target sizes.  We present a real time melt curve analysis assay targeting a small region of the CHD-1 gene allowing for high-throughput, sensitive, specific and easy to interpret sexing results for a variety of southern ocean seabirds using faecal and tissue samples.”

Shy Albatrosses on Albatross Island, photographed by Rachael Alderman

Reference:

Faux, C., McInnes, J.C. & Jarman, S.N. 2014.  High-throughput real time PCR and melt curve analysis for sexing southern ocean seabirds using faecal samples.  Theriogenology doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.12.021

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 January 2014

400 000 pairs of Sooty Shearwaters on two Chilean island groups considered worthy of National Park status

Paul Scofield (Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand) and Ronnie Reyes-Arriagada write in Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía on the numbers of Sooty Shearwaters Puffinus griseus on two Chilean island groups in the Cape Horn Archipelago region.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“We documented the population size of Sooty Shearwater on the Wollaston and Hermite Island Groups.  A population of at least 100,000 pairs were found on Wollaston and there may be as many as 300,000 pairs in the Wollaston and Hermite Island Groups.  We also confirmed the presence of Magellanic Diving-petrel and Fuegian Storm-petrel in the Island Group and discussed the status of these taxa in southern Chile.  The status of the mammals found on these islands is also summarised and concerns are raised over the possibility that introduced mammals, especially beavers, muskrats, minks and feral cats may reach these pristine islands affecting seabird populations.”

The paper concludes:

“We recommend that the Chilean Government should give and enforce National Park status to these islands.  This would help to prevent illegal landings and allow monitoring of the islands, and also in the preparation of contingency plans against the invasion or introduction of unwanted predators.”

Sooty Shearwater, photographed by John Graham

Reference:

Scofield, R.P. & Reyes-Arriagada, R. 2013.  A population estimate of the Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus in the Wollaston and Hermite Island Groups, Cape Horn Archipelago, Chile, and concerns over conservation in the area.  Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía 48: 623-628.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 26 January 2014

Northern and Southern Giant Petrels expected to “bounce back” on Macquarie Island following losses from the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project

Rachael Alderman (Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Hobart, Australia) writes in the latest on-line number of the Australian Antarctic Magazine on deaths from non-target poisoning, especially of ACAP-listed Northern Giant Petrels Macronectes halli, caused by the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP).

She describes “the impact of poison baiting on giant petrels, during the rabbit, rat and mouse eradication project on the island.  A 30% decline in the population of both northern and southern giant petrels has been observed, but there is optimism that populations will bounce back.”

Of a total of 2500 birds known to have died over the 2010 and 2011 bait drops, 760 were giant petrels with the ratio between Northerns and Southerns M. giganteus being 40:1.  Eighty percent of the giant petrels found dead were males, reflecting their more terrestrial feeding habits in comparison to females which feed more at sea.  The similar decline in numbers of Southern Giant Petrels, but with far fewer corpses found on the island, is suggested to be due to birds dying at sea.

Meanwhile MIPEP Manager Keith Springer reports to ACAP from Macca on the ongoing searches for any remaining rabbits and rodents on the island: “Feb[ruary] will be our last month for hunting fieldwork on Macquarie (where I am currently spending the summer) – with any luck we should be able to announce it as done at the end of March”.

Northern Giant Petrel, photographed by Marienne de Villiers

Click here to read the latest MIPEP Blog for last month on changes to Macca’s vegetation by Field Assistant Lachlan Francis.

Click on MIPEP to access 17 news stories in ACAP Latest News posted over the last three years on progress with the pest eradication project on Macquarie Island.

Reference:

Alderman, R. 2013.  Managing the cost of pest eradication.  Australian Antarctic Magazine 25: 18-19.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 25 January 2014

Differences in foraging by sympatrically breeding Cory’s and Scopoli’s Shearwaters

Isabel Afán (Estación Biológica de Doñana, Sevilla, Spain) and colleagues have published in the journal Marine Biology on differences in the foraging areas of sympatric Cory’s Calonectris borealis and Scopoli’s C. diomedea Shearwaters during chick-rearing in the Mediterranean’s Chafarinas Archipelago.

The paper’s abstract follows:

“As central-place foragers, pelagic seabirds are constrained by spatiotemporal heterogeneity to find productive marine areas and compete for prey.  We analysed 97 foraging trips to study the movement and oceanographic characteristics of foraging habitats of two different—yet closely related—species of shearwaters (Scopoli’s shearwater Calonectris diomedea and Cory’s shearwater C. borealis) breeding in sympatry in the Mediterranean.  We combined various methodological approaches (GPS-tracking, species distribution modelling and stable isotope analysis) to explore the foraging strategies of these two species.  Isotopic results suggested that trophic habits of both shearwater species were similar, mainly based on pelagic fish consumption.  Foraging areas of both species were characterized by shallow waters near the colony.  Both shearwater species exploited persistent productive marine areas.  The foraging areas of the two species broadly overlapped during the incubation period, but during chick-rearing period, Scopoli’s shearwaters apparently foraged in different areas than Cory’s shearwaters.”

Cory's Shearwater, photograph by Paulo Catry

Reference:

Afán, I., Navarro, J., Cardador, L., Ramírez, F., Kato, A., Rodríguez, B., Ropert-Coudert, Y. & Forero, M.G. 2013.  Foraging movements and habitat niche of two closely related seabirds breeding in sympatry.  Marine Biology DOI 10.1007/s00227-013-2368-4.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 24 January 2013

BirdLife International seeks inputs for the 2014 IUCN Red List update via the Globally Threatened Seabird Forum

The 2013 IUCN Red List update was published in November.  Seabird species accounts may now be viewed on the BirdLife Data Zone and IUCN Red List website.

In preparation for the 2014 Red List update, BirdLife International has extended an invitation to participate in the forum process to discuss proposed revisions to the global threat status (IUCN Red List category of extinction risk) for selected species, including ACAP-listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters and other seabirds.  Visit the seabird forum to read of species under review and to post your own comments on proposals.

“The initial deadline for contributions is 10 February 2014, when we will assess the contributions made.  We will then post up a draft list of preliminary decisions and you will have two more weeks to comment further before final decisions are posted.  The new and revised species assessments and updated factsheets will be published on the BirdLife website and incorporated into the 2014 IUCN Red List, currently scheduled for release in June.”

 

Grey Petrel: proposed for review, photograph by Peter Ryan

To propose additional species for review post a comment on the relevant ‘Suggestions for new topics’ discussion, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; in either case giving details of population/range size or trend estimates that may require revision.

Assessments of the threat status of newly-defined non-passerine species will be undertaken this year, and Red List assessments for these species will be published in the 2014 Red List update.  The vast majority of topics for the 2014 update have now been posted on the forum website, but a few further discussions will be added over the coming days and weeks, so keep checking back for updates.

Read more on the 2013 changes here.

With thanks to Joe Taylor for information.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 23 January 2014

The Agreement on the
Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.

About ACAP

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Hobart TAS 7000
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Email: secretariat@acap.aq
Tel: +61 3 6165 6674