Steve Wing (Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand) and colleagues have published open access in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series on levels of iron in the guano of sub-Antarctic seabirds on New Zealand's Auckland Islands, including the ACAP-listed Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli.

The paper’s abstract follows:

"Biological vectors are important for redistribution of nutrients in many ecological systems.  While availability of iron (Fe) to phytoplankton limits pelagic productivity in the Southern Ocean, biomagnification within marine food webs can lead to high concentrations of Fe in the diet of seabirds and marine mammals.  We investigated patterns in concentrations of the micronutrients Fe, Co, Zn and Mn, and the toxins Cd and As, in the guano of oceanic, coastal and predatory seabirds and in faeces of 2 species of marine mammals that congregate to breed in the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands. We found that much of the variability in concentrations of Fe, Co, Zn and Mn among species could be explained by foraging behaviour and by trophic position. We observed concentrations of Fe to be 8 orders of magnitude higher in the guano of predators and coastal foragers than in the sub-Antarctic mixed layer. High concentrations of As and Cd were associated with organic matter sources from macroalgae.  Analyses of the molar ratio Fe:Al indicated that Fe within food webs supporting seabirds has likely been extensively recycled from its lithogenic source.  Patterns in Fe:N among species indicated that Fe is concentrated 2 to 4 orders of magnitude in the guano of seabirds compared to limiting conditions for phytoplankton growth in sub-Antarctic waters.  These data highlight the potential role of seabirds and marine mammals in the redistribution of micronutrients in the Southern Ocean and their likely role as key nutrient vectors in the ecosystem, particularly around the sub-Antarctic islands during the breeding season.”

Northern Giant Petrel, photograph by Marienne de Villiers

Reference:

Wing, S.R., Jack, L., Shatova, O., Leichter, J.J., Barr, D., Frew, R.D. & Gault-Ringold, M. 2014.  Seabirds and marine mammals redistribute bioavailable iron in the Southern Ocean.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 510: 1-13.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 September 2014.

Yan Ropert-Coudert (Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France) and colleagues have written the chapter on sub-Antarctic and Antarctic birds and mammals in the Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean, newly published by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).

The chapter consists of a series of maps and accompanying text describing the at-sea distributions based on sightings made from ships in the Southern Ocean of flying seabirds, penguins, seals and cetaceans.  Of ACAP-listed species eight taxa (some species pairs are lumped) of albatrosses, both giant petrels Macronectes spp. and White-chinned Procellaria aequinoctialis and Grey P. cinerea Petrels are included.

Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, photograph by Aleks Terauds

With thanks to Richard Phillips for information.

Reference:

Ropert-Coudert, Y., Hindell, M.A., Phillips R.[A.], Charassin, J.B., Trudelle, L. & Raymond, B. 2014.  Chapter 8.  Biogeographic patterns of birds and mammals.  In: De Broyer, C., Koubbi, P., Griffiths, H.J., Raymond, B., Udekem d’Acoz, C.d.’, Van de Putte, A.P., Danis, B., David, B., Grant, S., Gutt, J., Held, C., Hosie, G., Huettmann, F., Post, A. & Ropert-Coudert, Y. (Eds.).  Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean.  Cambridge: Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research.  pp. 364-387.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 28 September 2014

The USA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has called for public comment on a proposal to make deployment of a bird-scaring line a requirement in its demersal longline fishery operating along the Pacific coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

The summary of the notice in the Federal Register follows:

“This proposed rule would implement a Seabird Avoidance Program in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery.  The proposed rule was recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in November 2013 and is specifically designed to minimize the take of ESA-listed short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus).  A 2012 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biological Opinion required NMFS to initiate implementation of regulations within 2 years mandating the use of seabird avoidance measures by vessels greater than or equal to 55 feet length overall (LOA) using bottom longline gear to harvest groundfish.  The seabird avoidance measures, including streamer lines that deter birds from ingesting baited hooks, are modeled after a similar regulatory program in effect for the Alaskan groundfish fishery.”

Short-tailed Albatross at sea, photograph by Aleks Terauds

Click here to read the full account

Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before 9 October 2014.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 27 September 2014

Following the successful eradication of Norway or Brown Rats Rattus norvegicus from the inhabited islands of St. Agnes and Gugh in the United Kingdom’s Isles of Scilly (click here) the news is in that Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus are about to fledge chicks on the two connected islands for the first time in living memory.  Although Manx shearwaters have bred on these two islands for decades, eggs and chicks were always eaten by rats while they were still in their burrows.

The latest issue (September 2014) of the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project’s Rat on a Rat Update has the news:

“Yippee!  We are delighted to announce that Manx shearwater chicks have been spotted peeking out from their burrows and ‘wing-flapping’ on St Agnes and Gugh.  They are the first shearwater chicks to be recorded [outside their burrows] on either island in living memory.  Taking great care, Seabird Ecologist Dr Vickie Heaney, project volunteers and ourselves duly visited the burrows under cover of starlight on four separate evenings from August 29th to September 12th.  The result –10 healthy chicks.  Trail cameras have been set out to collect footage of the chicks’ nocturnal behaviour.”

Manx Shearwaters emerge from their burrows at night on the Isles of Scilly

Click here to view a video clip of one of the Manxie chicks emerging from its burrow at night.

Biosecurity activities on the islands until official confirmation of the rat eradication comes in early 2016 include discouraging and removing food sources by beach cleans, bin days and an ‘Apple Day’ when wind-fallen apples will be collected and juiced. Despite several false alarms no confirmed rat sightings (or of their droppings) have been made since the eradication exercise was completed.

The rat eradication project was undertaken from November 2013 to March 2014 using ground baiting by Elizabeth (Biz) Bell and colleagues of New Zealand’s Wildlife Management International Ltd (WMIL) (click here).

The Isles of Scilly project was recently visited by members of a team that aims to remove Black or Ship Rats R. rattus from Italy’s Tavolara Island off Sardinia to protect its large population of Yelkouan Shearwaters P. yelkouan (click here).  This Vulnerable species was identified as a potential candidate for ACAP listing last year at a meeting of ACAP's Advisory Committee (click here).

With thanks to Jaclyn Pearson, Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project Manager for information and photographs.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 26 September 2014