Diomedea exulans

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PROCELLARIIFORMES	DIOMEDEIDAE

Scientific Name:

Diomedea exulans

Species Authority:

Linnaeus, 1758

Common Name/s:

English

–

Wandering Albatross

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A4bd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Gales, R., Croxall, J., Phillips, R., Weimerskirsch, H., Cooper, J.

Justification:
Overall past and predicted future declines amount to a rapid population reduction over a period of three generations, qualifying the species as Vulnerable. At South Georgia, this species is undergoing a rapid decline over three generations (70 years). On the Crozet and Kerguelen Islands, the populations rapidly declined between 1970-1986, then stabilised, but have recently declined again. Longline fishing is believed to be a main cause of decline in this species, causing reductions in adult survival and juvenile recruitment, and this threat is ongoing.

History:

2008	–	Vulnerable
2007	–	Vulnerable
2005	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2003	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Diomedea exulans breeds on South Georgia (Georgias del Sur) (c. 20% of the global breeding population), Prince Edward Islands (South Africa) (c. 40% of the global population), Crozet Islands and Kerguelen Islands (French Southern Territories) (approximately 40% of the global population) and Macquarie Island (Australia) (approximately 10 pairs breeding per year), with a total global population of c. 8,000 pairs breeding in any given year³³. At South Georgia, the population declined by 1.8% per annum between 1984 and 2004²⁶. The population on Crozet declined by 54% between 1970 - 1986. From the mid 1980s to late 1990s, the Crozet, Kerguelen and Prince Edward Islands populations appeared to be stable or increasing^10,19,20,28, but declines have recently been detected^30,31. Overall declines are estimated to exceed 30% over 70 years. Recovery is believed to be impeded by a decline in recruitment rate¹⁷. Non-breeding and juvenile birds remain north of 50°S between subantarctic and subtropical waters with a significant proportion crossing the Indian Ocean to wintering grounds around the southern and eastern coast of Australia³³. A significant proportion of the Crozet and Kerguelen populations disperse into the Pacific and the western coast of South America³¹.
Countries:	Native: Antarctica; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Chile; Falkland Islands (Malvinas); French Southern Territories (the); Heard Island and McDonald Islands; Madagascar; Mozambique; Namibia; New Zealand; Norfolk Island; Saint Helena; South Africa; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; United States; Uruguay Vagrant: Angola; Fiji; French Polynesia; Italy; Japan; Mauritius; Panama; Portugal; Réunion; United States Present - origin uncertain: Bouvet Island; Tonga
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In 1998, the total annual breeding population was estimated at 8,500 pairs, equivalent to c.28,000 mature individuals (Gales 1998). Current estimates are 1,553 pairs on South Georgia (Georgias del Sur) (Poncet et al. 2006), 1,850 pairs on the Prince Edward Island (Crawford et al. 2003), c.1,600 pairs on Marion Island (P. Ryan in litt.2008), c.2,000 pairs on Iles Crozet, c.1,100 pairs in Iles Kerguelen (Weimerskirch et al. 1997), and 10-12 pairs on Macquarie Island (Terauds et al. 2006), making a total of c.8,114 annual breeding pairs. Using the same ratio as Gales (1998) for estimating the number of mature individuals, this would equate to approximately 27,600 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

In 1998, the total annual breeding population was estimated at 8,500 pairs, equivalent to c.28,000 mature individuals (Gales 1998). Current estimates are 1,553 pairs on South Georgia (Georgias del Sur) (Poncet et al. 2006), 1,850 pairs on the Prince Edward Island (Crawford et al. 2003), c.1,600 pairs on Marion Island (P. Ryan in litt.2008), c.2,000 pairs on Iles Crozet, c.1,100 pairs in Iles Kerguelen (Weimerskirch et al. 1997), and 10-12 pairs on Macquarie Island (Terauds et al. 2006), making a total of c.8,114 annual breeding pairs. Using the same ratio as Gales (1998) for estimating the number of mature individuals, this would equate to approximately 27,600 mature individuals.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour Diomedea exulans is a biennial breeding species, although about 30% of successful and 35% of failed breeders (on average) defer breeding beyond the expected year. Adults return to colonies in November, and eggs are laid over a period of 5 weeks during December and January. Most eggs hatch in March, and chicks fledge in December. Birds usually return to colonies when 5-7 years old, though can return when as young as 3 years old. Birds can start breeding as young as 7 or 8 years old³³. Wandering Albatross typically forages in oceanic waters, however considerable time is spent over shelf areas during certain stages of the breeding season¹⁶. Satellite tracking has revealed that juvenile birds tend to forage further north than adults^17,25, bringing them into greater overlap with longline tuna fleets which may be driving falls in recruitment rates¹⁰. Females may also be at greater risk of being caught in tuna fisheries since they tend to forage further north than males^18,23,24 and show lower survival²¹. It is mostly a diurnal breeder, taking most prey by surface-seizing³³. Habitat Breeding Wandering Albatross nests in open or patchy vegetation near exposed ridges or hillocks². Diet Adults feed at sea mainly on cephalopods and fish, often following ships and feeding on offal and galley refuse^2,3. Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides is the primary fish species in the diet, potentially obtained as discarded offal³³. Foraging range This wide ranging species has a circumpolar distribution, and both breeding and non-breeding birds have very large foraging ranges. Satellite tracking data indicate that breeding birds forage at very long distances from colonies (up to 4,000 km) and that foraging strategies change throughout the breeding season³³.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour Diomedea exulans is a biennial breeding species, although about 30% of successful and 35% of failed breeders (on average) defer breeding beyond the expected year. Adults return to colonies in November, and eggs are laid over a period of 5 weeks during December and January. Most eggs hatch in March, and chicks fledge in December. Birds usually return to colonies when 5-7 years old, though can return when as young as 3 years old. Birds can start breeding as young as 7 or 8 years old³³. Wandering Albatross typically forages in oceanic waters, however considerable time is spent over shelf areas during certain stages of the breeding season¹⁶. Satellite tracking has revealed that juvenile birds tend to forage further north than adults^17,25, bringing them into greater overlap with longline tuna fleets which may be driving falls in recruitment rates¹⁰. Females may also be at greater risk of being caught in tuna fisheries since they tend to forage further north than males^18,23,24 and show lower survival²¹. It is mostly a diurnal breeder, taking most prey by surface-seizing³³. Habitat Breeding Wandering Albatross nests in open or patchy vegetation near exposed ridges or hillocks². Diet Adults feed at sea mainly on cephalopods and fish, often following ships and feeding on offal and galley refuse^2,3. Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides is the primary fish species in the diet, potentially obtained as discarded offal³³. Foraging range This wide ranging species has a circumpolar distribution, and both breeding and non-breeding birds have very large foraging ranges. Satellite tracking data indicate that breeding birds forage at very long distances from colonies (up to 4,000 km) and that foraging strategies change throughout the breeding season³³.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The observed decline of this species is believed to be driven largely by incidental catch in fisheries, which has reduced adult survival and juvenile recruitment. The vast foraging range means that birds encounter many different longline fleets¹⁶. Fisheries were responsible for a 54% decrease in numbers on the Crozet Islands between 1970 and 1986 ¹⁰. The South Georgia population disperses throughout the Southern Ocean during the nonbreeding season, although may be most at risk from longline fisheries operating in the south-west Atlantic throughout the year, whereas the Crozet and Prince Edward Island populations are most vulnerable to pelagic longline fishing in the Indian Ocean and Australian region^13,14. The apparent recovery of populations from the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands during the early 1990s was ascribed to reduced fishing effort and relocation of fisheries away from foraging grounds, however increased effort in the late 1990s at various different localities may once again be impacting these populations^10,12, as even low bycatch rates will affect the species due to the small population size³³. The Macquarie population was harvested extensively by sealers and, although it recovered in the early 20th century, experienced subsequent declines that were also attributed to longline fisheries⁸. Chicks are vulnerable to the accumulation of anthropogenic debris and fishing hooks¹⁵. In 2007 a survey of Wandering Albatross chicks on Bird Island revealed that half had ingested fishing hooks²⁵. On Kerguelen, in some years certain colonies have complete breeding failure owing to predation of young chicks by cats³¹. There has been extensive habitat loss and degradation at South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur) due to the activities of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella³³.

Major Threat(s):

The observed decline of this species is believed to be driven largely by incidental catch in fisheries, which has reduced adult survival and juvenile recruitment. The vast foraging range means that birds encounter many different longline fleets¹⁶. Fisheries were responsible for a 54% decrease in numbers on the Crozet Islands between 1970 and 1986 ¹⁰. The South Georgia population disperses throughout the Southern Ocean during the nonbreeding season, although may be most at risk from longline fisheries operating in the south-west Atlantic throughout the year, whereas the Crozet and Prince Edward Island populations are most vulnerable to pelagic longline fishing in the Indian Ocean and Australian region^13,14. The apparent recovery of populations from the Crozet and Prince Edward Islands during the early 1990s was ascribed to reduced fishing effort and relocation of fisheries away from foraging grounds, however increased effort in the late 1990s at various different localities may once again be impacting these populations^10,12, as even low bycatch rates will affect the species due to the small population size³³. The Macquarie population was harvested extensively by sealers and, although it recovered in the early 20th century, experienced subsequent declines that were also attributed to longline fisheries⁸. Chicks are vulnerable to the accumulation of anthropogenic debris and fishing hooks¹⁵. In 2007 a survey of Wandering Albatross chicks on Bird Island revealed that half had ingested fishing hooks²⁵. On Kerguelen, in some years certain colonies have complete breeding failure owing to predation of young chicks by cats³¹. There has been extensive habitat loss and degradation at South Georgia (Islas Georgias del Sur) due to the activities of Antarctic fur seals Arctocephalus gazella³³.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. Population monitoring and foraging studies are being undertaken at South Georgia (Georgias del Sur), the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet, Kerguelen and Macquarie. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has introduced measures which have reduced bycatch of albatrosses around South Georgia by over 99%. Recently, other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, including the tuna commissions, have taken initial steps to reduce seabird bycatch rates. The Prince Edward Islands are a special nature reserve and Macquarie is a World Heritage Site. Large parts of the breeding colonies on the Crozet and Kerguelen Islands are now part of a Nature Reserve. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue population monitoring programs at all sites to allow assessment of population trends, survival and production rates. Continue tracking studies to determine spatial and temporal overlap with fisheries for populations and life stages where these data do not exist. Promote adoption of best-practice mitigation measures in all fisheries within the species's range, including via intergovernmental mechanisms such as ACAP, FAO and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. Population monitoring and foraging studies are being undertaken at South Georgia (Georgias del Sur), the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet, Kerguelen and Macquarie. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has introduced measures which have reduced bycatch of albatrosses around South Georgia by over 99%. Recently, other Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, including the tuna commissions, have taken initial steps to reduce seabird bycatch rates. The Prince Edward Islands are a special nature reserve and Macquarie is a World Heritage Site. Large parts of the breeding colonies on the Crozet and Kerguelen Islands are now part of a Nature Reserve.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue population monitoring programs at all sites to allow assessment of population trends, survival and production rates. Continue tracking studies to determine spatial and temporal overlap with fisheries for populations and life stages where these data do not exist. Promote adoption of best-practice mitigation measures in all fisheries within the species's range, including via intergovernmental mechanisms such as ACAP, FAO and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Diomedea exulans. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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