Phoebastria irrorata

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:

Phoebastria irrorata

Species Authority:

(Salvin, 1883)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Waved Albatross

Synonym/s:

Diomedea irrorata

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B2ab(v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S., Symes, A.(BirdLife International)

Justification:
This species is classified as Critically Endangered because it has an extremely small breeding range, essentially confined to one island, and evidence suggests that it has experienced a substantial recent population decline.

History:

2008	–	Critically Endangered
2007	–	Critically Endangered
2005	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2003	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Lower Risk/near threatened
1988	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Phoebastria irrorata breeds on south Española Island in the Galápagos Islands, and (perhaps on) Isla de la Plata off Manabí province, Ecuador³. On Española, the overall breeding population was considered to have been stable until recently. It was estimated at c.12,000 pairs in 1970-1971⁶, 15,600-18,200 pairs in 1994^3,4 and at least 34,694 adults in 2001¹¹. Surveys at two principal breeding sites on Española in 2007 found 6,045 pairs breeding at Punta Suárez and Punta Cevallos, a possible decline of 11.9% in the breeding population since 2001, however this was balanced by an increase in the non-breeding population at these sites²⁰. The breeding distribution has changed owing in part to vegetation regrowth following the eradication of goats¹¹. Breeding no longer occurs at two inland sites, perhaps through redistribution to the coast^1,4. On Isla de la Plata, there are probably fewer than 10-20 pairs¹, and long-term data are too sketchy to assess population trends³. In 2001, three adults were seen there with no evidence of breeding and a further 11 non-breeding adults were found on Isla Genovesa¹¹. Breeding adults travel to the Peruvian upwelling region to feed^1,9. In the non-breeding season, birds move mainly east and south-east into the waters of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian continental shelf^1,8,12. Recent evidence has shown a 2-3% reduction in annual adult survival compared with that in the 1960s, which is thought to have driven recent dramatic declines in the breeding population^14,15. Analysis of birds caught as intentional and incidental take in inshore fisheries has revealed a disproportionate number of males are taken, which will result in further decreases to the effective population size given that this species has obligate bi-parental care¹⁴. Even if immediate action was taken to curb adult mortality the population will continue to decline for a decade or so until the current cohort of juveniles reach breeding age¹⁵.
Countries:	Native: Colombia; Ecuador; Peru
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – southeast
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	On Española, the breeding population was estimated at c.12,000 pairs in 1970-1971, 15,600-18,200 pairs in 1994 and at least 34,694 adults in 2001. On Isla de la Plata, there are probably fewer than 10-20 pairs
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It nests in colonies on sparsely vegetated areas with lava surrounded by boulders⁶ but also, more recently, in thick scrub vegetation¹¹. It feeds on squid, fish and crustaceans⁶, but recent studies have shown that scavenging food items that other species (such as cetaceans and boobies) have disgorged may be an important feeding strategy^1,7. Age of first breeding is at five-six years of age, but individuals return to colonies, typically late in the season, from two years of age¹⁹.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

It nests in colonies on sparsely vegetated areas with lava surrounded by boulders⁶ but also, more recently, in thick scrub vegetation¹¹. It feeds on squid, fish and crustaceans⁶, but recent studies have shown that scavenging food items that other species (such as cetaceans and boobies) have disgorged may be an important feeding strategy^1,7. Age of first breeding is at five-six years of age, but individuals return to colonies, typically late in the season, from two years of age¹⁹.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Recent studies indicate that this species is suffering mortality within some inshore fisheries through intentional harvesting for human consumption and incidental bycatch, with lower adult annual survival during 1995-2005 than estimates from the 1960s¹⁴. Reports suggest that the level of harvesting by fishers to supply food and feather markets has increased dramatically in recent years¹⁶. Around the Galápagos Islands, the transition from traditional to more modern fishing techniques such as longlining may pose a threat, as there is recent evidence of an increasing propensity for the species to follow fishing vessels¹⁴. Therefore, longline fishing operations along the Peruvian and Ecuadorian coasts may also threaten the species^5,9,14. Analysis of birds caught as intentional and incidental take in inshore fisheries has revealed a disproportionate number of males are taken, and this appears to be at least partly responsible for a female-biased sex ratio (1.188 females per male) in adults¹⁷. The population on Isla de la Plata is threatened from nest-predation by rats and cats, as well as illegal collection of eggs and young². Movement of eggs by parents (frequently resulting in death of the egg) and mass desertions of eggs are yet to be fully explained¹. An oiled albatross was found on Española during 2001¹⁰. The species has shown susceptibility to El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) events, perhaps owing to increased adult mortality or inceased negative interactions with fisheries under these conditions¹⁴. Plastic ingestion appears to be a relatively minor threat in comparison with some other albatrosses²⁰. Increased abundance of mosquitoes during warm El Niño events has caused mass abandonment of eggs in the past²¹.

Major Threat(s):

Recent studies indicate that this species is suffering mortality within some inshore fisheries through intentional harvesting for human consumption and incidental bycatch, with lower adult annual survival during 1995-2005 than estimates from the 1960s¹⁴. Reports suggest that the level of harvesting by fishers to supply food and feather markets has increased dramatically in recent years¹⁶. Around the Galápagos Islands, the transition from traditional to more modern fishing techniques such as longlining may pose a threat, as there is recent evidence of an increasing propensity for the species to follow fishing vessels¹⁴. Therefore, longline fishing operations along the Peruvian and Ecuadorian coasts may also threaten the species^5,9,14. Analysis of birds caught as intentional and incidental take in inshore fisheries has revealed a disproportionate number of males are taken, and this appears to be at least partly responsible for a female-biased sex ratio (1.188 females per male) in adults¹⁷. The population on Isla de la Plata is threatened from nest-predation by rats and cats, as well as illegal collection of eggs and young². Movement of eggs by parents (frequently resulting in death of the egg) and mass desertions of eggs are yet to be fully explained¹. An oiled albatross was found on Española during 2001¹⁰. The species has shown susceptibility to El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) events, perhaps owing to increased adult mortality or inceased negative interactions with fisheries under these conditions¹⁴. Plastic ingestion appears to be a relatively minor threat in comparison with some other albatrosses²⁰. Increased abundance of mosquitoes during warm El Niño events has caused mass abandonment of eggs in the past²¹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: Española is part of the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. Industrial, but not artisanal, longlining is prohibited in the Galápagos Marine Reserve¹⁰. In 1979, the islands were declared a World Heritage Site. Española is well protected and has no alien fauna (goats having been eradicated in 1978¹), and tourism is well regulated². A tortoise breeding programme has released over 2,000 tortoises on the island in the last 30 years; as the only native herbivore these animals may play a key role in vegetation control and maintaining suitable habitat for breeding albatrosses²¹. Isla de la Plata is part of Machalilla National Park, but is insufficiently protected². The Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels organised workshops in Peru and Ecuador in 2007 and 2008 to develop an Action Plan for Waved Albatross. There are proposals to protect more marine key biodiversity areas within the Galápagos Marine Reserve by amending the existing marine zoning scheme to reduce the impact from fishing¹⁸. Conservation actions proposed: Census the breeding population regularly and establish a baseline to ascertain trends. Further evaluate the threat of incidental and deliberate take in fisheries within the species's range. Adopt appropriate interim techniques to minimise bycatch. Assess the suitability of Isla de la Plata for breeding¹¹. Improve protection for the Isla de la Plata colony.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

Española is part of the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. Industrial, but not artisanal, longlining is prohibited in the Galápagos Marine Reserve¹⁰. In 1979, the islands were declared a World Heritage Site. Española is well protected and has no alien fauna (goats having been eradicated in 1978¹), and tourism is well regulated². A tortoise breeding programme has released over 2,000 tortoises on the island in the last 30 years; as the only native herbivore these animals may play a key role in vegetation control and maintaining suitable habitat for breeding albatrosses²¹. Isla de la Plata is part of Machalilla National Park, but is insufficiently protected². The Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels organised workshops in Peru and Ecuador in 2007 and 2008 to develop an Action Plan for Waved Albatross. There are proposals to protect more marine key biodiversity areas within the Galápagos Marine Reserve by amending the existing marine zoning scheme to reduce the impact from fishing¹⁸.

Conservation actions proposed:

Census the breeding population regularly and establish a baseline to ascertain trends. Further evaluate the threat of incidental and deliberate take in fisheries within the species's range. Adopt appropriate interim techniques to minimise bycatch. Assess the suitability of Isla de la Plata for breeding¹¹. Improve protection for the Isla de la Plata colony.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Phoebastria irrorata. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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