







| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | AVES | Procellariiformes | Diomedeidae |
| Scientific Name: | Phoebastria albatrus | |||
| Species Authority: | (Pallas, 1769) | |||
Common Name/s:
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| Synonym/s: |
Diomedea albatrus
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| Red List Category & Criteria: | Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Year Assessed: | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Assessor/s | BirdLife International | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Evaluator/s: | Butchart, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority), Small, C. & Sullivan, B. (BirdLife International Global Seabird Programme) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Justification: This species is listed as Vulnerable because, although conservation efforts have resulted in a steady population increase, it still has a very small breeding range, limited to Torishima and Minami-kojima (Senkaku Islands), rendering it susceptible to stochastic events and human impacts. |
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| History: |
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| Population: |
At the end of the 2006-2007 breeding season, the global population was estimated to be 2,364 individuals, with 1,922 birds on Torishima and 442 birds on Minami-kojima (Senkaku Islands). This includes direct observation of breeding pairs on Torishima, an assumption on numbers of non-breeding birds, and an estimate for the Minami-kojima population that is based upon a 2002 estimate and an assumption of population growth rate, which, together, puts the Minami-kojima population at about 15% of the global population5.
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| Population Trend: |
Increasing
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| Habitat and Ecology: | Historically, it preferred level, open, areas adjacent to tall clumps of the grass Miscanthus sinensis for nesting. It feeds mainly on squid and has been recorded following ships to feed on scraps and fish offal. |
| Systems: | Marine |
| Major Threat(s): | Its historical decline was caused by exploitation. Today, the key threats are the instability of soil on its main breeding site (Torishima), the threat of mortality and habitat loss from the active volcano on Torishima, and mortality caused by fisheries. Torishima is also vulnerable to other natural disasters, such as typhoons. Introduced predators are a potential threat at colonies. Environmental contaminants at sea (oil based compounds) may also be a threat5. Threats at sea (fisheries, oil pollution) are exacerbated by the fact that birds concentrate into predictable hotspots3. |
| Conservation Actions: |
Conservation actions underway: It is legally protected in Japan, Canada and the USA. A draft recovery plan has been developed2. Mitigation measures are required in the Alaska demersal longline fishery and in the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. Streamer lines (both heavy weight lines for large boats and lightweight lines for smaller vessels) have been designed to keep birds from longline hooks as they are set, and these are being distributed free to the Alaskan longline fleet2. In 2006, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission passed a measure which requires large tuna and swordfish longline vessels (>24m long) to use a combination of two seabird bycatch mitigation measures when fishing north of 23 degrees North. Torishima has been established as a National Wildlife Protection Area. In 1981-1982, native plants were transplanted into the Torishima nesting colony, in order to stabilise the nesting habitat and the nest structures. This has enhanced breeding success, with over 60% of eggs now resulting in fledged young. Decoys have been used to attract birds to nest at another site on Torishima and the first pair started breeding at this new site in November 1995. The number of chicks fledged from this new colony has increased from one chick in 2004; four chicks in 2005; 13 chicks in 2006; 16 chicks in 2007. In October-November 2007, 35 eggs were laid at this new site. In 2007, the Japanese government approved a project to translocate chicks from Torishima to Mukojima, 300km away. If successful, this project will translocate at least ten chicks per year for five years. Conservation actions proposed: Continue to promote measures designed to protect this species from becoming hooked or entangled by commercial fishing gear. Re-establish birds within historic range as insurance against natural disasters on primary breeding colony. Promote conservation measures for the Minami-kojima population. Continue research into the at-sea distribution and marine habitat use through satellite telemetry studies. Continue land-based management and population monitoring. |
| Citation: | BirdLife International 2008. Phoebastria albatrus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 November 2009. |
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