Thalassarche eremita

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	Procellariiformes	Diomedeidae

Scientific Name:

Thalassarche eremita

Species Authority:

Murphy, 1930

Common Name/s:

English

–

Chatham Albatross

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B2ab(iii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2009

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

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

Justification:
This species is confined to an extremely small area when breeding. Habitat conditions on the island deteriorated after an extreme storm in 1985 and, while Chatham Albatross were not as severely affected as Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi on the Forty-fours, the species is consequently classified as Critically Endangered. Past trends are unknown but there is no current evidence of a population decline.

History:

2008	–	Critically Endangered
2007	–	Critically Endangered
2005	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2003	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Thalassarche eremita breeds only on The Pyramid, a large rock stack in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. Aerial photographs indicated that the breeding population was between 3,200 and 4,200 pairs², but ground counts between 1999-2003 revealed c.5,300 occupied sites⁸. Satellite tracking (1997-1999) and other observations indicate that it disperses within the south Pacific Ocean west to Tasmania and east to Chile and Peru. During April-July (the non-breeding season) birds migrate to the south-west coast of South America and transit northwards with the Humboldt Current into Peruvian coastal waters, as far north as 6°S^8,9. Up to 90% of the wintering time (3-4 months) is spent in the territorial waters of Chile and Peru, which, based on at-sea data collected between 1980 and 1995, support c.73% of the estimated global population^9,10 (3,900-6,790 birds were estimated to be using the Humboldt Current each autumn, with very few there during the spring)¹⁰.
Countries:	Native: American Samoa; Australia; Chile; Cook Islands; French Polynesia; New Zealand; Niue; Peru; Wallis and Futuna Vagrant: Antarctica
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – eastern; Pacific – eastern central; Pacific – southeast; Pacific – southwest; Pacific – western central
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Ground counts between 1999-2003 revealed c.5,300 occupied sites ⁸. A count in 2007 gave 5,247 occupied sites¹³.
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

Ground counts between 1999-2003 revealed c.5,300 occupied sites ⁸. A count in 2007 gave 5,247 occupied sites¹³.

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It usually nests on rocky ledges and steep slopes. It feeds mostly on cephalopods and fish³. An estimated 1,200-1,500 chicks fledged each year between 1993 and 1995, 2,100 of which were banded². At sea the species appears to be largely pelagic, showing less preference for waters along the continental shelf than congeners. Eggs are laid September-October, hatching November-December and fledging in March-April³. The earliest recorded breeding age is seven years, but birds return to the colony at the age of four.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It usually nests on rocky ledges and steep slopes. It feeds mostly on cephalopods and fish³. An estimated 1,200-1,500 chicks fledged each year between 1993 and 1995, 2,100 of which were banded². At sea the species appears to be largely pelagic, showing less preference for waters along the continental shelf than congeners. Eggs are laid September-October, hatching November-December and fledging in March-April³. The earliest recorded breeding age is seven years, but birds return to the colony at the age of four.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In 1985, a reduction in the extent and condition of vegetation on the islet occurred due to an extreme storm, with a resultant loss of soil cover. As a result, there was an increased probability of nest collapse, due to reduced moisture retention², though the impact was not as severe as that on Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi on the Sisters and Forty-Fours Islands ¹². Since 1998, there has been some improvement in soil and vegetation cover⁸. Parts of the colony that have been exposed to recent storms have had very low productivity², although overall c.60% of nests hatched young between 1997-2000⁸. Mortality has been recorded in pelagic and demersal longline fisheries in New Zealand¹¹, with one incident involving 12 birds among 36 albatrosses killed by one longline vessel in the Chatham Rise area in 2007¹⁴. Birds also attend trawlers off both the east (mainly) and west coast (rarely) of New Zealand, and have been caught in trawl wires. Three banded or tagged birds have been reported as caught by coastal longline fisheries in Chile and Peru, 1995-1999⁸, and mortality levels in these regions are potentially the most serious threat to the species. Illegal harvesting of chicks may occur occasionally and, although numbers are apparently small, this may have some effect on the population⁶.

Major Threat(s):

In 1985, a reduction in the extent and condition of vegetation on the islet occurred due to an extreme storm, with a resultant loss of soil cover. As a result, there was an increased probability of nest collapse, due to reduced moisture retention², though the impact was not as severe as that on Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi on the Sisters and Forty-Fours Islands ¹². Since 1998, there has been some improvement in soil and vegetation cover⁸. Parts of the colony that have been exposed to recent storms have had very low productivity², although overall c.60% of nests hatched young between 1997-2000⁸. Mortality has been recorded in pelagic and demersal longline fisheries in New Zealand¹¹, with one incident involving 12 birds among 36 albatrosses killed by one longline vessel in the Chatham Rise area in 2007¹⁴. Birds also attend trawlers off both the east (mainly) and west coast (rarely) of New Zealand, and have been caught in trawl wires. Three banded or tagged birds have been reported as caught by coastal longline fisheries in Chile and Peru, 1995-1999⁸, and mortality levels in these regions are potentially the most serious threat to the species. Illegal harvesting of chicks may occur occasionally and, although numbers are apparently small, this may have some effect on the population⁶.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: ACAP Annex 1. In 1995, detailed population studies commenced and a five year study funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries began in 2006. The islet is privately owned⁶. In 2008 New Zealand government introduced compulsory measures to mitigate the effects of long-lining on seabirds. Conservation actions proposed: Continue accurate ground census over three consecutive years. Repeat census at five-year intervals. Correlate aerial and ground counts. Resolve issue of chick harvesting with local community. Discuss protection options with the owners of The Pyramid. Develop and effectively implement mitigation techniques to minimise fisheries bycatch, particularly by longliners.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

ACAP Annex 1. In 1995, detailed population studies commenced and a five year study funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries began in 2006. The islet is privately owned⁶. In 2008 New Zealand government introduced compulsory measures to mitigate the effects of long-lining on seabirds.

Conservation actions proposed:

Continue accurate ground census over three consecutive years. Repeat census at five-year intervals. Correlate aerial and ground counts. Resolve issue of chick harvesting with local community. Discuss protection options with the owners of The Pyramid. Develop and effectively implement mitigation techniques to minimise fisheries bycatch, particularly by longliners.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Thalassarche eremita. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided