Diomedea antipodensis

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 antipodensis

Species Authority:

Robertson & Warham, 1992

Common Name/s:

English

–

Antipodean Albatross

Taxonomic Notes:

Diomedea exulans (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into D. exulans, D. dabbenena and D. antipodensis following Brooke (2004), contra Robertson and Nunn (1998) who split antipodensis into two taxa D. antipodensis and D. gibsoni.

Assessment Information [top]

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)

Justification:
This species is classified as Vulnerable because it is largely confined to three small islands when breeding and is therefore highly susceptible to stochastic effects and human impacts. Recent data (2005-2008) from the Auckland Islands indicate declines in adult survival, productivity and recruitment, which, if confirmed by further monitoring, could result in a reclassification of Endangered or Critically Endangered.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Diomedea antipodensis is endemic to New Zealand, breeding on Antipodes Island (4,635-5,737 ¹⁴), the Auckland Islands group (Adams, Disappointment and Auckland), where five counts in the 1990s indicated a mean annual breeding population of 5,800 pairs¹⁰, Campbell Island (c.10 pairs³), and Pitt Island in the Chatham Islands (one pair since 2004). In 1998, it was estimated that there were approximately 39,000 mature individuals². Recent estimates put this at 25,260 mature individuals¹⁶. Data from satellite tracking indicate that birds from the Auckland Islands forage mostly west of New Zealand over the Tasman Sea and south of Australia, while those from the Antipodes forage east of New Zealand in the South Pacific, as far as the coast of Chile, and have a larger overall range ^{5, 10, 15}.
Countries:	Native: Australia; Chile; New Zealand; Norfolk Island
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – Antarctic; Indian Ocean – eastern; Pacific – Antarctic; Pacific – southeast; Pacific – southwest
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Antipodes Island (4,635-5,737 ), the Auckland Islands group (Adams, Disappointment and Auckland), 5,800 pairs, Campbell Island (c.10 pairs), and Pitt Island in the Chatham Is (one pair since 2004). Recent estimates put this at 25,260 mature individuals (Elliot and Walker in litt 2007), rounded to 25,300 mature individuals here.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It nests from the coastline inland, on ridges, slopes and plateaus, usually in open or patchy vegetation, such as tussock grassland or shrubs. It feeds mostly on cephalopods and fish⁴. Breeding is biennial if chicks are successfully reared³. Between 1991 and 2004, average productivity was 74% on Antipodes Islands and significantly lower (63%) on the Auckland Islands ¹³.
Systems:	Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Between 1987 and 2003, this species was a significant bycatch in the longline tuna fishery in New Zealand waters. The capture of 58 birds in 2006 during a single fishing trip was a reminder that bycatch remains a threat. Female survival on the Auckland Islands is lower than for males¹¹. In 2005 and 2006, female annual survival was as low as 80%, eight percent below male survival. This may be because females disperse further north than the males¹², increasing their chance of interacting with longline fisheries in Australian and New Zealand waters. Recent studies indicate that increasing ocean temperature in the Tasman Sea could be having a negative impact on D. a. gibsoni, although this needs further investigation¹⁶. Pigs may be responsible for the near extirpation of the species on Auckland Island, and probably still take eggs and chicks, while feral cats may also kill some chicks¹⁰.

Major Threat(s):

Between 1987 and 2003, this species was a significant bycatch in the longline tuna fishery in New Zealand waters. The capture of 58 birds in 2006 during a single fishing trip was a reminder that bycatch remains a threat. Female survival on the Auckland Islands is lower than for males¹¹. In 2005 and 2006, female annual survival was as low as 80%, eight percent below male survival. This may be because females disperse further north than the males¹², increasing their chance of interacting with longline fisheries in Australian and New Zealand waters. Recent studies indicate that increasing ocean temperature in the Tasman Sea could be having a negative impact on D. a. gibsoni, although this needs further investigation¹⁶. Pigs may be responsible for the near extirpation of the species on Auckland Island, and probably still take eggs and chicks, while feral cats may also kill some chicks¹⁰.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: ACAP Annex 1. Conservation efforts began in 1969, when the breeding population was first estimated on Antipodes. Many thousands of chicks have been banded, both on Antipodes and Adams Islands. Satellite tracking has identified foraging and non-breeding distribution¹⁵. By 1992, cattle and sheep had been eradicated from Campbell Island¹⁰. All islands are nature reserves and, in 1998, were declared part of a World Heritage Site. Conservation actions proposed: Census total breeding population for 3-4 consecutive years at 10-year intervals. Monitor productivity, survival and recruitment. Check all birds for bands during censuses for survival and recruitment measures. Monitor new fisheries for bycatch. Continue to develop mitigation devices/techniques to minimise fisheries bycatch. Eradicate pigs and cats from Auckland Island¹⁰. Further investigate the impact that oceanographic changes in the Tasman Sea may be having on D. a. gibsoni..

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

ACAP Annex 1. Conservation efforts began in 1969, when the breeding population was first estimated on Antipodes. Many thousands of chicks have been banded, both on Antipodes and Adams Islands. Satellite tracking has identified foraging and non-breeding distribution¹⁵. By 1992, cattle and sheep had been eradicated from Campbell Island¹⁰. All islands are nature reserves and, in 1998, were declared part of a World Heritage Site.

Conservation actions proposed:

Census total breeding population for 3-4 consecutive years at 10-year intervals. Monitor productivity, survival and recruitment. Check all birds for bands during censuses for survival and recruitment measures. Monitor new fisheries for bycatch. Continue to develop mitigation devices/techniques to minimise fisheries bycatch. Eradicate pigs and cats from Auckland Island¹⁰. Further investigate the impact that oceanographic changes in the Tasman Sea may be having on D. a. gibsoni..

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Diomedea antipodensis. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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