Post-fledging survival and dispersal of shy albatross from three breeding colonies in Tasmania

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 405:271-285 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08590 Post-fledging survival and dispersal of shy albatross from three breeding colonies in Tasmania R. Alderman1,2,*, R. Gales1, A. J. Hobday2,3, S. G. Candy4 1Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE), Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 2Quantitative Marine Science Program and School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 3Wealth from Oceans Flagship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 4Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia *Email: rachael.alderman@dpipwe.tas.gov.au ABSTRACT: Limited knowledge of the movements of post-fledging albatross represents a significant gap in understanding albatross biology and conservation. Without clearer understanding of at-sea distribution and mortality during this life-history stage, the threats to albatrosses cannot be managed appropriately. We investigated this early at-sea behaviour of shy albatrosses Thalassarche cauta, which breed only in Tasmania. We deployed 48 satellite transmitters on fledgling birds from each of the 3 Tasmanian populations over 4 separate seasons. We observed population differences in the at-sea distribution, with the northern Albatross Island population foraging exclusively in southern Australian shelf waters to the west of the breeding colony. Birds from the 2 populations in southern Tasmania (Mewstone and Pedra Branca) also favoured these areas; however, they showed greater tendency to traverse the high seas and forage further west. These differences in spatial distribution mean populations have different exposure to fisheries and consequent risk of bycatch. Analysis of the satellite data and supporting evidence from band recoveries showed that juvenile mortality is highest in the period immediately after fledging. We speculate that this is related to foraging failure of naive birds. Differences between the 3 populations in post-fledging mortality were apparent. Albatross Island birds have greater chance of surviving the crucial initial learning period after fledging than either of the 2 southern populations, possibly due to proximity to food resources. KEY WORDS: Satellite tracking · Foraging grounds · Juvenile albatross · Survival · Thalassarche cauta Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Alderman R, Gales R, Hobday AJ, Candy SG (2010) Post-fledging survival and dispersal of shy albatross from three breeding colonies in Tasmania. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 405:271-285. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08590 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 405. Online publication date: April 29, 2010 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.