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Non-breeding distribution, activity patterns and moulting areas of Sooty Albatrosses (Phoebetria fusca) inferred from geolocators, satellite trackers and biochemical markers

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Abstract

Sooty Albatrosses (Phoebetria fusca; Endangered) are biennially breeding birds with successful breeders typically spending at least 15 months at-sea (‘sabbatical’) before returning to their breeding grounds on sub-Antarctic islands. Stable isotope analysis of feathers suggests that non-breeding adult Sooty Albatrosses moult in sub-tropical waters, north of the Sub-Tropical Front (STF). The Prince Edward Islands (Marion and Prince Edward) provide nesting grounds for ca 24% of the world’s Sooty Albatrosses. We tracked 20 adult Sooty Albatrosses from Marion Island with geolocators (GLS loggers) and satellite transmitters (PTT) during their non-breeding sabbaticals between 2008 and 2014. Stable isotope analysis also was performed on feathers collected from GLS-tracked birds upon device retrieval. Adult birds mostly remained within international waters in the southern Indian Ocean during their sabbatical period, splitting their time between sub-tropical and sub-Antarctic waters. Sooty Albatrosses were more active during the day on average but spent similar time in flight during full moon periods. Periods of reduced flight activity, measured by time on water, suggest that moulting occurs mainly around the STF. Breeding success influenced moult phenology, with unsuccessful birds moulting in late summer, immediately following a failed breeding attempt (Feb–Mar), whilst successful breeders moulted early the following summer (Oct–Dec). Failed breeders spent more time flying between breeding attempts than successful breeders, particularly whilst moulting. Our study identifies key areas utilised by non-breeding Sooty Albatrosses, which is critical to implement appropriate management strategies that may help population recovery of this endangered species.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all Marion Island field assistants who assisted in deployment and retrieval of tracking devices and in particular, Bruce Dyer, Kim Stevens, Vonica Perold and Alexis Osborne. Jaimie Cleeland provided assistance with the analysis of geolocator data. The Department of Environmental Affairs provided logistic support on Marion Island. Funding was provided by the FitzPatrick Institute Centre of Excellence and the South African National Antarctic Programme, through the National Research Foundation. Permission to work on seabirds at the Prince Edward Islands was granted by the Prince Edward Islands’ Management Committee. All research was approved by the University of Cape Town’s Science Faculty Animal Ethics Committee. We thank Melinda Conners and two anonymous reviewers for their extensive feedback, ultimately improving the quality of this manuscript.

Funding

Funding was provided by the FitzPatrick Institute Centre of Excellence and the South African National Antarctic Programme, through the National Research Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    S. Schoombie, B. J. Dilley, D. Davies, A. B. Makhado & P. G. Ryan

  2. Department of Zoology, Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa

    M. Connan

  3. Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment: Branch Oceans and Coasts, P.O. Box 52126, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

    A. B. Makhado

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  1. S. Schoombie
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Contributions

PR and SS conceived and designed the research. ABM, BJD, DD, MC, PGR and SS performed the field work. MC and SS performed molecular analyses of feather samples. SS analysed the tracking data. SS wrote the manuscript with MC and PGR advising on manuscript preparation. PGR supervised the research. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to S. Schoombie.

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Permission to work on seabirds at the Prince Edward Islands was granted by the Prince Edward Islands’ Management Committee. All research was approved by the University of Cape Town’s Science Faculty Animal Ethics Committee.

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Schoombie, S., Connan, M., Dilley, B.J. et al. Non-breeding distribution, activity patterns and moulting areas of Sooty Albatrosses (Phoebetria fusca) inferred from geolocators, satellite trackers and biochemical markers. Polar Biol 45, 31–44 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02969-3

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