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The effect of frequency and nature of pedestrian approaches on the behaviour of wandering albatrosses at sub-Antarctic Marion Island

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Abstract

The effects of disturbance frequency, pedestrian group size, history and approach distance were tested through standardised approaches to 148 brooding/guarding wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) at Marion Island in 2006. Seldom-visited birds were approached at different frequencies over a 3-day period and chick survival was monitored 2 weeks later. Two-person approaches were made to some seldom-visited birds and to birds that have recently been bled. Birds close to the station and in a long-term study colony were also approached. non-vocal response (NVR), vocal response (VR) and overall response (OR) of individuals were analysed. Frequency of approach did not influence short-term behavioural responses, but affected chick survival significantly—nests approached most often had the highest proportion of failures. Over the long-term, there was sensitisation to disturbance. Low OR ranks were found for 71.7% of seldom-disturbed birds, 41.7% of study colony birds and 28.6% of birds close to the station. Management regulations at the island are likely to be effective in protecting this species from human disturbance.

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Acknowledgments

The South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, provided permission to conduct research and logistic support. Mariëtte Wheeler held a National Research Foundation (NRF) Prestigious PhD bursary and M.S. de Villiers received an NRF grant towards this research. Res Altwegg assisted with the statistical modelling.

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  1. Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Mariëtte Wheeler, Marienne S. de Villiers & Prideel A. Majiedt

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  1. Mariëtte Wheeler
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  2. Marienne S. de Villiers
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  3. Prideel A. Majiedt
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Correspondence to Mariëtte Wheeler.

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Wheeler, M., de Villiers, M.S. & Majiedt, P.A. The effect of frequency and nature of pedestrian approaches on the behaviour of wandering albatrosses at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Polar Biol 32, 197–205 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0520-2

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