Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans breeding phenology at Marion Island

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands support a large proportion (44 %) of the global Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans breeding population, yet most breeding phenology data are recorded from smaller and geographically distant populations. Timing of breeding at Marion Island was remarkably constant across three successive years (2007–2009), providing a good baseline against which future changes can be assessed. Male (but not female) early arrival and presence at the colony during the pre-laying period was positively related to breeding success. Earlier hatching chicks were more likely to survive, but timing of egg laying and incubation periods did not influence fledging success. Although there was considerable individual variation in breeding phenology, average dates of male arrival, laying and hatching were later at Marion (47°S), Crozet (46°S) and Kerguelen (49°S) than at more southerly Bird Island, South Georgia (54°S). Earlier breeding at South Georgia may ensure that chicks have time to grow sufficiently to survive harsh winter conditions that set in earlier at South Georgia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ACAP fact sheet (2012) Wandering Albatross. http://www.acap.aq/en/acap-species/304-wandering-albatross/file. Accessed 3 Sep 2016

  • Barbraud C, Weimerskirch H (2006) Antarctic birds breed later in response to climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:6248–6251

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barbraud C, Weimerskirch H (2012) Estimating survival and reproduction in a quasi-biennially breeding seabird with uncertain and unobservable states. J Ornithol 152(Supplement 2):S605–S615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boelhouwers JC, Meiklejohn KI, Holness SD, Hedding DW (2008) Geology, geomorphology and climate change. In: Chown SL, Froneman PW (eds) The Prince Edward Islands: land–sea interactions in a changing ecosystem. SUN Press, Stellenbosch, pp 65–98

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Both C, Artemyev AV, Blaauw B, Cowie RJ, Dekhuijzen AJ, Eeva T, Enemar A, Gustafsson L, Ivankina EV, Järvinen A, Metcalfe NB, Nyholm NEI, Potti J, Ravussin P-A, Jose Sanz J, Silverin B, Slater FM, Sokolov LV, Török J, Winkel W, Wright J, Zang H, Visser ME (2004) Large-scale geographical variation confirms that climate change causes birds to lay earlier. Proc R Soc Lond B 271:1657–1662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooke M (2004) Albatrosses and petrels across the world. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Burg TM, Croxall JP (2004) Global population structure and taxonomy of the Wandering Albatross species complex. Mol Ecol 13:2345–2355

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charmantier A, Gienapp P (2014) Climate change and timing of avian breeding and migration: evolutionary versus plastic changes. Evol Appl 7:15–28

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charmantier A, McCleery HR, Cole LR, Perrins C, Kruuk LEB, Sheldon BC (2008) Adaptive phenotypic plasticity in response to climate change in a wild bird population. Science 320:800–803

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Charmantier A, Buoro M, Gimenes O, Weimerskirch H (2011) Heritability of short-scale natal dispersal in a large-scale foraging bird, the Wandering Albatross. J Evol Biol 24:1487–1496

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper J, Weimerskirch H (2003) Exchange of the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans between the Prince Edward and Crozet Islands: implications for conservation. Afr J Mar Sci 25:519–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawley MJ (2008) The R book. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Crick HQP (2004) The impact of climate change on birds. Ibis 146:48–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Croxall JP (1990) Constraints on reproduction in albatrosses. ACTA XX Congressus Internationalis Ornithologici, Christchurch, pp 279–3012

    Google Scholar 

  • Fressanges du Bost D, Segonzac M (1976) Note complementaire sur le cycle reproducteur du grand albatros (Diomedea exulans) de l’isle de la Possession, archipel Crozet. Com Nat Franç Rech Antarct 40:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson JD (1967) The Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans): results of banding and observations in New South Wales coastal waters and the Tasman Sea. Notornis 14:47–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Gremmen NJM, Smith VR (2008) Terrestrial vegetation and dynamics. In: Chown SL, Froneman PW (eds) The Prince Edward Islands: land–sea interactions in a changing ecosystem. SUN Press, Stellenbosch, pp 215–244

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Højsgaard S, Halekoh U, Yan J (2006) The R package geepack for generalized estimating equations. J Stat Softw 15:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Huyvaert KP, Anderson DJ, Parker PG (2006) Mate opportunity hypothesis and extrapair paternity in Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata). Auk 123:524–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inchausti P, Weimerskirch H (2002) Dispersal and metapopulation dynamics of an oceanic seabird, the Wandering Albatross, and its consequences for its response to long-line fisheries. J Anim Ecol 71:765–770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones MGW (2011) Individual variation in reproductive success in the Wandering Albatross. Ph.D. thesis. University of Cape Town, Cape Town, p 129

  • Jones MGW, Ryan PG (2010) Evidence of mouse attacks on albatross chicks on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Antarct Sci 22:39–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones MGW, Ryan PG (2014) Effects of pre-laying attendance and body condition on long-term reproductive success in Wandering Albatrosses. Emu 114:137–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones MGW, Techow NMSM, Ryan PG (2012) Dalliances and doubtful dads: what determines extra-pair paternity in socially monogamous Wandering Albatrosses? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 66:1213–1224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones MGW, Dilley BJ, Hagens QA, Louw H, Mertz EM, Visser P, Ryan PG (2014) The effect of parental age, experience and historical reproductive success on Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) chick growth and survival. Pol Biol 37:1633–1644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L’Hyver M-A, Miller EH (1991) Geographic and local variation in nesting phenology and clutch size of the Black Oystercatcher. Condor 93:892–903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig JP, Summer CL, Auman HJ, Gauger V, Bromley D, Giesy JP, Rolland R, Colborn T (1998) The roles of organochlorine contaminants and fisheries bycatch in recent population changes of Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses in the Northern Pacific Ocean. In: Robertson G, Gales R (eds) Albatross biology and conservation. Surrey Beatty Sons, Chipping Norton, pp 225–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutjeharms JRE, Ansorge IJ (2008) Oceanographic setting of the Prince Edward Islands. In: Robertson G, Gales R (eds) Albatross biology and conservation. Surrey Beatty Sons, Chipping Norton, pp 17–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchant A, Higgins PJ (1990) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Oxford University Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Nager RG, Van Noordwijk AJ (1995) Proximate and ultimate aspects of phenotypic plasticity in timing of great tit breeding in a heterogeneous environment. Am Nat 146:454–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nel DC, Taylor F, Ryan PG, Cooper J (2003) Population dynamics of the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans at Marion Island: longline fishing and environmental influences. Afr J Mar Sci 25:503–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parmesan C (2006) Ecological and Evolutionary responses to recent climate change. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 37:637–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paulian P (1953) Pinnipèdes, cétacés, oiseaux des iles Kerguelen et Amsterdam. Memoires de L’Institut Scientifique de Madagascar 8:111–232

    Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2010) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria. www.R-project.org

  • Robertson CJR (1993) Survival and longevity of the Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora sanfordi at Taiaroa Head 1937–93. Emu 93:269–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PG, Jones MGW, Dyer BM, Upfold L, Crawford RJM (2009) Recent population estimates and trends in numbers of albatrosses and giant petrels breeding at the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. Afr J Mar Sci 31:409–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PG, Ferreira C, Perold V, Osborne A, Jones CW (2015) Failure to launch: evidence of protracted parental care in albatrosses. Seabird 28:48–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Tickell WLN (1968) Biology of the great albatrosses, Diomedea exulans and Diomedea epomophora. Antarct Res Ser 12:1–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Tickell WLN (2000) Albatrosses. Pica Press, Sussex

    Google Scholar 

  • Visser E, Both C (2005) Shifts in phenology due to global climate change: the need for a yardstick. Proc R Soc B 272:2561–2569

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Visser ME, Caro SP, Van Oers K, Schaper SV, Helm B (2010) Phenology, seasonal timing and circannual rhythms: towards a unified framework. Philos Trans R Soc B 365:3113–3127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walther G-R, Post E, Convey P, Menzel A, Parmesank C, Beebee TJC, Fromentin J-M, Hoegh-Guldbergi O, Bairlein F (2002) Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416:389–395

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wanless RM, Angel A, Cuthbert RJ, Hilton GM, Ryan PG (2007) Can predation by invasive mice drive seabird extinctions? Anim Behav 3:241–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanless S, Harris MP, Lewis S, Frederiksen M, Murray S (2008) Later breeding in northern gannets in the eastern Atlantic. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 370:263–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warham J (1990) The Petrels: their ecology and breeding systems. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H (1992) Reproductive effort in long-lived birds: age-specific patterns of condition, reproduction and survival in the Wandering Albatross. Oikos 64:464–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H, Jouventin P (1998) Changes in population sizes and demographic parameters of six albatross species breeding on the French sub-Antarctic islands. In: Robertson G, Gales R (eds) Albatross biology and conservation. Surrey Beatty Sons, Chipping Norton, pp 84–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H, Wilson RP (2000) Oceanic respite for Wandering Albatrosses. Nature 406:955–956

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H, Lequette B, Jouventin P (1989) Development and maturation of plumage in the Wandering Albatross. Diomedea exulans. J Zool (Lond) 219:411–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weimerskirch H, Delord K, Guitteaud A, Phillips RA, Pinet P (2015) Extreme variation in migration strategies between and within Wandering Albatross populations during their sabbatical year, and their fitness consequences. Sci Rep 5:8853

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yan J (2002) geepack: yet another package for generalized estimating equations. R News 2(3):12–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan J, Fine JP (2004) Estimating equations for association structures. Stat Med 23:859–880

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuur AF, Ieno EN, Walker N, Saveliev AA, Smith GM (2009) Mixed effects models and extensions in ecology with R. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We greatly appreciate Jordan-Laine Calder’s assistance with data collation. This paper built upon data from long-term monitoring of Wandering Albatrosses at Marion Island initiated by John Cooper. Financial and logistical support was provided by the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology and the South African National Antarctic Programme through the National Research Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    M. Genevieve W. Jones, Ben J. Dilley, Quentin A. Hagens, Henk Louw, Edith M. Mertz, Paul Visser & Peter G. Ryan

Authors
  1. M. Genevieve W. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ben J. Dilley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Quentin A. Hagens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Henk Louw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Edith M. Mertz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Paul Visser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Peter G. Ryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Genevieve W. Jones.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jones, M.G.W., Dilley, B.J., Hagens, Q.A. et al. Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans breeding phenology at Marion Island. Polar Biol 40, 1139–1148 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-016-2042-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-016-2042-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation