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Background: Shearwaters (order Procellariiformes) are an excellent study system to investigate the genetic consequences of the co-called "seabird paradox", as they are able to disperse long distances but many species exhibit natal and breeding philopatry. However, few microsatellite markers are currently available for these taxa, hampering genetic inferences., Methods and Results: In this study, 25 novel microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for each of two distantly related shearwater species: the wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) and the tropical shearwater (Puffinus bailloni). Polymorphism tests were performed for a total of 91 A. pacifica individuals sampled at Reunion and Round Island, and 48 P. bailloni individuals from Reunion and Europa Island, in the western Indian Ocean. The analyses revealed 23 polymorphic loci for A. pacifica, with the number of alleles per locus (Na) ranging from 2 to 8 (mean = 3.957 ± 0.364). Nineteen polymorphic loci were found for P. bailloni, with Na varying from two to five (mean = 3.053 ± 0.247). The observed heterozygosity (H o ) was relatively low for the two species, with H o ranging from 0.022 to 0.725 (mean = 0.326 ± 0.044) for A. pacifica and from 0.021 to 0.688 (mean = 0.271 ± 0.051) for P. bailloni, but comparable to the estimates available for other Puffinus species., Conclusions: The new microsatellite loci provide a valuable tool for further population genetic studies, and will allow for design of effective conservation and management plans for A. pacifica, P. bailloni and other closely-related species., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The article presents the study on the behavior and at-sea distribution of the tropical pelagic seabird in the western Indian Ocean. The study aims to determine the movements of the Puffinus pacificus using the global location sensing (GLS) which are breeding in Aride Island, Seychelles. It found out that wedge-tailed shearwater has exploited the unproductive oceans and showed short-distance movements and most of its feeding activity is mainly focused in the daylight period. Information about the at-sea distribution of shearwaters quantifying the overlap with industrial fisheries is considered crucial in conserving the species and creating fisheries policies for the Indian ocean.