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Seabirds deposit large quantities of marine detritus on land, but little is known of the soil arthropods processing this material. Burrow-nesting seabirds concentrate their activities within their burrows, so we tested the hypothesis that burrow arthropod fauna is more marine-like in its isotopic enrichment (13C/12C, 15N/14N; expressed as δ13C and δ15N) than the arthropods on the adjacent forest floor. Results from a Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica) colony on the South Island of New Zealand did not support the hypothesis. Instead, δ15N was universally marine (13–22‰). While δ13C separated into two clusters, the distribution was not according to arthropod provenance. Most taxa had a terrestrial δ13C; only two taxa (a leiodid beetle and the mesostigmatic mite Ayersacarus woodi) incorporated marine C. The leiodid beetle occurs both in burrows and on the forest floor; beetles from both habitats had a marine δ13C. Ayersacarus woodi is found only in burrows. We conclude that, in this system, m...

Endemic Westland petrels (Procellaria westlandica) are a remnant of extensive seabird populations that occupied the forested hill country of prehuman New Zealand. Because seabird guano is rich in Se, an often-deficient essential element, we proposed that Westland petrels enhance Se concentrations in ecosystems associated with their breeding grounds. We sampled terrestrial (soil, plants, riparian spiders) and freshwater (benthic invertebrates, fish) components from Westland petrel-enriched and non-seabird forests on the western coast of New Zealand's South Island, an area characterised by highly leached, nutrient-poor soils. Median seabird soil Se was an order of magnitude higher than soil from non-seabird sites (2.2 mg kg− 1 compared to 0.2 mg kg− 1), but corresponding plant foliage concentrations (0.06 mg kg− 1; 0.05 mg kg− 1) showed no difference between seabird and non-seabird sites. In streams, Se ranged from 0.05 mg kg− 1 (riparian foliage) to 3.1 mg kg− 1 (riparian spiders and freshwater mussels). However, there was no difference between seabird and non-seabird streams. Stoichiometric ratios (N:Se, P:Se) showed Se loss across all ecosystem components relative to seabird guano, except in seabird colony soil where N was lost preferentially. Seabirds therefore did not enrich the terrestrial plants and associated stream ecosystems in Se. We conclude that incorporation of trace elements brought ashore by seabirds cannot be assumed, even though seabirds are a significant source of marine-derived nutrients and trace elements to coastal ecosystems world-wide.

Seabirds are amongst the most globally-threatened of all groups of birds, and conservation issues specific to albatrosses (Diomedeidae) and large petrels (Procellaria spp. and giant petrels Macronectes spp.) led to drafting of the multi-lateral Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP). Here we review the taxonomy, breeding and foraging distributions, population status and trends, threats and priorities for the 29 species covered by ACAP. Nineteen (66%) are listed as threatened by IUCN, and 11 (38%) are declining. Most have extensive at-sea distributions, and the greatest threat is incidental mortality (bycatch) in industrial pelagic or demersal longline, trawl or artisanal fisheries, often in both national and international waters. Mitigation measures are available that reduce bycatch in most types of fisheries, but some management bodies are yet to make these mandatory, levels of implementation and monitoring of compliance are often inadequate, and there are insufficient observer programmes collecting robust data on bycatch rates. Intentional take, pollution (including plastic ingestion), and threats at colonies affect fewer species than bycatch; however, the impacts of disease (mainly avian cholera) and of predation by introduced species, including feral cats (Felis catus), rats (Rattus spp.) and house mice (Mus musculus), are severe for some breeding populations. Although major progress has been made in recent years in reducing bycatch rates and in controlling or eradicating pests at breeding sites, unless conservation efforts are intensified, the future prospects of many species of albatrosses and large petrels will remain bleak. Fil: Phillips, R. A.. British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council; Reino Unido Fil: Gales, R.. No especifica; Fil: Baker, G. B.. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies ; Australia Fil: Double, M. C.. Australian Antarctic Division; Australia Fil: Favero, Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencia Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina Fil: Quintana, Flavio Roberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; Argentina Fil: Tasker, M. L.. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Inverdee House; Reino Unido Fil: Weimerskirch, H.. Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; Francia Fil: Uhart, M.. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Wolfaart, A.. No especifica

During seabird censuses performed as part of scientific research looking into seabird bycatch onboard industrial pelagic longline vessels targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) we made the first documented records of black petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni) in the pelagic waters of northern Chile, considerably extending the species’ range southward. These observations were made during hauling operations in the austral winters of 2008, 2009 and 2010 between 23°00'S and 32°49'S. Black petrels were observed in 9.6% of censuses and a total of 10 birds were recorded. Despite the fact that this species fed upon discards and wastes generated during fishing, no incidental mortality was observed. Our results are relevant to the conservation of the black petrel in the south-eastern Pacific marine ecosystem, as they provide new information on species range and interactions with pelagic fisheries.

Mites are a diverse and important component in the soils of the Southern Ocean islands, but for many groups, their taxonomy and biogeography is little studied. This paper reports the Algophagidae, a poorly known family, from the New Zealand region for the first time. The study used soil samples from seabird burrows, brackish algal wrack samples and a museum collection to recover specimens. Terraphagus antipodus gen. n., sp. n. is described from grey petrel Procellaria cinerea burrow soil on the Antipodes Islands, New Zealand. The axillary organ is confined to the dorsum; the epigynal apodeme ends are fused with the ends of coxal apodeme II; seta 2a and ω2 are absent, and the famulus is bilobed. Males have the sternum fused to coxal apodemes II; the tarsal setae of legs I, III and IV of the male are modified for mate guarding. The short stout legs I and II end in huge spines in females as e, d, q, s, wa and hT. From brackish algal wrack, Lake Forsyth/Wairewa, Canterbury, New Zealand, another algophagid Neohyadesia minor sp. n. is described and illustrated. The new species is the smallest known algophagid. A neohyadesid collected in 1961 is newly reported here from Eudyptes sp. penguin rookery mud from North Head, Macquarie Island. These records further extend the known microhabitats of the family to the allochthonous marine seabird nutrient flow into islands in the New Zealand region and make Neohyadesia Hughes and Goodman, 1969 present in all Southern Ocean provinces.

Species of petrels and shearwaters with high diving ability could facilitate the catch of albatrosses in pelagic longline fisheries, because they retrieve bait to the surface from depths that albatrosses cannot reach. Once on the surface, large seabirds such as albatrosses can easily displace smaller species thus gaining access to baited hooks which increases their likelihood of getting caught. This paper evaluates the extent to which diving species (i.e. Procellaria aequinoctialis, Procellaria conspicillata and Puffinus gravis) increase the susceptibility of albatross to bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. In 48 sets, attacks on baits were quantified. When more than one bird (of the same or different species) tried to attack the same bait this was defined as a multiple attack. There were 384 attacks on baits, of which 260 were made by a single individual and 124 by more than one. Multiple attacks were the largest source of bycatch of albatrosses (22 of 27 albatrosses whose attacks were observed). Of the baits attacked by albatrosses (n = 244), 17% were indirectly facilitated by diving medium-sized petrels. Considering only the multiple attacks in which albatrosses participated (n = 114), 36% were initiated by these medium-sized petrels. Eleven (41%) of the albatrosses captured, and whose attacks were observed, resulted from a diving medium-sized seabird species first having contacted the terminal tackle. This paper shows that medium-sized petrels, with a strong ability to dive, increase considerably the access to bait, and indirectly, the incidental bycatch of albatrosses. Observations made in the absence of mitigation measures also provide useful information to improve the performance of tori lines. Based on the seabird behaviour, it is recommended that tori lines should have a minimum aerial coverage of 50 m. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Rapid classification of a study subject's gender is critical for many ecological, behavioral, and conservation projects. We evaluated sexual-size dimorphism of adult Westland Petrels (Procellaria westlandica), a large nocturnal colony-nesting seabird, using linear discriminant function analysis and compared our results to birds classified using standard DNA gender identification techniques. The results revealed a strong pattern of sexual dimorphism (Wilks' Lambda = 0.43, F7,29 = 5.6, P < 0.001) in the standard discriminant function analysis despite an unbalanced sex ratio in our sample of adults captured at the breeding colony. Minimum bill depth and head length, of the seven morphometric characters we measured, successfully assigned the correct gender to 95% of all individuals sampled (n = 37). We provide a canonical classification function of morphological traits that may be used in the field to rapidly differentiate adult females and males of this rare petrel species.

Ayersacarus woodi sp. n. (Acari: Leptolaelapidae) is described from Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica Falla) burrows at Punakaiki, South Island, New Zealand. The genus has previously been reported only from sub-Antarctic islands. The new species is most like A. plumapilus Hunter (type species) but differs from it in females in the size and shape of the epigynal shield; much larger metapodal shields; and a wider than long anal shield with lateral pores. The ecology of the new species was explored using stable isotope (13C/12C; 15N/14N) analysis of females alongside contextual data from the site. From the 13C/12C results, the new species is dependent on marine C from petrels rather than terrestrial photosynthetic C. In terms of trophic level, the isotopic data are consistent with consumption of guano decomposers or their eggs.

Until recently, the spectacled petrel Procellaria conspicillata Gould was listed as Critically Endangered due to its small population size and ongoing incidental mortality on fishing gear. Surveys at its sole breeding locality, Inaccessible Island in the central South Atlantic Ocean, indicated that the population increased from 1999–2004, resulting in the species being down-listed to Vulnerable. We repeated the census of breeding spectacled petrels during the early incubation period in October–November 2009. Numbers of burrows increased by 55% from 2004–09, with increases in all count zones, and the greatest changes in peripheral populations. Burrow occupancy estimates remained high, averaging 81% during one-off checks. Our best estimate of the population in 2009 was 14 400 pairs, continuing the c. 7% per year increase inferred since the 1930s following the disappearance of introduced pigs. This confirms the rapid recovery of this species despite ongoing mortality on fishing gear. Our results suggest that at least some procellariiforms are able to sustain strong growth rates in the face of fishing mortality when colony based threats are removed.

Knowledge of the dynamics of long-distance migrations of pelagic seabirds is limited. Recent advances in tracking technology have yielded detailed, continuous accounts of the movements of individual seabirds over large spatial and temporal scales. We studied the timing of migration and year-round distribution of the Westland Petrel (Procellaria westlandica), listed by the IUCN as vulnerable, with miniature archival light loggers (geolocators) deployed on 10 incubating birds breeding in 2007 at Westland, New Zealand. We retrieved data from eight Westland Petrels, indicating the birds migrated in November directly east ∼7000 km from the coast of New Zealand to South American waters in 6 days (range 4–7), then returned the following April in 10 days (range 8–13). The durations of an individual's outward and return flights and the dates of its outward and return migrations were positively correlated. During their journeys east and west, birds spent on average (±SD) 9.9% (±9.7) and 17.2% (±12.0), res...

Seabird species within a community are expected to have distinct trophic niches according to foraging methods and body size, but some seabirds exploit fishery waste which can be quite distinct from natural foods. Even in the presence of fishery discards we hypothesize that a pelagic seabird community is structured according to body size, feeding methods, and access to discards. We measured carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in whole blood of seabirds from the offshore wintering community of Procellariiformes (albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters and storm-petrels) in the SW Atlantic Ocean. We compared this with isotope values of potential prey items and fishery discards, to investigate the importance of discards from the tuna-shark pelagic longline fishery in the diet of these birds. Despite contrasting body masses and feeding techniques, there was extensive overlap in the range of isotopic ratios for different species. Carbon isotope values were typical of the subtropical offshore region. Nitrogen values also showed a high degree of overlap among species and clearly signify that the birds are feeding on fishery waste (especially shark liver). Recently arrived migrants from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic, and species still rearing chicks when sampled (e.g. wandering albatross Diomedea exulans) had carbon isotopic values indicative of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions. All species breeding at more southerly latitudes underwent a marked shift (increase) in carbon and nitrogen isotopes, indicating a change in diet between breeding and wintering seasons. Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), the only sampled species not attending vessels, had low nitrogen values reflecting a diet of flying fish which occur naturally in the area and showed no change in isotope values between breeding and wintering grounds. Mixing models demonstrate the need to include an external food source (Antarctic krill) to recreate the isotope values obtained from seabird blood: this corresponds to the blood of wintering migrants retaining a minor component from their diet in the southern breeding grounds. The stable isotope results suggest that the availability of discards from pelagic fisheries in the SW Atlantic Ocean lead to an artificially and poorly structured seabird community, with most species utilizing the same food resource. The balance between population benefits obtained from feeding upon otherwise unavailable discards, and the costs from incidental mortality on longline fishing hooks is likely to differ among species, with positive effects for small-sized species and negative effects on albatrosses and Procellaria petrels.

A recent analysis of archaeological bird remains from Harataonga Bay, Great Barrier Island is reported and compared with a prior study conducted in the 1960s. The assemblages come from two Maori occupations, one dating to ca. fourteenth century AD and the other to late prehistory. The new study identifies several previously unreported species for Harataonga, and the first record of prehistoric Maori use of Black Petrel or Taiko (Procellaria parkinsoni), and possibly Pycroft's Petrel (Pterodroma pycrofti). The assemblages are dominated by seabirds, a common pattern for the South Island but unusual for more northern areas, where forest birds are typically better represented. The limited forest birds are concentrated in the early occupation. Combining the two studies broadens our understanding of past species distributions on Great Barrier Island, and Maori use of these resources over time. Analytically, comparison of the two studies, one conducted some time ago, demonstrates the impact of fine-mesh...

Stable isotope studies have repeatedly shown marine nutrient incorporation from seabirds, anadromous fish and tidal wrack into terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. However, little is known about the physiological consequences of marine-derived nutrient subsidies. Protein content and lipid storage are important physiologically, and the C:N ratio is a widely used proxy that reflects changes in these quantities. In this study we tested the response of C:N ratios in stream biota to the presence of marine-derived nutrients from Westland petrels, a forest breeding seabird. Samples of different stream invertebrate functional feeding groups, predatory freshwater fish, coarse particulate organic matter and riparian soil and vegetation came from four reference streams and four streams with a wide range of seabird densities. Samples were analysed for percentage C, percentage N and δ15N using isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The data were tested against petrel colony size, stream size and distance from colony to sampling site. Despite increased δ15N accompanying petrel presence (as reported previously), Westland petrels had no effect on stream biota C:N ratios, regardless of colony presence or absence or colony size. Despite the nutrients provided by petrels, we conclude that petrel N replaced rather than enhanced non-marine N in these stream ecosystems.

The genus Procellaria traditionally consists of four species, two restricted to New Zealand and two widespread in the Southern Ocean. All four are threatened because of incidental mortality on longlines and other fishing gear. The White-chinned Petrel P. aequinoctialis is the seabird killed in largest numbers by fisheries in the Southern Ocean. A spectacled form recently has been elevated to species status, Spectacled Petrel P. conspicillata, based on differences in morphometrics, vocalisations and breeding phenology. Cytochrome b sequences support species status for the Spectacled Petrel and show that the White-chinned Petrel has two regional populations, one around New Zealand and one throughout the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. White-chinned and Spectacled Petrels segregated approximately 0.90 million years ago by allopatric fragmentation, and the two populations within White-chinned Petrels diverged approximately 0.35 million years ago. Climate changes and corresponding changes in ocean currents are most likely responsible for these patterns.

White-chinned petrels Procellaria aequinoctialis and grey petrels Procellaria cinerea are among the most frequently killed seabird species by accidental bycatch, and both species have received strong conservation concern. Data on population size are required to evaluate the impact of bycatch and to establish management plans. We estimated the population size of both species at Kerguelen, Southern Indian Ocean, from 2004 to 2006 by explicitly taking into account detection probability of burrows using distance sampling and burrow occupancy. A total of 31 line-transects were distributed across the eastern part of Kerguelen, representing a total length of 566 km. Detectability was low (from 0.19 to 0.54 for whitechinned petrels, 0.58 for grey petrels). Burrow densities varied from 1.37 � 0.67 to 25.77 � 5.23 burrows ha � 1 for white-chinned petrels and was 2.78 � 0.79 burrows ha � 1 for grey petrels. For white-chinned petrels, these densities were extrapolated to the entire surface area of vegetation and there were 234 000 (186 000–297 000) active burrows on Kerguelen. For grey petrels, the number of active burrows for the eastern part of Kerguelen was 3400 (1900–5600). Based on these estimates, the potential biological removal method suggests that the additional mortality on birds caused by the fisheries operating around Kerguelen can be considered a serious threat for the species at least at the regional scale of the Southern Indian Ocean, especially for grey petrels.

Satellite transmitters were used to determine the marine habitat utilization and fishery overlap of wintering spectacled petrels Procellaria conspicillata in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean in 2006 and 2007. Kernel density analysis of tracked birds demonstrated intense use of waters in the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, from 26 to 31° S, mainly over the continental shelf break and off- shore waters (mean depth in the < 20% kernel density areas = 1043 ± 794 m), over warm tropical and subtropical waters (mean SST = 22°C and 21°C in 2006 and 2007, respectively) and mesotrophic/ oligotrophic waters (chlorophyll a density = 0.301 and 0.281 mg m -3 in 2006 and 2007, respectively). These habitats used by spectacled petrels are remarkably different from those used by their sister species, the white-chinned petrel P. aequinoctialis, which occurs mainly over the continental shelf on sub-Antarctic and productive waters. A close association between spectacled petrels and the pelagic longline fishery was demonstrated through comparison of the main kernel areas used by spectacled petrels and the areas used by the pelagic longline fleet determined by fishing effort at resolution of 1 × 1° quadrants. Travel speeds and distances during night and daytime periods did not differ. The present study demonstrates the importance of high resolution fishing effort data to address relation- ships between bird marine habitat use and specific fishing fleets, and to determine marine habitats and investigate at sea segregation between closely related species.

Most studies of seabirds that involve trapping and marking birds are carried out at breeding colonies. This bias toward the breeding period and colony-based research is partially caused by difficulties in capturing birds at sea. From 2005 to 2007, we used a cast net thrown by hand from a fishing boat to capture albatrosses and petrels at sea in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. About 500 birds of 13 species were captured, ranging in size from the 30-g Wilson's Storm-petrel {Oceanites oceanicus) to the 10-kg Wandering Albatross {Diomedea exulans). Cast nets are potentially useful for capturing any seabird that can be attracted close to fishing vessels by bait, such as sardines, squid, offal, or shark liver, thrown into the water. Our method was most effective for capturing bold species, such as Cape {Daption capense), Spectacled {Procellaria conspicillata), and White-chinned {Procellaria aequinoctialis) petrels and Great Shearwaters {Puff nus gravis), but was not effective for capturing shy species, such as Cory's {Calonectris diomedea), Cape Verde {Calonectris edwardsii) and Manx {Puff nus puff nus) shearwaters, species that rarely sit on the water, such as Wilson's Storm-petrels, Thin-billed {Pachyptila belcheri) and Antarctic {Pachyptila desolata) prions and Atlantic Petrels {Pterodroma incerta), and species with excellent diving abilities, such as Sooty Shearwaters {Puff nus griseus). For many species of seabirds, cast nets would likely be more efficient for capturing large numbers of birds than other methods, such as hoop nets.

Flocks of seabirds attending commercial bottom long-line fishing operations on the coastal shelf off southeastern Brazil show a greater species diversity during the summer than the winter (16 v 9 species), although the number of birds per flock tended to be greater during the cold season. During the summer, the Spectacled Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis conspi-cillata was the commonest species, followed by the Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea, skuas Stercorarius spp. and the Yellow-nosed AlbatrossDiomedea chlororhynchus. During the winter, the White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequin-octialis, Yellow-nosed Albatross and Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophrys were jointly the commonest species. Marked differences in the relative abundance of species were observed between the different sampling periods, probably because of migratory movements but also because of seasonal shifts of the sea currents and the influence of cold fronts. Waters off southeastern Brazil are important feeding areas for some seabird populations nesting in the Tristan da Cunha and Gough group, especially for nonbreeding Spectacled Petrels and post-breeding Yellow-nosed Albatrosses.

SUMMARY The food of L. argentatus on Skomer and Skokholm Islands (Wales) was studied by the analysis of stomach contents, pellets and direct observation. L. argentatus is mainly a scavenger and exists for the most part on fish-waste and garbage discarded by man. At Ncwborough Warren argentatus feeds more on arable land and on the shore than do the Skokholm and Skomer birds. Although argentatus frequently eats limpets Patella spp., there is little competition for food between them and Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus because the two species eat different sized limpets. A summary of previous studies into the food of argentatus is given. L. marinus is mainly a predator feeding on the young of other gulls, sea-birds and Rabbits but it also eats carrion, offal and fish-waste when available and during the winter. The numbers of Manx Shearwaters Procellaria puffinus killed on Skokholm and Skomer are discussed. L. fuscus obtains most of its food on the shore and on arable land. There appears to be little competition, at least in the areas studied, between .fuscus and argentatus for food.

Taxonomic characters of gadfly petrels (Procellariidae: Pterodroma spp.) are reviewed and the genus is redefined. The structure of the upper intestines, which have become helicoidally twisted to varying degrees in most species, is an important character not hitherto used. Results of a phylogenetic study of the genus based mainly on the development of helicoidal intestines agree substantially with findings from studies of the Mallophaga parasitizing these petrels. One species, the Kerguelen Petrel Lugensa brevirostris, previously classified in Pterodroma, is shown to have closer affinity with some fulmar genera. The Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria rostrata and its rare or extinct relatives, formerly placed in a superspecies of Pterodroma, are more closely related to the Procellaria and Bulweria petrels, and may be derived from the link between the subfamilies Procellariinae and Fulmarinae. From consideration of the fossil record, anatomical characters and Mallophaga, a phylogeny of the Procellariidae is proposed which supports its monophyletic origin. Gadfly petrels apparently descended from the fulmars through the ancestral lines of Snow Petrels Pagodroma, the Kerguelen Petrel and finally the Blue Petrel Halobaena, which may have given rise separately both to gadfly petrels and to the prions Pachyptila. A late Pliocene origin of Pterodroma in the vicinity of southern New Zealand is possible. The genus Pterodroma is divided into four subgenera, representing four connected radiations, and 29 species are recognised. In probable chronological order, Proaestrelata (new subgenus) contains five species and is restricted to the Pacific Ocean, Cookilaria comprises six species restricted as breeders to the South Pacific, Hallstroma has seven species mainly in the tropics of the Pacific, Indian and South Atlantic Oceans, whereas Pterodroma includes 11 species which extend as breeders from the southwest Pacific west to the South Atlantic and into the North Atlantic. Ecological, physical and physiological adaptations in the evolution of gadfly petrels are discussed.

Summary. 1. Large-scale excavations and observations during homing experiments provided incidental data on incubation. 2. The main period (median 90%) of egg-laying is from 25 April to 20 May, of hatching from 17 June to 12 July. The median dates for these processes are 6 May and 28 June. The average incubation period is 53 days. 3. Incubation shifts are long (average 5 days) and variable, 2 to 16 days if unrelieved. Temporarily deserted eggs were only found in about 1% of undisturbed nests. 4. Nevertheless many well-developed eggs hatched after being chilled in the burrow for up to 7 days. Others remained viable for up to 13 days in the laboratory. The length of the chilling period and the stage of development at which it occurs have little effect on the proportion surviving. 5. The ecological and evolutionary significance of the faculty is considered, with a brief survey of chilling resistance in the embryos of other birds.

Summary. The breeding distribution of the Sooty Shearwater and the dates of its breeding season are briefly reviewed. Records from the Southern Ocean are summarised. It is concluded that they are accounted for by non-breeding birds feeding off the ice-edge in the Australian sector of the Antarctic during the latter part of the breeding season. The great majority of Sooty Shearwaters spend the southern winter in the Pacific Ocean. Birds from the New Zealand colonies are probably mostly found on the feeding grounds off Japan: some may make a “circular” migration around the Pacific. Birds from the Cape Horn colonies spend the southern winter in the rich areas off the western coast of North America. Some Sooty Shearwaters spend the southern winter off the South African coasts. A number of non-breeding birds remain there throughout the summer. The Sooty Shearwaters “wintering” in the North Atlantic are probably numbered in tens of thousands only. The distribution of records is reviewed month by month and the records from Atlantic transects are summarised. The migrations in the North Atlantic are discussed in relation to prevailing meteorological and oceanographic conditions, and food supply. It is concluded that most Sooty Shearwaters in the North Atlantic make a “circular” migration, crossing the North Atlantic from west to east in June and July, and re-crossing about September further south in the northeast trades.

The report by Titian Ramsay Peale on birds encountered during the Wilkes Expedition was withdrawn for inaccuracy when few copies had been distributed, and re-written by John Cassin. A survey of the accounts of the petrels shows that this was not an improvement. Two important type localities for Procellaria brevipes and Thalassidroma lineata are probably wrong, and could be exchanged.

The decline of populations of certain seabirds and sea turtles around the world is partly related to their incidental capture in large-scale fisheries. However, the impacts of small-scale fisheries on endangered seabirds and sea turtles, being carried out in many places around the world, have been largely neglected by scientists and governments. We monitored 178 fishing days and described a range of poorly known hook-and-line commercial fisheries carried out by the Itaipava fleet, southeastern Brazil, composed by 497 vessels and deploying hooks from 18°S to 35°S. Seven fisheries were defined: fast trolling for tuna and tuna-like species, slow trolling for Bigeye tuna, handlining, surface longline for Dolphinfish, pelagic longline for Swordfish, bottom dropline, and pole-and-line with live bait. We observed bycatch of 47 seabirds of six species and 45 turtles of four species. Capture rates were higher for the surface longline for Dolphinfish (0.15 birds/1000 hooks and 1.08 turtles/1000 hooks), slow trolling for Bigeye tuna (0.41 birds/day) and handlining targeting Yellowfin tuna (0.61 birds/day). Endangered Spectacled petrel (Procellaria conspicillata), Atlantic Yellow-nosed (Thalassarche chlororhynchos), and Black-browed (T. melanophris) albatrosses were the main seabirds caught. Immature Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and immature or adult Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) were the main sea turtles affected by the surface longline for Dolphinfish. Monitoring the fleet and bycatch levels, development of mitigation measures, establishment of educational programs, government control over the fleet, and enforcement, are urgently required for the hook-and-line fisheries described in the present study.

The southwestern Atlantic Ocean is an important foraging ground throughout the year for several albatross and petrel species. Longline fishing fleets in the region currently pose the main threat for this group of seabirds at sea, and conservation measures are urgently required. We present information on bycatch rates of seabirds in the Brazilian domestic pelagic longline fishery from 2001 to 2007, and review bycatch rates reported for the demersal and pelagic longline fisheries in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Overall seabird capture rate for the Brazilian pelagic longline fleet during 63 cruises (656 sets and 788 446 hooks) was 0.229 birds per 1000 hooks, varying from 0 to 0.542 according to season. Capture rates were higher between June and November (cold season) and affected mainly the black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophris (55% of birds captured), the white-chinned petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis, the spectacled petrel Procellaria conspicillata and the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos. Capture rates previously reported in the SW Atlantic varied from 0 to 5.03 birds per 1000 hooks, with those reports based on logbooks or fishermen interviews tending to underestimate capture rates, whereas those based on small num- bers of hooks or short time periods tend to greatly overestimate rates in both pelagic and demersal longline fisheries. Previous studies have played an important role in delimiting the seabird bycatch problem, forming a baseline for mitigation actions and serving as a guide for improvements in data collection. However, data collected by onboard seabird-dedicated observers are more reliable, pro- vide a greater range of information relating to bycatch, and form a baseline for more robust analysis and addressing further questions. The current study highlights the stochastic nature of seabird fatal- ities in longline fisheries and the need for extensive sampling to obtain realistic estimates of capture rates covering different years, seasons, vessels, and the range of fishing gear and practices.

We studied the diet of feral cats (Felis catus) on New Island, Falkland Islands, through the analysis of 373 scats collected during the austral summers of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006. The most frequent prey were three introduced mammals (house mice Mus musculus, ship rats Rattus rattus and rabbits Sylvilagus sp.) and the thin-billed prion Pachyptila belcheri (each season present on ca. 21% of the analysed scats). These represent the first systematic data on feral cat diet for the Falklands. A simple bioenergetics model suggests that cats could be eating in the region of 1,500–11,000 prions per season, representing

Marine nitrogen (N) has been traced into terrestrial and freshwater food chains at petrel (Aves: Procellariiformes) colonies on the South Island of New Zealand, but the effects of N or other marine‐derived nutrients on the productivity of mainland forests are unknown. Mean ring widths in matai (Prumnopitys taxifolia; n = 3) and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum; n = 2) trees growing in a Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica) colony were 0.9–1.4 mm yr–1, similar to ring widths reported elsewhere. However, series of much wider rings in cores showed that trees in a petrel colony can experience periods of accelerated growth. δ15N values of whole wood were, at 3.2–11.1%, significantly enriched in comparison to other temperate forest trees. The highest δ15N values were at the cambial and pith ends of different cores, so isotopic fractionation during N remobilisation is unlikely to have been significant. The radial extent of 15N enrichment suggests that petrels have bred at the site since at least the mid...

In a previous study, we reported that deploying small amounts of biogenic oil derived from the livers of school sharks (Galeorhinus galeus) was effective in reducing the numbers of seabirds attending fishing vessels and seabird diving activity in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand. This seabird assemblage was numerically dominated by Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes) and the globally vulnerable Black Petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni). The results suggested that the oil deterrent operated via an olfactory or chemesthetic mechanism. Here we compare the deterrent effects of shark-liver oil with three other fish oils, in the Flesh-footed Shearwater–Black Petrel assemblage. We also report on trials assessing the deterrent efficacy of shark-liver oil and one other fish oil in an assemblage including four species of albatrosses (Diomedea spp., Thalasarcche spp.), Southern and Northern Giant-Petrels (Macronectes giganteus and M. halli), and Cape Petrels (Daption capense). Shark-liver oil was the most effective deterrent of the four fish oils tested in the Flesh-footed Shearwater–Black Petrel assemblage, but it did not deter albatrosses, giant-petrels or Cape Petrels from attending vessels. Thus, the deterrent was effective only on burrow-nesting seabird species. These results may provide further support for our speculation that the deterrent operates via an olfactory mechanism, while corroborating other work linking life-history characteristics of seabirds to their sensory ecology. We recommend research to investigate the mechanism and active ingredients by which shark-liver oil deters some species of seabirds. We also suggest testing fish oils on White-chinned (Procellaria aequinoctialis) and Grey (Procellaria cinerea) Petrels, and Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus griseus), as well as in other areas occupied by Flesh-footed Shearwaters, to assess further potential for this natural oil or its ingredients to reduce by-catch of seabird species globally.

International audience; Species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly applied in conservation management to predict suitable habitat for poorly known populations. High predictive performance of SDMs is evident in validations performed within the model calibration area (interpolation), but few studies have assessed SDM transferability to novel areas (extrapolation), particularly across large spatial scales or pelagic ecosystems. We performed rigorous SDM validation tests on distribution data from three populations of a long-ranging marine predator, the grey petrel Procellaria cinerea, to assess model transferability across the Southern Hemisphere (25-65°S). Oceanographic data were combined with tracks of grey petrels from two remote sub-Antarctic islands (Antipodes and Kerguelen) using boosted regression trees to generate three SDMs: one for each island population, and a combined model. The predictive performance of these models was assessed using withheld tracking data from within the model calibration areas (interpolation), and from a third population, Marion Island (extrapolation). Predictive performance was assessed using k-fold cross validation and point biserial correlation. The two population-specific SDMs included the same predictor variables and suggested birds responded to the same broad-scale oceanographic influences. However, all model validation tests, including of the combined model, determined strong interpolation but weak extrapolation capabilities. These results indicate that habitat use reflects both its availability and bird preferences, such that the realized distribution patterns differ for each population. The spatial predictions by the three SDMs were compared with tracking data and fishing effort to demonstrate the conservation pitfalls of extrapolating SDMs outside calibration regions. This exercise revealed that SDM predictions would have led to an underestimate of overlap with fishing effort and potentially misinformed bycatch mitigation efforts. Although SDMs can elucidate potential distribution patterns relative to large-scale climatic and oceanographic conditions, knowledge of local habitat availability and preferences is necessary to understand and successfully predict region-specific realized distribution patterns.

The spectacled petrel Procellaria conspicillata is listed as critically endangered due to its small population size and ongoing mortality on long-lines. Spectacled petrels were counted in 2004, repeating a census made in 1999 at their sole breeding locality, Inaccessible Island. The 2004 survey took place earlier in the breeding season than the previous count, allowing for more robust estimates of burrow occupancy. During early incubation, birds responded to call playback at 69% of burrow entrances, but birds in at least 8% of burrows remained silent. Birds in shallow burrows were less likely to respond to playback than were those in deep burrows. Two repeat trials at 100 marked nests showed that at least 61% of apparently ‘unoccupied’ burrows were occupied on subsequent checks, resulting in an overall occupancy estimate of 91%. Occupancy was equally high in peripheral colonies. The apparent spatial extent of colonies increased slightly from 1999, and the estimate of total burrow numbers increased by 50%, from 5900 burrows in 1999 to 8900 in 2004. Validation surveys indicated that burrow numbers were underestimated (84 ± 3%) to the same extent as that in 1999 (85 ± 4%), and repeat checks of one colony where all nests were marked showed that even careful counts underestimated actual numbers of burrows by up to 10%. This suggests there are some 11–12,000 burrows, and assuming 90% occupancy, the adult population is likely to be at least 20,000 birds. The population has increased over the last five years, continuing the apparent recovery from a very small population size in the early 20th century. Despite this increase, demographic models indicate that the population remains at risk from relatively small increases in mortality, if mortality is determined primarily by fishing effort. Mitigation of long-line mortality remains the key conservation goal for this species.

Longline fisheries throughout the world have frequent and often fatal interactions with seabirds. We experimentally tested one possible solution to seabird–fisheries interactions that was proposed by a New Zealand longline fisherman. This involved dripping school shark Galeorhinus galeus liver oil on the ocean surface behind fishing vessels. We tested the efficacy of shark liver oil in reducing the numbers of seabirds attending fishing vessels and the number of dives seabirds executed in pursuit of pilchard Sardinops neopilchardus baits. We conducted trials in northern New Zealand where seabird assemblages include the globally vulnerable black petrel Procellaria parkinsoni . Shark liver oil was effective in reducing both seabird numbers and dives on baits, compared to canola oil and seawater control treatments. Comparisons of seabird responses to shark liver oil and vegetable oil suggest that shark liver oil acts as an olfactory or chemesthetic deterrent for seabirds. Further work should include testing the oil with additional seabird species and investigating active ingredients and habituation of seabirds to the oil in order to assess wider opportunities for long-term use of shark liver oil to reduce seabird bycatch.

Breeding of the Grey Petrel (Procellaria cinerea) was confirmed on Macquarie Island, with 26 colonies located, and unconfirmed nesting activity found at two additional localities. Colonies comprised from one to 12 burrows in which nesting was confirmed, with the total number of burrows in which nesting confirmed for all colonies combined ranging from eight in 2000 to 59 in 2003. The total number of active burrows with breeding not confirmed in all colonies combined ranged from 58 in 2001 to 54 in 2002 and 21 in 2003. The total number of fledged chicks ranged from six (2000) to 20 (2002), with a success rate of 75% in 2000 and 80% in 2002. Breeding success declined in 2003 to 32%. Factors accounting for nest failure are discussed. Colonies were located in Poa foliosa tussock grassland on steep seaward-facing (n = 26) or near-coastal slopes (n = 2) in deep soil with little surface rock. Five environmental variables determined colony location. Numbers of burrows increased with increasing depth of soils and on distinct spur-crests with a westerly aspect. Increased breeding success at higher altitude was related to decreased Black Rat activity. Uncertainty in our estimation of the size of the breeding population on Macquarie Island was caused by the high proportion of burrows in which breeding could not be confirmed. However, based on numbers of burrows for which nesting confirmed, a minimum breeding population of 59 pairs was present in 2003. If unconfirmed nesting burrows are included, the breeding population of Grey Petrels on Macquarie Island was probably 79 and 80 pairs in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Only a small proportion of the marine nutrients brought ashore by breeding colonial seabirds is retained in colony soils. However, means by which these marine nutrients can be dispersed to the wider terrestrial ecosystem have rarely been identified. In this study, moulted feathers from Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae (an endemic pigeon; n=9) and Gallirallus australis (an endemic flightless rail; n=3) and from a Procellaria westlandica (Westland petrel) colony were analysed for 13C and 15N enrichment. Potential diet items from both the colony and a control location were also analysed, and their contributions to the diets of H. novaeseelandiae and G. australis calculated. Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae assimilated marine N but not marine C, and showed a wide range in the significance of different diet sources. Food for most H. novaeseelandiae came from within the colony, implying minimal transport of marine nutrients to the wider terrestrial environment. All G. australis food came from within the colony, but 29–39% was from petrel tissue, or invertebrates feeding on petrel material. Thus, both H. novaeseelandiae and G. australis assimilated nutrients brought ashore by P. westlandica, but neither was shown to disperse the nutrients much beyond the petrel colony. However, birds that are now locally extinct may have dispersed marine nutrients more widely. Future research should focus on the consequences of restoring these species to petrel colonies as part of attempts to re-establish the functioning of pre-human ecosystems in New Zealand.

SUMMARY 1. Stable isotope ratios of aquatic invertebrates, aquatic mosses and leaves of riparian plants were used to determine whether marine-derived nutrients from breeding colonies of the Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica) were incorporated into the food webs of small streams in New Zealand. 2. The d 15 N signatures of all plants and animals examined were higher by 3.6–4.6& in small streams draining catchments with petrel colonies than in nearby streams where petrels were absent. d 13 C values of leaves from terrestrial plants were also enriched by about 2& where petrels were present, but the carbon ratios of aquatic species were depleted in 13 C, rather than enriched, suggesting that any marine signal was over-ridden by isotopic shifts related to photosynthetic fractionation. 3. A high marine-nitrogen signal was maintained along the 3 km length of Scotchman Creek with the d 15 N values of leptophlebiid mayflies and predatory insects ranging from 7.4–9.5 and 9.2–11.9&, respectively. 4. Most nutrients derived from petrels are likely to be translocated to streams via the soil, which they enter in the form of excreta, spilled food, feathers, dead chicks, and abandoned eggs. However, because changes in d 15 N values are brought about by soil processes such as volatilisation of ammonia, nitrification and denitrification, it is difficult to predict the exact isotope signature of nitrogen entering a stream. Tentative estimates of the proportion of marine-derived nitrogen in stream biota, calculated using a mass-balance approach, ranged from 28–38%. 5. Our findings indicate that marine nutrients transported inland by seabirds can be incorporated into the food webs of streams. In pre-human times when there were many more seabird colonies on mainland New Zealand than exist today, marine-derived nutrients introduced by birds may have had significant effects on nitrogen cycling and the productivity of New Zealand streams.

Longline fisheries have expanded throughout the world's oceans since major commercial distant-water pelagic fleets began fishing for tuna and tuna-like species in the early 1950s. Along with the more recent development and expansion of demersal longline fleets for species such as Patagonian toothfish, these vessels are a major source of mortality to several species of seabird. Vessels can set many thousands of baited hooks in a day across many kilometres of water. These waters are often used as foraging areas by wide-ranging seabirds. Attracted by baits and offal, the birds can be caught on the baited hooks and subsequently drown. To provide a greater understanding of the potential impact of the Southern Ocean's longline fleets on seabird populations, this paper describes the trends in longline effort of the major pelagic and demersal fisheries in southern waters. The total reported effort from all longline fleets south of 30°S has been well over 250 million hooks per year since the early 1990s. However the spatial and temporal distribution of this effort has not been constant. While effort from the Japanese pelagic distant-water longline fleet declined through the 1990s, the Taiwanese fleet expanded dramatically. Likewise demersal fishing for toothfish increased markedly during the mid-1990s. These fisheries, along with substantial illegal longline fisheries, may be placing the long-term viability of many Southern Ocean species of seabird in jeopardy.

Pelagic longline fisheries worldwide incidentally take long-lived seabird species. This mortality has led to fisheries restrictions to protect seabirds at risk, including Wandering (Diomedea exulans) and Amsterdam Albatross (D. amsterdamensis) in the South Pacific and Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) in the South Atlantic. Because pelagic longline fisheries involve multinational fleets operating in vast ocean regions, assessing total bycatch levels for a seabird is challenging. Here we present a case study of quantifying bycatch from a basin-wide pelagic longline fishery and assessing the population-level impact on a vulnerable seabird, the Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) in the central North Pacific. We develop an assessment method that uses observer data to estimate bycatch for one fleet and then uses scenario analysis to estimate bycatch for remaining fleets. Our method generates a bounded estimate of bycatch within an ocean region, ranging from the worst-case to the best-case bycatch scenario. We find that Black-footed Albatross mortality across all fleets in the central North Pacific may total as much as 10 000 individuals/yr. At this level of mortality, population declines are likely. However, even at the best-case bycatch estimate (5200 individuals/yr), population declines may occur over the next three generations (60 years). Although this analysis requires extensive estimation and extrapolation from existing data, it is critical to provide fisheries managers with bounded estimates of likely population-level effects of current fishing activity. Corresponding Editor: Paul Dayton

We report on the population changes of five species of Procellariiform seabirds breeding at Marion Island: wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma), northern giant petrel (Macronectes halli), southern giant petrel (M. giganteus), and white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctalis). The four large surface-nesting species (wandering albatross, grey-headed albatross and the northern and southern giant petrel) show similar population trends over the last 16–18 years. All were stable or decreasing during the 1980s, followed by a recovery period during the early to mid-1990s. Recently, all species have once again stabilized or decreased in numbers. Population trends of wandering albatross at Marion Island were strongly correlated with other Indian Ocean populations, but were different from the Atlantic Ocean population. These similarities suggest a common cause and can be explained by changes in tuna (Thunnus spp.) longline fishing effort in the southern Indian Ocean. A recent increase in tuna longlining, as well as recent large-scale Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) longline fishing for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) close to Marion Island, could be contributing to the recent decreases in some of these species. Adoption of mitigation measures and an effective means of dealing with IUU longline fishing seem necessary to reduce the potential impacts of longline fishing on populations of albatross and petrel.

The Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata is endemic to Inaccessible Island, in the Tristan da Cunha group (central South Atlantic). The species is considered an occasional visitor to Argentina and there are few records of the species in national waters. On 13 February 2014, two birds were observed (and photographed) 89 nautical miles southeast off Buenos Aires Province at 38°55'S, 56°00'W. This record represents the second documented record of Spectacled Petrel for Argentina.

SummaryThe Spectacled Petrel Procellaria [aequinoctialis] conspicillata only breeds at Inaccessible Island, central South Atlantic Ocean. During the early 1980s the population was estimated to be at most 1,000 pairs, but hundreds of Spectacled Petrels have been killed annually in longline fisheries off the east coast of South America since at least 1987. Although the population is characterized by a unique plumage trait, it is still regarded as a subspecies of the White-chinned Petrel P. aequinoctialis. Analysis of calls and playback experiments show that the Spectacled Petrel is vocally distinct from White-chinned Petrels and should be regarded as a valid biological species. It is also slightly smaller and breeds earlier than the White-chinned Petrel. Given its small population size and known mortality on longlines, the Spectacled Petrel is Endangered in terms of IUCN criteria C1 and C2b. Longline fisheries operating off South America should institute measures to reduce seabird by-catch. A survey of the breeding population at Inaccessible Island is required to assess the rate at which the population is decreasing.

Iso‐electric focusing was used to identify fish tissue in Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica) diet samples. Forty‐five percent of the samples from Westland petrel stomachs produced clear protein banding patterns and more than half of these were identified as species common in fisheries’ waste. Proteins in the other samples were presumably too digested for this technique. Iso‐electric focusing is a comparatively quick and inexpensive technique and is particularly useful for diet studies where flesh eaten is likely to be relatively undigested at the time of sampling.

The diet of the Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandicawas studied during the chick-rearing period (August-–October) from1993–96. Fish occurred in 92% of samples and formed 78.8± 6.5% by weight of the solid food brought back to thecolony. Cephalopods were found in 32% of samples and contributed 18.7± 6.2% of solid food by weight. Crustacea occurred inonly 4% of samples and contributed only 2.4 ± 2.4%of solid food by weight. During the part of the chick-rearing period in whichthe Hoki Macruronus novaezelandiae fishery was operating(August to mid-September), fisheries waste accounted for 80% of thefish found in samples and formed around 63% of the total diet at thattime. After the Hoki season, fisheries waste accounted for only 31% ofthe fish found in samples, therefore contributing only around 25% ofthe total diet as birds switched to capturing more natural prey, or scavenged a wider variety of fish species, presumably from smaller, in-shore fishing vessels.

Although the genus Pseudobulweria was described in 1936 for the Fiji Petrel (Ps. macgillivrayi), its validity, phylogenetic relationships, and the number of constituent taxa it contains remain controversial. We tried to clarify these issues with 496 bp sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene of 12 taxa representing three putative subspecies of Pseudobulweria, seven species in six other genera of the Procellariidae (fulmars, petrels, and shearwaters), and one species each from the Hydrobatidae (storm-petrels) and Pelecanoidi- dae (diving-petrels). We also include published sequences for two other petrels (Procellaria cinerea and Macronectes giganteus) and use Diomedea exulans and Pelecanus erythrorhynchos as outgroups. Based on the pronounced sequence divergence (5 to 5.5%) and separate phylo- genetic history from other genera that have been thought to be closely related to or have been synonymized with Pseudobulweria, we conclude that the genus is valid, and that the Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima) and the Tahiti Petrel (Ps. rostrata) are distinct spe- cies. In trees constructed with maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood, Pseudobul- weria is the sister taxon to Puffinus and Calonectris, and these genera in turn are most closely related to Bulweria (and Procellaria in the maximum-parsimony tree). Pseudobulweria is not closely related to Pterodroma in either tree. Because Ps. r. trouessarti from New Caledonia, and Ps. r. rostrata from Polynesia differ by only 0.6%, these taxa do not deserve species status and should be regarded as valid subspecies. Received 7 October 1996, accepted 23 July 1997.

In 1994, an experimental longline fishery for hake Merluccius spp. commenced in the shelf waters off South Africa. Participants were required to record any birds caught, and these data were supplemented by ship-based observers on several vessels. Longlines are set at night, and the white-chinned petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis was the only seabird species caught while attempting to scavenge bait during gear setting. Small numbers of great shearwaters Puffinus gravis and pintado petrels Daption capense were killed during hauling operations. The hake longline fishery is estimated to kill 8000 ± 6400 white-chinned petrels a year in South African waters at a rate of 0.44 birds per 1000 hooks. This represents < 1% of the global white-chinned petrel population, but is cause for concern given (1) the slow reproductive rate among procellariiform seabirds; (2) the projected growth in the longline hake fishery; and (3) the increasing numbers of white-chinned petrels being killed in other longline fisheries. Light intensity was the most important factor for explaining variation in the number of petrels caught during setting; when line shooting was completed prior to the increase in white-chinned petrel activity (c. 2·5 h before sunrise), few birds were caught. Measures to reduce excessive seabird bycatch include: (1) the introduction of bird lines on all vessels; (2) restricting the setting of lines to times of least bird activity; (3) minimum use of deck lighting during setting; and (4) ensuring that baited hooks sink as fast as possible when deployed. Hauling mortalities can be reduced by diverting offal outlets to the opposite side of the vessel to where the longline is being hauled.

Concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and selenium (Se) were determined in blood and feathers of spectacled (Procellaria conspicillata) and white-chinned (Procellaria aequinoctialis) petrels, species that are phylogenetically related, but with distinct ecological niches. In winter, they feed on similar foods, indicated by an overlapping range of whole-blood stable isotopes values (δ15N; δ13C). No relation was found between blood metal concentration and stable isotope values. In spectacled petrels, metal concentrations appeared lower in blood (Cu = 0.79–20.77 µg/g; Zn = 10.95–28.02 µg/g; Cd = 1.73–10.11 µg/g; Pb = 5.02–26.03 µg/g; Hg = 0.84–9.86 µg/g) than in feathers (Cu = 1.05–21.57 µg/g; Zn = 45.30–81.49 µg/g; Cd = 3.76–10.44 µg/g; Pb = 16.53–59.00 µg/g; Hg = 4.24–24.03 µg/g). In white-chinned petrels, metal concentrations also appeared lower in blood (Cu = 0.62–10.4 µg/g; Zn = 10.73–24.69 µg/g; Cd = 2.00–6.31 µg/g; Pb = 5.72–24.03 µg/g) than in feathers (Cu = 2.68–23.92 µg/g; Zn = 48.96–93.54 µg/g; Cd = 5.72–24.03 µg/g; Pb = 18.62–55.51 µg/g), except for Hg (blood = 0.20–15.82 µg/g; feathers = 0.19–8.91 µg/g). Selenium (0.24–14.18 µg/g) and Hg (0.22–1.44 µg/g) concentrations showed a positive correlation in growing feathers of spectacled petrels. Blood and feather Hg levels were higher in spectacled petrels while feathers Cu and Zn concentrations were greater in white-chinned petrels. Juvenile white-chinned petrels exhibited greater blood Hg concentrations than adults. In the south Atlantic Ocean, discards from commercial fishing operations consumed by spectacled petrels year-round and by white-chinned petrels during the wintering period have elevated Hg concentrations. Because Hg toxicity is associated with behavioral and reproductive changes in birds, it could potentially have impacts on breeding of these seabirds, as both species are listed as threatened by extinction. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1641–1648. © 2013 SETAC

The diet of the white-chinned petrel at Bird Island, South Georgia was studied during chickrearing in 1986 by quantitative analysis (by weight, frequency of occurrence and number of individuals) of regurgitated or lavaged adult stomach contents. Antarctic krill comprised over 90% of prey items and formed 47% of the diet by weight; fish and squid occurred in 67% and 35% of samples and formed 33% and 19% of the diet by weight, respectively. Decapods, amphipods and salps occurred in a few samples. The fish were mainly lanternfish (Myctophidae) of eight species (chiefly Electrona and Gymnoscopelus, forming 80% by number and 52% by mass of fish prey) and the nototheniid Patagonotothen guntheri (14% by number and 35% by mass). Of squid taken, the ommastrephid Martialia hyadesi comprised 57% by number and 52% by mass and the gonatid Gonatus antarcticus 14% by number and 42% by mass. These dietary data confirm white-chinned petrel as the most important avian consumer of fish and squid at South Georgia (and the third most important consumer of krill). In 1986 the nototheniid fish were probably obtained via commercial fishing operations but the myctophids and squid were probably live-caught, most likely at night. Meal size increased rapidly until chicks were three weeks old and then remained constant until the chicks were within 10 days of fledging, when it decreased. Meal delivery rate was high (one per day) for young chicks (1–10 days old) and thereafter fluctuated between 0.56 and 0.88 meals per day until close to fledging, when it was halved. These provisioning rates, and the proportion of krill in the diet, are higher than those recorded previously at South Georgia and Indian Ocean sites, probably reflecting high local availability of krill at South Georgia in 1986. In many respects, white-chinned petrels at South Georgia are intermediate ecologically between prions and albatrosses, although specialized in their extensive consumption of myctophids. Because krill and all the main fish prey are currently the targets of substantial commercial fishing and the main squid prey (Martialia) is a potential target, the ecological role and status of white-chinned petrels are of additional importance.

Although the Eastern Tropical Pacific is well known for its diverse fauna, the seabirds occurring off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast have received little scientific attention. With seabirds now the fastest declining avian group, a better understanding of seabird diversity and abundance in this region is urgently needed. We report on observations of Costa Rica’s Pacific seabirds made during 19 days of observations on 11 offshore trips from 2006-2010. We provide, for the first time, spatially and seasonally explicit information on the distribution of 41 species of seabirds (nine families). Species diversity is higher during the dry-wet season (36 species) and wet-dry season transitions (36 species) than during the dry season (19 species). The fauna included three threatened species (Pterodroma phaeopygia, Procellaria parkinsoni, and Puffinus creatopus) and two near-threatened species (Psueudobulweria rostrata and Thalasseus elegans), highlighting the importance of Costa Rican waters for the conservation of seabirds. El Pacifico Tropical Oriental es bien conocido por su diversa fauna; sin embargo, las aves marinas que se encuentran frente a la costa pacífica de Costa Rica no han recibido mucha atención científica. Reconociendo que las aves marinas representan el grupo de aves que más rápidamente está disminuyendo, se requiere urgentemente un mejor conocimiento de la diversidad y abundancia de las aves marinas en esta región. Reportamos observaciones de aves marinas del Pacifico de Costa Rica hechas durante 19 días de observación en 11 giras mar afuera entre el 2006 y el 2010. Proveemos, por primera vez, información espacialmente y estacionalmente sobre la distribución de 41 especies de aves marinas (nueve familias). La diversidad de especies es mayor durante las transiciones entre las estaciones seca-húmeda (36 especies) y húmeda-seca (36 especies) que durante la estación seca (19 especies). La avifauna incluye tres especies amenazadas (Pterodroma phaeopygia, Procellaria parkinsoni y Puffinus creatopus) y dos especies casi amenazadas (Psueudobulweria rostrata y Thalasseus elegans), lo que resalta la importancia de las aguas costarricenses para la conservación de las aves marinas.

The use of discarded fish over baited hooks used in longline fishery, and fish caught in gillnets, as a food source for gulls, albatrosses and petrels has been intensively studied in northern and southern oceans. This study describes the occurrence and abundance of seabirds observed from 20 foreign vessels which operated during the period between July 2001 and May 2005, off the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast. A total of 353,557 seabirds were observed; comprising eight families and 28 species. The most abundant species was Procellaria conspicillata followed by Daption capense, Puffinus gravis, Thalassarche melanophrys and Oceanites oceanicus. Ten species of seabirds (392 individual birds) were incidentally captured in gillnets; and 122 birds (9 species) by longline hooks, with P. gravis, D. capense and Procellaria aequinoctialis having the largest capture rates.