Alan Tennyson and Lara Shepherd (Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand) have published in the Journal of Ornithology on the phylogenetic relationships of the extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater Puffinus spelaeus, finding it was closely related to New Zealand's extant Fluttering P. gavia and Hutton’s P. huttoni Shearwaters.

A depiction of the extinct Scarlett's Shearwater, painting by Paul Martinson (from Tennyson & Martinson 2006)

The paper’s abstract follows:

”The global phylogenetic relationships of the extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater (Puffinus spelaeus) from New Zealand are examined using ancient DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The cytochrome b sequences obtained confirm the distinctiveness of this taxon. It forms a strongly-supported clade with two other New Zealand species, suggesting a radiation of similar-sized species in this region. Molecular dating suggests Pleistocene divergences within this clade.”

Scarlett's Shearwater: holotype, near-complete skeleton, from New Zealand Birds Online

A Scarlett's Shearwater skeleton found in a cave, from New Zealand Birds Online

References:

Holdaway, R.N. & Worthy, T.H. 1994. A new fossil species of shearwater Puffinus from the late Quaternary of the South Island, New Zealand, and notes on the biogeography and evolution of the Puffinus gavia superspecies. Emu 94: 201-215.

Michaux, B. 2013. Scarlett’s Shearwater. In Miskelly, C.M. (Ed.).  New Zealand Birds Online.

Tennyson, A. & Martinson, P. 2006. Extinct Birds of New Zealand.  Wellington; Te Papa Press. 140 pp.

Tennyson, A.J.D. & Shepherd, L.D. 2017.  DNA reveals the relationships of the extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater Puffinus spelaeus (Procellariiformes: Procellariidae).  Journal of Ornithology 158:379-384.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 April 2017

The studentships are funded by the John and Pat Warham Scholarship Fund, a legacy left to the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) by the late John and Pat Warham and aim to provide training to PhD level in research on any aspect of the biology or ecology of Sphenisciformes and Procellariiformes by citizens of Commonwealth countries and who are also members of the BOU.

John Warham

John and Pat Warham in their later years

John Warham (1919-2010) was one of the pioneers in conducting field research on mainly New Zealand albatrosses and petrels as well as on penguins, publishing two important books on the former group at the end of his long career (click here to read his obituary in ACAP Latest News).  His wife Pat helped with field work in their early years together.

“Four fully-funded studentships are available and it is envisaged that one studentship will be awarded per year from 2018, although, if more than one exceptional application is received, two awards may be made in one year.  Successful proposals will combine the development of skills useful for a future career in ornithology with a sound scientific research proposal.”

Proposals must be submitted by 30 June 2017.

Read more on the studentships here.

With thanks to Mark Tasker.

Selected literature:

Warham, J. 1990. The Petrels: their Ecology and Breeding Systems. London & San Diego: Academic Press. 440 pp.

Warham, J. 1996. The Behaviour, Population Ecology and Physiology of the Petrels. London & San Diego: Academic Press. 613 pp.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 03 April 2017

The United States Air Force will reduce light pollution at its radar-tracking Kōke‘e Air Force Station facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai to reduce deaths to globally Vulnerable Hawaiian Petrels Pterodroma sandwichensis, Endangered Newell’s Shearwaters Puffinus newelli and Band-rumped Storm Petrels Hydrobates castro.

The Kōke‘e Air Force Station caused the death or downing of more than 130 petrels and shearwaters  in 2015 (click here).

“The new Air Force procedures are expected to reduce the downing or “take” of seabirds to approximately four birds per year. To offset these losses, the Air Force also agreed to fund predator control at existing seabird colonies.”

Hawaiian Petrel

Newell's Shearwater, photograph by Eric Vanderwerf

“The 2015 event at the Kōke‘e Air Force Station was … especially damaging because most of the protected seabirds that were killed or downed were adult Newell’s shearwaters and Hawaiian petrels, birds that take six years to reach reproductive age.  Seabirds in Hawaii are primarily threatened by introduced predators like cats, rats, pigs and barn owls, as well as by fatal collisions with power lines and downing associated with night-time lights.”

Read more here.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 31 March 2017

The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund, which facilitates and promotes research on the Antarctic ecosystem, has made a call for research proposals that will lead to helping  the Southern Ocean fishery for Antarctic Krill Euphasia superba to be managed in a sustainable manner.  A description of one of the proposed studies entitled “The role of flying birds in the krill centric food web” follows:

“Spatial management of krill fisheries by CCAMLR has, to date, largely considered the demands of diving predators, including penguins. Information on the level of krill consumption by flying seabirds, and the potential competition with krill fisheries, have long been recognised as major data gaps by CCAMLR. Tracking and at-sea survey data indicate that in some areas of operation, krill fishing vessels overlap with the preferred foraging localities of flying seabirds. Even in situations of limited spatial overlap, there may be a competitive and therefore functional overlap, as flying seabirds may rely on krill advected from areas where fisheries operate. Improved analyses of both spatial and functional overlap of flying seabirds with krill fisheries and areas of high densities would therefore be informative, particularly as fishing vessels access krill at much deeper depths than flying seabirds, and so may respond differently to krill dynamics.

Black-browed Albatrosses are known to eat Antarctic Krill

“Applicants should give details about the proposed start and end dates of any proposal. Applicants should also provide specific dates by which outputs and products from the research will be produced. Successful proposals should preferably start as soon as possible; desk-based components for any proposals should commence before 1 July 2018, while any fieldwork should commence in the 2017/2018 field season. Total duration for the project should not exceed 24 months.”

Successful proposals might expect to receive in the order of US$ 50 000 - 100 000.  The closing date for applications is 27 June 2017.

Read more here.

With thanks to Mark Tasker.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 30 March 2017