What makes a successful Wandering Albatross? Effects of pre-laying attendance and body condition on long-term reproductive success

Genevieve Jones and Peter Ryan (FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town) have studied what makes a successful Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans at South Africa’s Marion Island.

The paper’s in-press abstract in the journal Emu follows:

“To conserve threatened species and understand their population dynamics it is important to protect the most productive individuals, yet there is little information on the characteristics that distinguish such individuals.  Amongst experienced Wandering Albatrosses (Diomedea exulans), we show that current breeding performance is correlated with previous breeding success.  By comparing birds with unproductive and productive breeding histories, we test whether we can differentiate more and less successful breeders based on body condition, arrival date and attendance at the colony during the pre-laying period.  Males in pairs with successful reproductive histories were present in the colony for longer than unsuccessful males.  Productive females spent more days with their mates, suggesting that time spent with partners may be indicative of long-term reproductive success.  Overall, birds that bred in a given season arrived earlier and spent more time at the colony than those that deferred breeding.  Individuals with better body condition arrived earlier and spent more time at the colony.  Body condition was independent of year and may indirectly affect the capacity to breed through its influence on arrival date and pre-laying attendance.  Body condition and pre-laying attendance (and indirectly climate and food availability), may influence reproductive success, differentiating more and less successful breeders”.

Genevieve Jones with friends at Marion Island

Click here to access the abstract of Genevieve’s PhD thesis on Wanderers at Marion.

Reference:

Jones, M.G. & Ryan, P.G. 2013.  Effects of pre-laying attendance and body condition on long-term reproductive success in Wandering Albatrosses.  Emu in press.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 October 2013

The Agreement on the
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ACAP is a multilateral agreement which seeks to conserve listed albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters by coordinating international activity to mitigate known threats to their populations.

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