Albatrosses are threatened with extinction — and climate change could put their nesting sites at risk

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans):

The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is the world’s largest flying bird, known for its immense wingspan of up to 3.5 meters. These birds, which can live up to 60 years, are oceanic nomads (pelagic birds), spending most of their life at sea and only coming ashore to breed roughly every two years after reaching sexual maturity. Their habitat is primarily the Southern Ocean and nearby islands, where they nest.
Notably, Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, located south of South Africa, are critical for these birds, hosting about half of the global wandering albatross breeding population, estimated at around 20,000 mature individuals.
The wandering albatross is currently listed as vulnerable due to risks like bycatch from longline fishing, climate change and shrinking habitat.
The environmental factors influencing their nesting choices on Marion Island:
- Elevation was a key factor, with albatrosses preferring lower, warmer sites with coastal vegetation for nesting.
- However, this preference indicates potential threats from climate change.

Variables influencing nest site selection:

The study on Marion Island, a volcanic island with challenging terrain, aimed to understand the factors influencing nest site selection by wandering albatrosses.
Key variables examined included elevation, terrain ruggedness, slope, distance to the coast, vegetation type, wind speed, wind turbulence, and underlying geology.
Elevation was found to be the most critical factor, with most nests located near the coast at lower elevations, providing warmer conditions less harsh for the chicks. Proximity to the coast was also essential, as suitable habitats were more abundant there.

Delicate balance:

The study on Marion Island reveals how the delicate balance of the wandering albatross’ habitat is threatened by climate change.
Over the past decades, the island has experienced a significant increase in temperature, decrease in precipitation, reduced cloud cover, and disappearance of the permanent snowline. These changes have led to shifts in vegetation and species distribution patterns.

Places in news:

Marion Island and Prince Edwards Island: Two small uninhabited islands in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean that are part of South Africa.

Source: DTE