The Amsterdam Albatross or Amsterdam Island Albatross,^[2] Diomedea amsterdamensis, is a huge albatross which breeds only on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. It was only described in 1983, and was thought by some researchers to be a sub-species of the Wandering Albatross, exulans. BirdLife International recognizes it as a species, Clements does not, and the SACC has a proposal on the table to split the species.^[1][3][4] More recently, mitchondrial DNA comparisons between the Amsterdam Albatross, the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans, the Antipodean Albatross D. antipodensis and the Tristan Albatross D. dabbenena, provide clear genetic evidence that the Amsterdam Albatross is a separate species.^[5]

Taxonomy

Albatrosses belong to Diomedeidae family and come from the Procellariiformes order, along with Shearwaters, Fulmars, Storm petrels, and Diving petrels. They share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns.^[6] Although the nostrils on the Albatross are on the sides of the bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. Finally, they produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights.^[7]

Etymology

The scientific name Diomedea amsterdamensis is composed of Diomedea, from the Greek hero Diomedes whose companions were turned to birds,^[8] and amsterdamensis, a Latin form of the name of the island where they are found.

Range and habitat

The Amsterdam Albatross breeds only on Amsterdam Island, French Southern Territories, at an altitude of between 500–600 m (1,600–2,000 ft) above sea level on the Plateau des Tourbières. There is uncertainty regarding its whereabouts when it is not breeding, though there have been possible sightings in Australia and New Zealand.^[9]

Description

The Amsterdam Albatross is a great albatross that breeds in brown, rather than the more usual white, plumage. This bird is 4.8–8 kg (11–18 lb),and 107–122 cm (42–48 in) long with a wingspan of 280–340 cm (110–130 in).^[10][11] The adult bird has chocolate brown upper parts, and is white on its face mask, throat, lower breast, and belly. It has a broad brown breast band along with brown undertail coverts. Its pink bill has a dark tip and dark cutting edges, and finally, its underwings are white except for the dark tip and the dark leading edge.^[9]

Behaviour

Because of its rarity, the feeding ecology and at-sea distribution of the Amsterdam Albatross is not well understood; although, it is believed that they eat squid, crustaceans, and fish.^[9] Off-duty birds during the incubation stage of the breeding cycle cover large areas of the Indian Ocean, travelling up to 2,400 km (1,500 mi).

Reproduction

Amsterdam Albatrosses breed biennially in open marshy ground. Both parents incubate the egg in alternate stints that last for about a week, with the chick hatching after 80 days. The chick is brooded for a month, and overall takes 230 days to fledge. At first it is fed by its parents every three days, with the feeding frequency reducing as it approaches fledging. At the peak of weight gain the chick weighs more than its parents, but then loses weight as the extra reserves are used to grow feathers. Having fledged the young bird stays at sea for around five years before returning to the colony, and begins breeding a few years later. The breeding "language" of the Amsterdam Albatross is similar to that of the Wandering Albatross.

Adult in flight, showing dark plumage typical of the species.

Conservation

The Amsterdam Albatross is listed as critically endangered, by the IUCN,^[1] with an occurrence range of 4,400,000 km² (1,700,000 sq mi) and a breeding range of only 7 km² (2.7 sq mi).^[9] The population upon discovery was just 5 breeding pairs; with conservation this has increased to 18 to 25 breeding pairs. The world population is estimated at 80 mature individuals and a total of some 130 birds.^[9] The island on which this albatross breeds has undergone a significant decline in habitat condition due to the introduction of feral cats and cattle, while the birds are threatened at sea by the practice of longline fishing. Because there is only one breeding location, they are also especially vulnerable to disease such as Pasteurella multocida (Avian Cholera) and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

To help in the conservation efforts banding of the birds and frequent censuses are undertaken, and fencing to keep cattle out of their breeding areas.

Footnotes

References

• BirdLife International (2008(a)). "Amsterdam Albatross - BirdLife Species Factsheet". Data Zone. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3953&m=0. Retrieved 18 Feb 2009.
• "The BirdLife checklist of the birds of the world, with conservation status and taxonomic sources." (xls). 2008(b). http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/downloads/BirdLife_Checklist_Version_1.zip. Retrieved 18 Feb 2009.^{[dead link]}
• Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0-8014-4501-9.
• Double, M. C. (2003). "Procellariiformes". In Hutchins, Michael; Jackson, Jerome A.; Bock, Walter J. et al.. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins. Joseph E. Trumpey, Chief Scientific Illustrator (2 ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 107–110. ISBN 0-7876-5784-0.
• Gotch, A. F. (1995) [1979]. "Albatrosses, Fulmars, Shearwaters, and Petrels". Latin Names Explained A Guide to the Scientific Classifications of Reptiles, Birds & Mammals. New York, NY: Facts on File. p. 190. ISBN 0-8160-3377-3.
• Rains, D.; Weimerskirch, H. and Burg, T. M. (January 2011). "Piecing together the global population puzzle of wandering albatrosses: genetic analysis of the Amsterdam albatross Diomedea amsterdamensis". Journal of Avian Biology 42 (1): 69–79. doi:10.1111/j.1600-048X.2010.05295.x.
• Remsen Jr., J. V.; et al. (Jan 2009). "Proposal (388) to South American Classification Committee: Split Diomedea exulans into four species". South American Classification Committee. American Ornithologists' Union. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop388.html. Retrieved 18 Feb 2009.
• Sibley, David Allen; Elphick, Chris; Dunning Jr., John B.; Armistead, George L.; Badyaev, Alex; Barker, F. Keith; Behrstock, Robert A.; Brinkley, Edward S. et al. (2001). Elphick, Chris; Dunning Jr., John B.; Sibley, David Allen. eds. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. Illustrated by David Allen Sibley (First ed.). New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-679-45123-4.