A new Agdistis from St. Helena Island (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae).

Agdistis cambriana spec. nov. wird als neue Art beschrieben, Imago und Genitale werden abgebildet.StichwörterSt. Helena, fauna, Pterophoridae, Agdistis cambriana spec. nov.Nomenklatorische Handlungencambriana Arenberger, Karisch & Beard, 2016 (Agdistis), spec. nov.Agdistis cambriana spec. nov. is described as new species. Imago and genitalia are illustrated.KeywordsSt. Helena, fauna, Pterophoridae, Agdistis cambriana spec. nov.Nomenclatural Actscambriana Arenberger, Karisch & Beard, 2016 (Agdistis), spec. nov

Agdistis marionae sp. n., a new Pterophoridae from St. Helena (Lepidoptera).

Agdistis marionae sp. n. wird als neue Art beschrieben. Ihre Imago und Genitalien werden abgebildet. Die Chaetotaxie des Larvalstadiums wird durchgeführt und bildhaft dargestellt.StichwörterTropical Region, Fauna of St. Helena, Pterophoridae, Agdistis marionae sp. n.Nomenklatorische Handlungenmarionae Arenberger, Beard, Hasenfuss & Karisch, 2012 (Agdistis), spec. nov.Agdistis marionae sp. n. is introduced as new species to science. The imago and genitalia are depicted. The chaetotaxie of the larval stadium is done and as graphics pictured.KeywordsTropical Region, Fauna of St. Helena, Pterophoridae, Agdistis marionae sp. n.Nomenclatural Actsmarionae Arenberger, Beard, Hasenfuss & Karisch, 2012 (Agdistis), spec. nov

Cryptic species and independent origins of allochronic populations within a seabird species complex (Hydrobates spp.)

Humans are inherently biased towards naming species based on morphological differences, which can lead to reproductively isolated species being mistakenly classified as one if they are morphologically similar. Recognising cryptic diversity is needed to understand drivers of speciation fully, and for accurate estimates of global biodiversity and assessments for conservation. We investigated cryptic species across the range of band-rumped storm-petrels (Hydrobates spp.): highly pelagic, nocturnal seabirds that breed on tropical and sub-tropical islands in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In many breeding colonies, band-rumped storm-petrels have sympatric but temporally isolated (allochronic) populations; we sampled all breeding locations and allochronic populations. Using mitochondrial control region sequences from 754 birds, cytochrome b sequences from 69 birds, and reduced representation sequencing of the nuclear genomes of 133 birds, we uncovered high levels of genetic structuring. Population genomic analyses revealed up to seven unique clusters, and phylogenomic reconstruction showed that these represent seven monophyletic groups. We uncovered up to six independent breeding season switches across the phylogeny, spanning the continuum from genetically undifferentiated temporal populations to full allochronic species. Thus, band-rumped storm-petrels encompass multiple cryptic species, with non-geographic barriers potentially comprising strong barriers to gene flow

Increasing use of artificial nest chambers by seasonally segregated populations of band-rumped storm petrels hydrobates castro at St Helena, South Atlantic

Artificial nest chambers have become a common management tool for monitoring nocturnal burrow-nesting seabirds, although their utility varies among species and locations. The widespread Band-rumped Storm Petrel Hydrobates castro species complex potentially harbours a cryptic species endemic to the South Atlantic. Here we evaluate the installation of artificial nest chambers as a tool for long-term conservation and monitoring of this species, which breeds in two distinct seasons on St Helena. Based on six years of observational data, we analysed factors affecting occupancy, mate and chamber fidelity, and reproductive success to optimise nest chamber installation and to enhance future management. Occupancy rates were high, increasing from 5% after the first season following installation to 85% after five years. Occupancy was positively associated with i) the number of seasons since chamber installation, ii) whether the chamber was occupied in the previous season, and iii) whether the chamber was occupied in the same season in the previous year. Occupancy also varied with chamber location and lid construction material: chambers with wooden lids had 7% lower occupancy and 18% lower breeding success than chambers with other lid types. Lid replacement also negatively affected occupancy. Chamber monitoring revealed that individuals exhibited 93% mate fidelity and 86% chamber fidelity with little effect of previous breeding outcome. From 312 monitored nests, hatching success was 15% higher during the hot season, while fledging success was 28% higher during the cool season, leading to only 3.2% difference in overall productivity between seasons. Fledging success of each seasonal population varied by year. Chick mortality was considerably higher during the hot season (41% compared to 13% during the cool season), possibly reflecting different responses to temperature regime. We conclude that installation of artificial nest chambers represents an effective monitoring tool, and recommendations for the design and management of chambers are discussed

Between-year and spatial variation in body condition across the breeding cycle in a pelagic seabird, the Red-billed Tropicbird

Body condition in pelagic seabirds impacts key fitness-related traits such as reproductive performance and breeding frequency. Regulation of body condition can be especially important for species with long incubation periods and long individual incubation shifts between foraging trips. Here, we show that body condition of adult Red-billed Tropicbirds (Phaethon aethereus) at St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean, exhibited considerable variation between years (2013–2017) and between different stages of the breeding cycle. Females took the first incubation shift following egg laying, after which males and females alternated incubation shifts of varying length, ranging from <1 to 12 days. Body condition declined in both sexes during an incubation shift by an average of 22 g (2.83% of starting mass) per day and over the incubation period; mass loss was significantly greater during longer incubation shifts, later within a shift and later in the total incubation period. There was also significant differences in incubation behaviour and body condition between years; in 2015, coinciding with a moderate coastal warming event along the Angolan-Namibian coastlines, adults on average undertook longer incubation shifts than in other years and had lower body condition. This suggests that substantial between-year prey fluctuations in the Angola Benguela upwelling system may influence prey availability, in turn affecting incubation behaviour and regulation of body condition. Adults rearing chicks showed a significant reduction in body condition when chicks showed the fastest rate of growth. Chick growth rates during 2017 from two localities in the Atlantic Ocean: an oceanic (St Helena) versus neritic (Cabo Verde) population were similar, but chicks from St Helena were overall heavier and larger at fledging. Results from this multi-year study highlight that flexibility and adaptability in body condition regulation will be important for populations of threatened species to optimise resources as global climate change increasingly influences prey availability

Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds

Plastic pollution is distributed patchily around the world’s oceans. Likewise, marine organisms that are vulnerable to plastic ingestion or entanglement have uneven distributions. Understanding where wildlife encounters plastic is crucial for targeting research and mitigation. Oceanic seabirds, particularly petrels, frequently ingest plastic, are highly threatened, and cover vast distances during foraging and migration. However, the spatial overlap between petrels and plastics is poorly understood. Here we combine marine plastic density estimates with individual movement data for 7137 birds of 77 petrel species to estimate relative exposure risk. We identify high exposure risk areas in the Mediterranean and Black seas, and the northeast Pacific, northwest Pacific, South Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans. Plastic exposure risk varies greatly among species and populations, and between breeding and nonbreeding seasons. Exposure risk is disproportionately high for Threatened species. Outside the Mediterranean and Black seas, exposure risk is highest in the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the USA, Japan, and the UK. Birds generally had higher plastic exposure risk outside the EEZ of the country where they breed. We identify conservation and research priorities, and highlight that international collaboration is key to addressing the impacts of marine plastic on wide-ranging speciespublishedVersio

Diurnal timing of nonmigratory movement by birds: the importance of foraging spatial scales

Timing of activity can reveal an organism's efforts to optimize foraging either by minimizing energy loss through passive movement or by maximizing energetic gain through foraging. Here, we assess whether signals of either of these strategies are detectable in the timing of activity of daily, local movements by birds. We compare the similarities of timing of movement activity among species using six temporal variables: start of activity relative to sunrise, end of activity relative to sunset, relative speed at midday, number of movement bouts, bout duration and proportion of active daytime hours. We test for the influence of flight mode and foraging habitat on the timing of movement activity across avian guilds. We used 64 570 days of GPS movement data collected between 2002 and 2019 for local (non‐migratory) movements of 991 birds from 49 species, representing 14 orders. Dissimilarity among daily activity patterns was best explained by flight mode. Terrestrial soaring birds began activity later and stopped activity earlier than pelagic soaring or flapping birds. Broad‐scale foraging habitat explained less of the clustering patterns because of divergent timing of active periods of pelagic surface and diving foragers. Among pelagic birds, surface foragers were active throughout all 24 hrs of the day while diving foragers matched their active hours more closely to daylight hours. Pelagic surface foragers also had the greatest daily foraging distances, which was consistent with their daytime activity patterns. This study demonstrates that flight mode and foraging habitat influence temporal patterns of daily movement activity of birds.We thank the Nature Conservancy, the Bailey Wildlife Foundation, the Bluestone Foundation, the Ocean View Foundation, Biodiversity Research Institute, the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, the Davis Conservation Foundation and The U.S. Department of Energy (DE‐EE0005362), and the Darwin Initiative (19-026), EDP S.A. ‘Fundação para a Biodiversidade’ and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (DL57/2019/CP 1440/CT 0021), Enterprise St Helena (ESH), Friends of National Zoo Conservation Research Grant Program and Conservation Nation, ConocoPhillips Global Signature Program, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Cellular Tracking Technologies and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for providing funding and in-kind support for the GPS data used in our analyses

Global assessment of marine plastic exposure risk for oceanic birds

Plastic pollution is distributed patchily around the world’s oceans. Likewise, marine organisms that are vulnerable to plastic ingestion or entanglement have uneven distributions. Understanding where wildlife encounters plastic is crucial for targeting research and mitigation. Oceanic seabirds, particularly petrels, frequently ingest plastic, are highly threatened, and cover vast distances during foraging and migration. However, the spatial overlap between petrels and plastics is poorly understood. Here we combine marine plastic density estimates with individual movement data for 7137 birds of 77 petrel species to estimate relative exposure risk. We identify high exposure risk areas in the Mediterranean and Black seas, and the northeast Pacific, northwest Pacific, South Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans. Plastic exposure risk varies greatly among species and populations, and between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Exposure risk is disproportionately high for Threatened species. Outside the Mediterranean and Black seas, exposure risk is highest in the high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the USA, Japan, and the UK. Birds generally had higher plastic exposure risk outside the EEZ of the country where they breed. We identify conservation and research priorities, and highlight that international collaboration is key to addressing the impacts of marine plastic on wide-ranging species