Wave setup at Tristan da Cunha

AbstractAlbatrosses and other seabirds are generally highly philopatric, returning to natal colonies when they achieve breeding age. This is not universal, however, and cases of extraordinary vagrancy are rare. The Tristan Albatross (Diomedea dabbenena) breeds on Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, with a small population on Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha, ca 380 km away. In 2015, we observed an adult male albatross in Gonydale, Gough Island, which had been ringed on Ile de la Possession, Crozet Islands in 2009 when it was assumed to be an immature Wandering Albatross (D. exulans). We sequenced 1109 bp of the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene from this bird, and confirmed it to be a Tristan Albatross, meaning its presence on Crozet 6 years previous, and nearly 5000 km away, was a case of prospecting behaviour in a heterospecific colony. Given the challenges in identifying immature Diomedea albatrosses, such dispersal events may be more common than thought previously.

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Reassessment of Tristan da Cunha Gelidium (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) species

Botanica Marina ◽

10.1515/bot-2020-0036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (5) ◽

pp. 455-462

Author(s):

D. Wilson Freshwater ◽

Sue Scott ◽

Enrico M. Tronchin ◽

Gary W. Saunders

Keyword(s):

Southern Africa ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Red Algae ◽

Genetic Group ◽

The Third ◽

Tristan Da Cunha

AbstractThree endemic species of Gelidium have been described from the remote Tristan da Cunha archipelago. A recent barcode survey of Tristan da Cunha red algae in combination with the clarification of vouchers for previously sequenced specimens has prompted a molecular and morphological reassessment of these species. Analyses of rbcL and COI-5P data indicated that all sequenced Tristan da Cunha specimens represented a single taxon, and furthermore that this genetic group was conspecific with Gelidium micropterum from southern Africa. Morphologically the Tristan da Cunha specimens represented either Gelidium concinnum or Gelidium regulare, and there was a grade of character states between both of these species, as well as G. micropterum. Based on these results the synonymy of G. concinnum and G. regulare under G. micropterum is proposed and an expanded description of G. micropterum provided. None of the studied Tristan da Cunha specimens clearly fit the description of the third endemic species, Gelidium inflexum, and its status could not be determined.

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Conservation in the Antarctic

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.1977.0074 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 279 (963) ◽

pp. 97-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Keyword(s):

Southern Ocean ◽

Control Measures ◽

Falkland Islands ◽

Voluntary Agreement ◽

South Georgia ◽

Tristan Da Cunha ◽

Conservation Measures ◽

Antarctic Seals ◽

Antarctic Treaty ◽

The Antarctic

Formidable legal and administrative complexities arise from conflicting claims to jurisdiction and the continued absence of generally recognized sovereignty over much of the region. Existing conservation measures fall into three groups: elaborate laws made by governments claiming Antarctic territories, more restricted laws, and simple instructions for particular expeditions. The Antarctic Treaty, 1959, made it possible to begin coordinating all these separate instruments. No claimed jurisdiction has been surrendered or recognized: each government has started to harmonize its own control measures with the ‘Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora’, 1964. This scheme applied only to land areas and has since been evolving in the light of experience. Although not yet formally approved by all the governments concerned, it is working effectively by voluntary agreement. Different approaches are necessary for conservation of Southern Ocean resources, especially krill. A start has been made with the ‘ Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals’, 1972. There are many outstanding problems: all require effective cooperation between scientific and legal advisers, diplomats and politicians. Mention is made of recent British conservation legislation for South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Tristan da Cunha group. Some of the next steps are outlined.

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