Vulnerable Albatross

Albatross mistake plastic for food and their body cannot digest this material. Researchers have found animals with a stomach full of non-biodegradable items. Sadly, they sometimes bring this food to their babies and the result is fatal. The chicks are being brought up in nests made out of plastic in some areas (Bird Life). A small portion of this species, specifically chicks, are killed by abandoned fishing debris. This contamination can take away places for them to nest or live, and it lowers their reproductive success (IUCN). Mercury and other persistent organic pollutants are having negative effects on the Wandering Albatross long-term breeding probability (Goutte, et al.). Although this species is largely affected by pollution, that is not the only factor pushing them towards extinction. Other drivers affecting this species include: invasive species, genes and diseases, hunting & fishing of animals, and climate change causing the shifting of their habitat. The only driver that's impact was from past events is the hunting portion. The other factors are ongoing and contribute to the Wandering Albatross current population decline.


 

Bibliography: Plastic Killed Albatross Chick on Nest by Bird Life, Web Source: Bird Life 
Wandering Albatross Information from IUCN Red List, Web Source: IUCN

• Goutte Aurélie
, 
• Barbraud Christophe
,
• Meillère Alizée
, 
• Carravieri Alice
,
• Bustamante Paco
, 
• Labadie Pierre
,
• Budzinski Hélène
, 
• Delord Karine
,
• Cherel Yves
, 
• Weimerskirch Henri
 ,and
• Chastel Olivier
 

Demographic consequences of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in a vulnerable long-lived bird, the wandering albatross.281.Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Web Source: Royal Society
Image Information: Albatross with Plastic in Stomach, Web Source: flickr
Albatross with Plastic in Stomach, Web Source: Wikimedia Commons