Fregetta

Abstract: The main impact of the fishery for Tristan rock lobster Jasus tristani on seabirds at the Tristan archipelago and Gough Island is through night strikes, when petrels collide with a ship after being disorientated by its lights. Tristan fishery observers have kept records of night strikes on the MV Edinburgh since the 2010/2011 fishing season. Over the last three years, 723 seabirds from nine species were recorded coming aboard the fishing vessel, with at least 39 (5.4%) birds dying as a result. Birds killed were broad-billed prions Pachyptila vittata (41%), common diving petrels Pelecanoides urinatrix (23%), and storm petrels (Pelagodroma marina and Fregetta grallaria/tropica 36%). All these species are listed as Least Concern globally, and the numbers killed per year are <0.1% of the island populations. The captain and crew of the Edinburgh are aware of the problem posed by deck lights at night, and attempt to keep external lighting to a minimum. As a result, the numbers of birds coming aboard vessels in ...

Abstract: An old museum specimen of a storm petrel from the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) was sampled genetically. This specimen has been alternatively attributed to Black-bellied Storm Petrel Fregetta tropica, or described as a new taxon. Its plumage also recalls the recently rediscovered New Zealand Storm Petrel F. maoriana. However, molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that this specimen is closely related to some individuals of White-bellied Storm Petrel F. grallaria, which species is apparently non-monophyletic.