Invasive Mice Kill Albatrosses Causing Decline of the Bird Species’ Population

Researchers have recently used a sophisticated population model, which is not limited to examining breeding pairs, to shed light on decades-long confusion surrounding invasive mice's effect on the critically Tristan albatross.

A new study now reveals long-lived species may experience greater predation effects than previously thought, a Phys.org report specified.

Conservation groups are frequently plagued by limited resources and struggle to assist all threatened species directly. Decisions over the areas for allocating resources and spending thus pose a common problem.

Essentially, the rate at which a species is reducing in number is frequently a good sign of how it will intervene.

Decrease in Albatross Population

New research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology nonetheless reveals that for long-lived species, a population may decrease long before this trend turns out to be evident in past population studies.

Albatrosses are among the hugest flying birds worldwide and can live to an ancient age with a single female named Wisdom, tagged more than 65 years ago, still breeds today.

Albatrosses reach this long life through very slow reproduction. They usually need five to 15 years before they can begin breeding.

In the largest species, a breeding pair can only raise a single chick every two years as it takes almost a year for the chick to grow large enough to fly, and parents need a long rest between raising chicks.

Threatened by Some of the Tiniest Mammals

Despite being among the largest species, albatrosses are threatened by some of the tiniest mammals, specifically mice.

On certain islands, including Gough in the United Kingdom, Marion in South Africa, or Midway of the United States, introduced non-native house mice or Mus musculus eat albatross chicks or adults.

Albatrosses that breed on these islands have extremely low breeding success as many chicks are lost to predation.

This problem's knowledge dates back 20 years, yet the outcomes of mouse predation have been a challenge in terms of evaluation due to the long lifespan of the albatrosses.

Albatross Population Projected to be 2 to 8 Times Larger in 2050

As opposed to previous research, the scientists discovered that the Tristan albatross's total population has, in fact, reduced by over 2,000 birds since 2004, despite the stable number of breeding pairs, Nixolympia News said in a similar report.

Exploring three decades into the future, the study investigators further concluded that eliminating mice from their main breeding island would most likely lead to a Tristan albatross population that was two to eight times larger in 2050 than if the rodents remained.

The projections for population come with large uncertainty, though, mostly since it is difficult to determine if young albatrosses are still alive.

In general, the conclusions from this new research back the decision that investing in eliminating mice on islands where these tiny animals are killing albatrosses is possible to be a highly effective approach to restoring these ocean wanderers' populations.

Related information about mice killing albatrosses is shown on LCAfrica's YouTube video below:

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