Data from 2003-2012 on the at-sea foraging behaviour of Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, and little penguins in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia.

Data from 2003-2012 on the diet of Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals, and little penguins in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia.

Albatross and petrel populations have declined globally due to interactions with fishing operations. The survival of four albatross and two giant petrel species breeding on Macquarie Island is threatened and ongoing monitoring is essential to assess their conservation status and mitigate negative influences. Long-term studies are required to obtain reliable information on population size and productivity and age- and sex- related survival parameters. The birds' oceanic movements is also being investigated so that questions regarding temporal and spatial overlap with fisheries can be addressed. Demographic and population data collected for the 2012-13 breeding season on Macquarie Island for 4 species of albatross and 2 species of giant petrel are summarised in the annual report (pdf) and all data contained in tables therein or attached xlxs spreadsheets and access database. Data collected includes breeding census, breeding success, nest location, banding and resight data for the 2012-13 season. The Access database contains data from 1950-2012. 2013-2014 information are held in the 2013-2014 folder, which includes several excel spreadsheets, an updated access database, and a copy of the final report. 2014-2015 information are held in the 2014-2015 folder, which includes several excel spreadsheets, a copy of the report, and updated database tables. 2015-2016 information are held in the 2015-2016 folder, which includes several excel spreadsheets, a copy of the report, and updated database tables. 2016-2017 information are held in the 2016-2017 folder, which includes several excel spreadsheets. 2017-2018 information are held in the 2017-2018 folder, which includes several excel spreadsheets and a pdf document showing the location of nesting sites (waypoints provided in the excel files). 2018-2019 information are held in the 2018-2019 folder, which includes several excel spreadsheets and a pdf document showing the location of nesting sites (waypoints provided in the excel files). This project has replaced project 2569 (which in turn replaced project 751).

Databases (Wandering, Black-browed, Light-mantled Sooty and Grey-headed albatrosses, Northern Giant Petrels and Southern Giant Petrels): These databases summarise all banding and resight information that has been collected from these species during the years that the albatross project has been run on Macquarie Island. These databases also include historical banding and resight information collated by albatross project staff from historical biological logbooks on Macquarie Island. The download file contains several access databases: MI_Albatross and MI_Albatross_2k are different versions of the same database - they were merely designed for different systems. All the data are held in MI_Albatross_Data. MI_Albatross and MI_Albatross_2k must be referenced to MI_Albatross_Data if you wish to use the front ends available in these versions. The download file also contains detailed field reports written after the 2004/2005 season and the 2006/2007 season, and all satellite tracking data obtained on Macquarie Island between 1999 and 2003. Finally, the download file also contains a number of excel spreadsheets, which are observations for specific years. These data were originally collected as part of ASAC project 751 (ASAC_751) - Status and conservation of albatrosses on Macquarie Island. The project has now been continued as ASAC project 2569 (ASAC_2569) - Conservation and population status of albatrosses and giant petrels on Macquarie Island. 2007/2008 Season - Brief Report The objectives of this program were substantially advanced during the 2007-08 season. Indeed, additional objectives were met that are fundamental to the seabird monitoring required for the rabbit and rodent eradication program being implemented on Macquarie Island. All breeding pairs of Wandering albatross (n=5 pairs), Black-browed albatross (n=41 pairs) and Grey-headed albatrosses (n=60 pairs) were identified in order to continue to assess the survival parameters for both adults and juveniles. The study colonies of breeding adult Light-mantled albatrosses were also monitored for survival estimates. Entire island censuses of breeding pairs of both Northern giant petrels (n=1840 pairs) and Southern giant petrels (n=2573 pairs) were undertaken in order to track their population trends. Breeding success rates were documented for all the six species of threatened albatross and giant petrels. Comparing these results to long-term data acquired during this program, hatching and fledging success rates were within the typical levels of variation for most species. However, for Wandering albatrosses this season, only five eggs were laid and two hatched, representing a breeding success of only 40%. The breeding effort was the lowest recorded since the inception of the current program in 1994 (previous program number 751) and the lowest on Macquarie Island since 1984. Additionally it was the third consecutive year of low hatching success and low chick productivity. The likelihood of the survival of the Wandering albatross population on Macquarie Island requires urgent consideration. The whole island surveys of giant petrels has indicated that Southern giant petrels are remaining stable, contrasting to the increases in numbers of breeding Northern giant petrels. Continued documentation of the conservation status of these two threatened populations is especially significant as both species are likely to be impacted by the rabbit and rodent eradication program as a result of secondary poisoning (via consumption of poisoned rabbit carcasses) and also as a result of the changes in predator/prey interactions. Continued monitoring of the trends of both species of giant petrels will be required to measure the impacts of the eradication program on non-target species (as required under EPBC Act). Further linkages with the eradication program with this threatened seabird monitoring program were achieved though assessments of the extent of rabbit damage at the albatross breeding sites

Measures of abalone biology - length, weight, growth rate in the Spencer Gulf, South Australia.

From the abstract of one of the referenced papers: The estimated breeding population of wandering albatrosses on Macquarie Island increased from 17 in 1956 to a maximum of 97 in 1966, and then declined at an average rate of 8.1% per year. Mark-recapture analysis shows that the population is not closed (ie subject to immigration and emigration). The decline is correlated with the onset of large-scale fishing for tuna in the southern hemisphere using longlines. The effect of longline mortality on the population dynamics of the wandering albatross is estimated. An annual number of longline hooks in the southern hemisphere tuna fishery of 41.6 million is calculated as the ceiling below which the population would begin to recover. Part of these data were collected as part of ASAC project 751 (ASAC_751), 'Status and conservation of albatrosses on Macquarie Island'.

In November 1976 a survey was undertaken of the Mitchell Plateau, adjacent islands in the lower Mitchell and Lawley River drainage systems and shores of Port Warrender. This report comprises papers resulting from the 1976 survey, although they contain data from earlier and later fieldwork as well. The report also included the results of a botanical survey conducted independently by staff of the WA Herbarium and an account of mangroves of Admiralty Gulf and elsewhere on the northern Kimberley coast by A.G Wells of the University of Sydney.

The sustainability of species at risk is an important assessment of ecosystem biodiversity. The status of each threatened species can infer how well an ecosystem is functioning to maintain species diversity. Assessing the status of coastal species at risk, including piping plover (Charadrius melodus), Gulf of St. Lawrence aster (Symphyotrichum laurentianum), and beach pinweed (Lechea maritima), is valuable as an indicator of ecological integrity in the coastal ecosystem in PEI National Park. The population abundance of both Gulf of St. Lawrence aster and beach pinweed is assessed against the historical abundance levels and whether or not it has an increasing or decreasing trend in population size. Piping plover is assessed on both number of breeding pairs present, as well as their reproductive productivity. Thresholds of 15 breeding pairs and 1.65 fledglings per pair have been established.