Breeding on a Tropical Island Proves More Difficult Than Expected: The Ongoing Breeding Failure of Laysan Albatross on Clarion Island
- 1Departamento de Estudios Para el Desarrollo Sustentable de la Zona Costera, Centro Universitario de la Costa Sur Universidad de Guadalajara San Patricio‐Melaque Jalisco Mexico
- 2Unidad Académica Mazatlán, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mazatlán Sinaloa Mexico
Abstract
In the 1980s, the Laysan Albatross ( Phoebastria immutabilis ) expanded its breeding range into the eastern Pacific and established colonies on several islands off the coast of Mexico. Colony growth has varied widely among these islands, likely reflecting differences in immigration rates and local conditions, such as food availability and predation risk, which can influence breeding success and population dynamics. We assessed the breeding performance of Laysan Albatrosses on Clarion Island (2016–2023) in relation to foraging ecology and local predation. We monitored breeding success through periodic nest checks and quantified predation rates through focal observations. We tracked foraging trips using GPS devices and analyzed blood samples for stable isotopes ( δ ¹⁵ N, δ ¹³ C). Over the study period, the colony experienced complete breeding failure. Our results suggest that two factors likely contributed to this outcome: (1) foraging limitations and (2) high predation rates. The remote location of Clarion Island required Laysan Albatrosses to travel farther to feeding grounds, potentially reducing the time available to acquire high‐quality prey. This may have influenced their dietary δ ¹³ C signatures, which were associated with hatching success in our study. In addition, hatchlings experienced extremely high predation. Together, the apparent foraging constraints and intense local predation hindered successful reproduction and local recruitment. These factors may help explain the limited growth of the Clarion colony over recent decades. This study provides baseline data on the status of the colony and its main threats, which serve as critical input for planning conservation and management strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{castilloguerrero2026breeding,
title = {{Breeding on a Tropical Island Proves More Difficult Than Expected: The Ongoing Breeding Failure of Laysan Albatross on Clarion Island}},
author = {José Alfredo Castillo‐Guerrero and Sandy Azucena Castañeda‐Castellanos and Daniel Arturo Portillo‐Zavala and Salvador Hernández‐Vázquez and Guillermo Fernández},
journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1002/ece3.74346},
url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74346},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Breeding on a Tropical Island Proves More Difficult Than Expected: The Ongoing Breeding Failure of Laysan Albatross on Clarion Island
AU - José Alfredo Castillo‐Guerrero
AU - Sandy Azucena Castañeda‐Castellanos
AU - Daniel Arturo Portillo‐Zavala
AU - Salvador Hernández‐Vázquez
AU - Guillermo Fernández
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Ecology and Evolution
DO - 10.1002/ece3.74346
UR - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.74346
AB - In the 1980s, the Laysan Albatross ( Phoebastria immutabilis ) expanded its breeding range into the eastern Pacific and established colonies on several islands off the coast of Mexico. Colony growth has varied widely among these islands, likely reflecting differences in immigration rates and local conditions, such as food availability and predation risk, which can influence breeding success and population dynamics. We assessed the breeding performance of Laysan Albatrosses on Clarion Island (2016–2023) in relation to foraging ecology and local predation. We monitored breeding success through periodic nest checks and quantified predation rates through focal observations. We tracked foraging trips using GPS devices and analyzed blood samples for stable isotopes ( δ ¹⁵ N, δ ¹³ C). Over the study period, the colony experienced complete breeding failure. Our results suggest that two factors likely contributed to this outcome: (1) foraging limitations and (2) high predation rates. The remote location of Clarion Island required Laysan Albatrosses to travel farther to feeding grounds, potentially reducing the time available to acquire high‐quality prey. This may have influenced their dietary δ ¹³ C signatures, which were associated with hatching success in our study. In addition, hatchlings experienced extremely high predation. Together, the apparent foraging constraints and intense local predation hindered successful reproduction and local recruitment. These factors may help explain the limited growth of the Clarion colony over recent decades. This study provides baseline data on the status of the colony and its main threats, which serve as critical input for planning conservation and management strategies.
SN - 2045-7758
SN - 2045-7758
ER -