Are Albatrosses Extinct? Current Status and Conservation Efforts

Albatrosses are not extinct. Twenty-two species of albatross are recognized, and none has gone extinct in recorded history. However, the group as a whole faces severe conservation pressure. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categorizes most albatross species as threatened or near-threatened, with several species classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered. The primary drivers of population decline are incidental mortality in commercial longline fisheries, introduced predators at breeding colonies, disease outbreaks, and environmental contaminants. This article examines the current status of albatross populations, the evidence for ongoing declines, the specific threats documented in peer-reviewed research, and the conservation measures being implemented to prevent future extinctions.

At a Glance: Albatross Conservation Status

The table below summarizes the conservation context for representative albatross species discussed in the scientific literature. IUCN categories reflect the threat status assigned in the most recent assessments referenced by the cited studies.

The Direct Answer: No Albatross Species Is Extinct

No albatross species has gone extinct. The confusion about albatross extinction status likely arises from two sources. First, the word "albatross" appears in cultural expressions such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," where the bird is killed by the narrator. Second, the severe conservation status of many species leads to headlines that emphasize decline and extinction risk instead of current presence.

The scientific record confirms that all recognized albatross species still exist. Research on the conservation status of albatrosses and large petrels identifies the group as among the most threatened seabirds globally, but the threat status applies to population viability, not to current extinction. The IUCN Red List Index for birds, which tracks the projected relative extinction risk of all bird species, shows that the overall threat status of albatrosses and petrels has deteriorated since 1988, driven primarily by incidental mortality in commercial longline fisheries. Deterioration in threat status means species are moving toward higher risk categories, not that they have disappeared.

Why Albatrosses Are Vulnerable to Extinction

Life History Traits That Increase Extinction Risk

Albatrosses possess biological characteristics that make their populations especially sensitive to increased adult or juvenile mortality. These traits are documented across the scientific literature on seabird conservation.

Albatrosses are long-lived seabirds with low reproductive rates. They reach sexual maturity late, typically after several years at sea, and produce only one egg per breeding attempt. Many species do not breed every year. This life history strategy means that population recovery from declines is slow because the replacement rate is low.

The vulnerability of this strategy is documented in research on high pathogenicity avian influenza. Albatrosses and petrels are particularly vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks due to their long lifespan, low reproductive rates, and strong site fidelity. A disease event that kills breeding adults has disproportionate effects because those individuals cannot be quickly replaced.

Philopatry and Population Structure

Albatrosses exhibit strong philopatry, meaning they return to their natal colony to breed. This behavior creates genetically distinct populations that may require separate management. Research on Black-footed Albatrosses using genomewide data found small but detectable genetic differentiation between the Hawaiian and Japanese breeding populations. The study concluded that these populations should be considered separate management units, although the evolutionary and adaptive consequences of this differentiation remain to be identified.

The practical implication for conservation is that protecting one breeding colony does not protect the species. Each colony may harbor unique genetic variation and face distinct threats. Management decisions must account for population structure instead of treating all individuals of a species as interchangeable.

Documented Threats to Albatross Populations

Fisheries Bycatch

Fisheries bycatch is the most extensively documented threat to albatross populations. Albatrosses are attracted to fishing vessels by bait and offal, and they become entangled in gillnets or hooked while longline fishing gear is being set.

Research using environmental criminology frameworks examined the relationship between potentially illegal longline fishing activity and albatross risk. The study found that potentially illegal longlining activity is spatially concentrated, that this concentration occurs in areas with the highest concentrations of commercially valuable fish species, and that the average risk score of albatrosses, as measured by IUCN Red List status, is significantly higher in areas where illegal longline vessels are found, even after controlling for the activities of legal longline vessels. These findings indicate that illegal longline fishing poses a particularly serious threat to albatross survival.

The threat is not limited to adult birds. Tracking studies of juvenile grey-headed albatrosses from South Georgia, the largest global population of this endangered species, found that fledged juveniles dispersed to the northeast and overlapped with a bycatch hotspot reported by the Japanese pelagic longline fleet in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. Population monitoring has revealed low survival of juvenile seabirds over recent decades, potentially because naive individuals are more susceptible to bycatch than adults.

The Red List Index for birds shows that declines in albatross and petrel status have been driven by incidental mortality in commercial longline fisheries. This finding has been consistent across multiple assessment periods.

Disease Outbreaks

Infectious disease has emerged as a significant threat to albatross populations, particularly those breeding on remote oceanic islands where populations may lack prior exposure to pathogens.

Avian Cholera on Amsterdam Island

Research on Amsterdam Island in the Indian Ocean documented recurrent die-offs of Indian yellow-nosed albatross nestlings attributed to avian cholera, caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida. A study evaluating infection status of 264 yellow-nosed albatrosses over four successive breeding seasons using real-time PCR found intense circulation of P. multocida throughout the survey, with a steady but variable increase in infection prevalence within each breeding season. These epizootics were associated with massive nestling die-offs, inducing very low fledging successes at or below 20 percent.

The study noted that the reduced species richness typical of oceanic islands provides an interesting environmental setup to examine the epidemiological dynamics of infectious agents with potential implications for conservation. The findings and the developed PCR protocol have direct applications to guide future research and refine conservation plans aiming at controlling the disease.

Novel Bacterial Pathogens

Genomic research on seabird populations on Amsterdam Island identified a novel species of Erysipelothrix associated with mortalities among endangered seabirds. The study genomically characterized 16 isolates obtained from three Indian yellow-nosed albatross chick carcasses in 2019. Phylogenomic analysis determined that these isolates represent a novel species, proposed as Erysipelothrix amsterdamensis sp. nov. The implications of this bacterium for albatross conservation require further study, but the presence of multiple pathogens at the same colony complicates disease management.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses have emerged as a major global threat to wildlife, with severe consequences for seabird populations. Since 2021, HPAI viruses have caused unprecedented mortality in seabird communities worldwide and have expanded into the core range of procellariiform species, including sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions.

In response to the urgent need for timely, species-relevant information, the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) established the High Pathogenicity H5Nx Avian Influenza Intersessional Correspondence Group, which developed the ACAP HPAI database. This openly accessible, regularly updated resource consolidates all known suspected and confirmed HPAI events involving procellariiform birds. The database compiles information from global and national reporting systems, scientific literature, genetic repositories, government communications, and direct expert notifications. Events are standardized using transparent case definitions, cross-referenced and validated by subject-matter experts, and complemented by additional data on case impacts and viral characteristics.

Viral Pathogens in Atlantic Procellariiformes

A survey of herpesviruses in 50 individuals from 12 procellariiform species that stranded along the southeastern Brazilian coast from 2017 to 2023 detected herpesvirus DNA in 24 percent of the birds. Seven distinct herpesvirus sequence types were identified, all clustering within the genus Mardivirus, including two previously known variants and novel lineages. This represented the first herpesvirus report in the Black-browed Albatross, Cape Verde Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, and Southern Giant-Petrel, as well as new host reports for the Yellow-nosed Albatross and Cory's Shearwater. No associated lesions were observed in histopathology.

Avipoxvirus in Northern Royal Albatross

Genomic characterization of a novel avipoxvirus isolated from a skin lesion of an endangered New Zealand northern royal albatross found the genome was 351.9 kbp in length and contained 336 predicted genes, seven of which were determined to be unique. Phylogenetic analyses positioned the genome within a distinct subclade comprising recently isolated avipoxvirus genome sequences from shearwater, penguin, and passerine bird species.

A subsequent study reported evidence for a possible host switching event with a fowlpox-like virus recovered from a northern royal albatross. The genome contained many fowlpox virus-like genes but also 63 unique genes not reported in any other poxvirus. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the virus likely originated from a fowlpox virus-like progenitor. These findings highlight the importance of host-switching events where viruses cross species barriers with the risk of disease in close and distantly related host populations.

Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance

A disease surveillance study assessed the presence of vector-borne haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) and bacterial pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia) in albatrosses and petrels. The study analyzed blood and tissue samples from 269 individuals of 5 albatross and 12 petrel species, collected over an 11-year period from 2013 to 2023 from South Georgia and multiple sites along the Brazilian coastline. No molecular or microscopy evidence of infection with any of these pathogens was found in any of the samples. These findings suggest that vector-borne pathogens are either absent or at low prevalence, possibly because of limited vector presence, natural resistance, or historical isolation from infection. The study established an essential baseline for future disease surveillance, prevention, and mitigation.

Environmental Contaminants

Mercury contamination represents a documented threat to albatross health and breeding success. Albatrosses have higher mercury burdens than all other avian families. Research on grey-headed albatrosses at South Georgia measured total mercury concentrations in body feathers and found a threefold increase over the past 25 years, representing the highest recorded in the Thalassarche genus.

The study identified that foraging habitat significantly influenced mercury concentrations, with feathers moulted in Antarctic waters having far lower mercury concentrations than those moulted in subantarctic or subtropical waters. Mercury concentrations also increased with trophic level, reflecting the biomagnification process. In males, mercury exposure was correlated with breeding outcome, with failed birds having significantly higher feather mercury concentrations than successful birds.

Introduced Predators

Introduced predators at breeding colonies pose a direct threat to albatross chicks and adults. Research on wandering albatross chicks in the Kerguelen archipelago examined physiological and behavioral responses to a novel predator, the feral cat, and a native predator, the southern giant petrel.

The study found that cat abundances had no effect on chick traits. In contrast, higher abundances of giant petrel were associated with an elevated rate of corticosterone increase and lower triglyceride levels. Chicks were more prone to display a defensive posture when facing a giant petrel than a cat. The researchers emphasized that studies of predator impacts on prey populations must consider both the direct and indirect effects of all predators, as well as their interactions.

Conservation Assessment Methods

Red List Indices

The Red List Index provides a method for producing indices based on the IUCN Red List to chart the overall threat status of all bird species. The index is based on the number of species in each Red List category and on the number changing categories between assessments as a result of genuine improvement or deterioration in status.

The Red List Index for all bird species shows that their overall threat status has continued to deteriorate since 1988. Disaggregated indices show that deteriorations have occurred worldwide and in all major ecosystems, with particularly steep declines in the indices for Indo-Malayan birds and for albatrosses and petrels. The main weaknesses of Red List Indices are that the resolution of status changes is fairly coarse and that delays may occur before some status changes are detected. Their greatest strength is that they are based on information from nearly all species in a taxonomic group worldwide, instead of a potentially biased subset.

Population Monitoring Design

Effective conservation decisions require accurate population estimates. Research on monitoring programs for Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands identified several sources of bias and precision problems in population parameter estimates, including imperfect detection of individuals, unobservable life-history states, local movement outside study areas, and tag loss.

The study described a synergistic combination of sampling design and modeling approaches to mitigate these estimation problems. Solutions include multiple capture periods per season, multistate robust design statistical models, dead recoveries and incidental observations, telemetry and data loggers, buffer areas around study plots to neutralize the effect of local movements, and double banding with statistical models that account for band loss.

The research also presented a variation on the robust capture-recapture design that minimizes disturbance to individuals. For the albatross case study, this less invasive robust design was more time efficient and, when used in combination with a traditional robust design, reduced the disturbance burden on monitored populations. This matters because excessive disturbance to individuals during capture-recapture sampling may have demographic consequences.

Genetic Assessment

Genetic tools provide information for conservation management that cannot be obtained from demographic monitoring alone. Research on Black-footed Albatrosses using double digest RADseq quantified genomewide divergence and gene flow between Hawaiian and Japanese breeding populations. The genomewide data set of 9760 loci containing 3455 single nucleotide polymorphisms yielded estimates of genetic diversity and gene flow that were generally robust across seven different filtering and sampling protocols.

The study found a low level of genomic variation, with estimates of effective population size falling far below current census size. Genetic differentiation was small but detectable between Japan and Hawaii. These patterns suggest that the Hawaiian and Japanese populations exhibit small but significant differences and should be considered separate management units.

Research on the yellow-nosed albatross species complex has examined cryptic speciation and population differentiation, indicating that taxonomic boundaries within this group may be more complex than previously recognized. Accurate taxonomy is essential for conservation prioritization because management resources are allocated at the species level.

Conservation Actions and Management Frameworks

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) provides the primary international framework for albatross conservation. The agreement was established to coordinate conservation efforts among range states and has developed into the principal mechanism for addressing threats to albatross and petrel populations.

ACAP has taken a leading role in disease surveillance and response. The establishment of the HPAI database demonstrates how international coordination can produce practical conservation tools. The database provides a critical decision-support tool for governments, researchers, conservation practitioners, and tourism operators, contributing to the planning and implementation of HPAI biosafety, surveillance, monitoring, and outbreak response activities.

Fisheries Management

Reducing fisheries bycatch requires both regulatory measures and voluntary adoption of mitigation techniques. Research on illegal longline fishing indicates that vessels operating outside legal frameworks are less likely to implement bycatch mitigation measures. The spatial concentration of illegal longlining activity suggests that enforcement efforts can be targeted to specific areas where the threat to albatrosses is highest.

The bird conservation lobby should work closely with fisheries management authorities to address illegal fishing activity. The research on illegal longlining provides strong grounding that this activity poses a particularly serious threat to albatross survival and that these activities are highly spatially concentrated instead of randomly spread across the oceans.

Disease Management

Disease management at breeding colonies requires baseline surveillance data and rapid response capacity. The disease surveillance study in the Southwest Atlantic and Southern Ocean established that vector-borne pathogens are either absent or at low prevalence in the sampled populations. Continuous monitoring is critical given current environmental changes and risks of pathogen introduction via climate-driven shifts in vector distribution.

For colonies where disease outbreaks have been documented, such as Amsterdam Island, management requires understanding the local epidemiology of the pathogen. The research on avian cholera at Amsterdam Island developed a PCR protocol with direct applications for guiding future research and refining conservation plans aimed at controlling the disease.

Predator Management

Managing introduced predators requires understanding both direct and indirect effects. The research on wandering albatross chicks in the Kerguelen archipelago found that chicks did not mount physiological stress responses to feral cats but did respond to native giant petrels. This finding suggests that predator management programs must consider the evolutionary history of prey species and their predators.

Practical Assessment Steps for Conservation Professionals

For researchers, conservation practitioners, and wildlife managers working on albatross conservation, the following assessment steps are supported by the cited literature.

Step 1: Establish Population Baseline

Document current population size and trend for the target species and colony. Use capture-recapture methods that account for imperfect detection, unobservable life-history states, local movement, and tag loss. Implement multiple capture periods per season and use multistate robust design statistical models. Establish buffer areas around study plots to neutralize the effect of local movements.

Step 2: Assess Genetic Population Structure

Determine whether the target population is genetically distinct from other breeding populations. Use genomewide markers instead of limited loci where possible. If significant differentiation is detected, treat populations as separate management units. Recognize that effective population size may be far below census size.

Step 3: Identify Threat Exposure

Document the specific threats affecting the target population. Assess fisheries bycatch risk by comparing at-sea distribution of birds with known fishing effort, particularly in areas where illegal longlining is concentrated. Test for disease prevalence using molecular assays appropriate to the pathogens of concern. Measure contaminant burdens such as mercury in feathers or blood.

Step 4: Monitor Disease Status

Establish baseline disease surveillance using standardized protocols. Sample blood and tissue for known pathogens and archive samples for future analysis. Participate in international reporting systems such as the ACAP HPAI database. Use transparent case definitions and cross-reference findings with subject-matter experts.

Step 5: Evaluate Management Interventions

Assess the effectiveness of conservation measures using the same monitoring protocols used to establish baselines. Compare demographic parameters before and after interventions. Account for the time lag between management actions and population responses given the long lifespan and low reproductive rate of albatrosses.

Records and Measurements

Conservation programs should maintain the following records to support evidence-based management decisions.

Population Records

Maintain annual breeding pair counts, fledging success rates, and adult survival estimates. Record capture histories for individually marked birds. Document band loss rates and correct estimates accordingly. Record disturbance events during monitoring activities.

Disease Records

Document all suspected and confirmed disease events with dates, locations, species, and clinical signs. Record sample collection and laboratory results. Archive genetic sequences from pathogens for comparative analysis. Report findings to international databases.

Contaminant Records

Record mercury concentrations in feathers or blood with information on foraging habitat inferred from stable isotope ratios. Track temporal trends to detect increases in contaminant exposure. Correlate contaminant burdens with breeding outcomes where possible.

Fisheries Interaction Records

Document observed interactions between albatrosses and fishing vessels. Record bycatch events with gear type, location, and mitigation measures in use. Track juvenile dispersal patterns using telemetry to identify bycatch risk areas.

Common Failure Patterns in Albatross Conservation

Failure to Account for Population Structure

Treating genetically distinct populations as a single management unit can lead to inadequate protection for smaller or more vulnerable populations. The Black-footed Albatross research demonstrated that Hawaiian and Japanese populations, while similar in morphology, are genetically distinct and require separate management consideration.

Inadequate Disease Surveillance

Disease outbreaks can spread rapidly through colonies where baseline surveillance is absent. The avian cholera epizootics on Amsterdam Island caused massive nestling die-offs with fledging success at or below 20 percent. Without baseline data, detecting unusual mortality events and implementing response measures is delayed.

Ignoring Indirect Effects of Predators

Predator management programs that focus only on direct predation may miss indirect effects. The Kerguelen research found that chicks mounted physiological stress responses to native giant petrels but not to introduced feral cats. Management decisions based on the assumption that introduced predators are always the primary threat may misallocate resources.

Delayed Response to Emerging Pathogens

Novel pathogens continue to be discovered in albatross populations. The identification of a novel Erysipelothrix species and multiple novel avipoxviruses indicates that the pathogen landscape is more complex than previously recognized. Conservation programs that do not include pathogen surveillance may miss emerging threats until they cause significant mortality.

Limitations of Current Knowledge

Incomplete Taxonomic Understanding

Research on the yellow-nosed albatross species complex has identified cryptic speciation and population differentiation, indicating that the number of recognized species may change as genetic data accumulate. Conservation prioritization based on current taxonomy may not reflect true evolutionary units.

Gaps in Juvenile Distribution Data

Tracking studies have revealed that juvenile albatrosses use different areas than adults and may face different threats. The grey-headed albatross research found that juveniles dispersed to areas overlapping with bycatch hotspots. Data on juvenile distribution remain limited for many species.

Uncertain Disease Impacts

For several pathogens detected in albatrosses, including herpesviruses and the novel Erysipelothrix species, the population-level impacts remain unknown. The herpesvirus survey found no associated lesions in histopathology, suggesting that infection may be subclinical. The implications of these infections for long-term population viability require further study.

Limited Understanding of Contaminant Interactions

Mercury exposure has been correlated with breeding failure in male grey-headed albatrosses, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not fully understood. Interactions between contaminants, disease, and other stressors are likely complex and require integrated study approaches.

Welfare and Safety Context

Disturbance During Monitoring

Research on albatross monitoring programs has documented that excessive disturbance to individuals during capture-recapture sampling may have demographic consequences. Conservation monitoring must balance the need for data against the welfare of study animals. The less invasive robust design developed for Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses minimizes disturbance while maintaining data quality.

Disease Transmission Risk

Researchers and conservation practitioners working with albatrosses can potentially transmit pathogens between colonies. Field protocols should include biosecurity measures to prevent human-mediated pathogen spread. The ACAP HPAI database includes information relevant to biosafety planning for field activities.

Handling and Sampling

Blood and tissue sampling from albatrosses should follow established protocols to minimize stress and injury. The physiological research on wandering albatross chicks measured corticosterone and triglyceride levels, demonstrating that non-lethal sampling can provide valuable health data. All handling should be conducted under appropriate permits and ethical approvals.

Professional Escalation Criteria

Conservation professionals should escalate concerns to appropriate authorities or expert networks under the following circumstances.

Unusual Mortality Events

Any unexplained mortality event affecting multiple individuals should be reported immediately to relevant conservation authorities and disease surveillance networks. The ACAP HPAI database provides a mechanism for reporting suspected or confirmed HPAI events. Early reporting enables rapid response and reduces the risk of pathogen spread.

Detection of Novel Pathogens

When laboratory testing identifies a pathogen not previously documented in a species or region, findings should be reported to the scientific community through publication and to relevant conservation bodies. The documentation of novel avipoxviruses and the novel Erysipelothrix species followed this pathway.

Evidence of Illegal Fishing Activity

When research identifies spatial overlap between albatross distributions and potentially illegal longline fishing activity, this information should be shared with fisheries management authorities and enforcement agencies. The environmental criminology research on illegal longlining provides a framework for identifying high-risk areas.

Significant Population Declines

When monitoring detects population declines exceeding expected variation, the findings should be reported to IUCN Red List assessors and relevant conservation agreements. Accurate and timely reporting ensures that threat status reflects current conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are albatrosses extinct?

No albatross species is extinct. All recognized species still exist in the wild. However, most species are classified as threatened or near-threatened on the IUCN Red List, and the overall threat status of albatrosses and petrels has deteriorated since 1988. The primary driver of this deterioration is incidental mortality in commercial longline fisheries.

Is the albatross extinct?

The albatross as a group is not extinct. The word "albatross" refers to the family Diomedeidae, which includes 22 species distributed across the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific. While no species has gone extinct, several species are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered, meaning they face a very high risk of extinction in the wild if current threats continue.

How many albatross species are threatened?

Most albatross species are classified as threatened or near-threatened on the IUCN Red List. Research on the conservation status and priorities for albatrosses and large petrels identifies the group as among the most threatened seabird groups globally. The Red List Index for birds shows particularly steep declines in the index for albatrosses and petrels driven by incidental mortality in commercial longline fisheries.

What is the main threat to albatross survival?

Fisheries bycatch is the most extensively documented threat to albatross populations. Albatrosses are attracted to fishing vessels by bait and offal and become entangled in gillnets or hooked while longline gear is being set. Research has shown that illegal longline fishing poses a particularly serious threat because these vessels are less likely to implement bycatch mitigation measures. The Red List Index for birds identifies incidental mortality in commercial longline fisheries as the driver of declines in albatross and petrel status.

How big is an albatross compared to a human?

Albatrosses vary in size by species. The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan of any living bird, with wingspans that can exceed 3 meters. Body mass varies by species, with larger species weighing more than 8 kilograms. The smaller mollymawk species are considerably smaller. Direct comparison to human size depends on the species in question, but the largest albatrosses have wingspans that exceed the height of most adult humans.

Can albatrosses recover from current population declines?

Recovery is possible but slow because albatrosses have low reproductive rates and long lifespans. They produce only one egg per breeding attempt and many species do not breed every year. Population recovery requires reducing adult and juvenile mortality, particularly from fisheries bycatch. The Red List Index methodology shows that threat status can improve when conservation actions are effective, but the coarse resolution of status changes means that improvements may take time to detect.

What diseases affect albatross populations?

Several diseases have been documented in albatross populations. Avian cholera caused by Pasteurella multocida has caused recurrent nestling die-offs on Amsterdam Island. High pathogenicity avian influenza has caused unprecedented mortality in seabird communities since 2021. Novel pathogens including avipoxviruses, herpesviruses, and a novel Erysipelothrix species have been identified in recent years. Vector-borne pathogens such as Plasmodium and Borrelia have not been detected in sampled populations, but continued monitoring is recommended.

How does mercury contamination affect albatrosses?

Albatrosses have higher mercury burdens than all other avian families. Research on grey-headed albatrosses at South Georgia found a threefold increase in feather mercury concentrations over 25 years. Mercury concentrations increased with trophic level, reflecting biomagnification. In males, mercury exposure was correlated with breeding outcome, with failed birds having significantly higher feather mercury concentrations than successful birds.

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References and Further Reading

• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.
• Impact of Annual Bacterial Epizootics on Albatross Population on a Remote Island.. EcoHealth, 2020.
• Threats of Longline Fishing to Global Albatross Diversity.. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2022.
• Protein Deimination and Extracellular Vesicle Profiles in Antarctic Seabirds.. Biology, 2020.
• Sampling design considerations for demographic studies: a case of colonial seabirds.. Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America, 2009.
• Measuring global trends in the status of biodiversity: red list indices for birds.. PLoS biology, 2004.
• Morphological and genomic comparisons of Hawaiian and Japanese Black-footed Albatrosses (Phoebastria nigripes) using double digest RADseq: implications for conservation.. Evolutionary applications, 2015.
• Mercury exposure in an endangered seabird: long-term changes and relationships with trophic ecology and breeding success.. Proceedings. Biological sciences, 2020.
• A public database to monitor the spread and impacts of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses on albatrosses and petrels.. Biodiversity data journal, 2026.
• Physiological and behavioural responses of wandering albatross chicks (Diomedea exulans) to novel and non-novel predators.. 2026.
• Herpesvirus Diversity in Atlantic Procellariiformes.. 2025.
• Disease surveillance in albatrosses and petrels from the Southwest Atlantic and Southern Ocean.. 2025.
• Cryptic speciation and population differentiation in the yellow-nosed albatross species complex. Conservation Genetics, 2021.
• Shooting the Albatross: Why a State Takeover of Federal Public Lands Would Make Endangered Species Act Compliance More Expensive and Difficult. 2016.
• Evidence of a Possible Viral Host Switch Event in an Avipoxvirus Isolated from an Endangered Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi). Viruses, 2022.
• Tracking juveniles confirms fisheries-bycatch hotspot for an endangered albatross. 2021.
• Genomic Characterisation of a Novel Avipoxvirus Isolated from an Endangered Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea sanfordi). Pathogens, 2021.
• Genomic characterisation of a novel species of Erysipelothrix associated with mortalities among endangered seabirds. bioRxiv, 2022.
• The conservation status and priorities for albatrosses and large petrels. Biological Conservation, 2016.
• Albatross: biology and conservation. Albatross Biology and Conservation, 1998.
• The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels: Rationale, history, progress and the way forward. Marine Ornithology, 2006.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.