Monteiro's Storm-petrel
Encyclopedia
Monteiro's Storm Petrel, Oceanodroma monteiroi, is a species of seabird
in the storm-petrel
family
, Hydrobatidae. The cryptic species was once considered to be conspecific with the Band-rumped Storm Petrel. The species is apparently endemic to the Azores
.
and moult
. Examination of the mtDNA found that the two populations were indeed genetically isolated, and the hot-season-breeding population was elevated to a full species, Oceanodroma monteiroi, Monteiro's Storm Petrel. The species is named for biologist Dr Luis Monteiro, who discovered it.
, a single egg is laid and is incubated by both parents. The egg-laying period for this species is May to early July (in contrast to the Band-rumped Storm Petrel, which on these islands lays in October–December). The first chicks hatch in June and the last chicks fledge by October. The species is thought to forage in the local seas all year round, possibly near the breeding sites; this is in contrast to the Band-rumped Storm Petrel, which disperses to the West Atlantic
. Their diet is unknown, but analysis of stable isotopes in the feathers suggest that diet is different from that of the Band-rumped Storm Petrel as well.
s, and the young are preyed upon by the Long-eared Owl
. The species has been assessed as Vulnerable
by the IUCN because of its small population (estimated at just 250–300 pairs in 1999) and restricted breeding range (two islets in the Azores
)
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
in the storm-petrel
Storm-petrel
Storm petrels are seabirds in the family Hydrobatidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.Storm petrels have a cosmopolitan...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Hydrobatidae. The cryptic species was once considered to be conspecific with the Band-rumped Storm Petrel. The species is apparently endemic to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.
Taxonomy
The existence of a separate species was first hinted at by the discovery of two distinct breeding seasons of Oceanodroma storm-petrels in the Azores. Both these populations were initially thought to be of Band-rumped Storm Petrels; however, one population bred in the cool season, and the other in the hot season. Closer study of these two breeding populations found differences in their morphologyMorphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
and moult
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
. Examination of the mtDNA found that the two populations were indeed genetically isolated, and the hot-season-breeding population was elevated to a full species, Oceanodroma monteiroi, Monteiro's Storm Petrel. The species is named for biologist Dr Luis Monteiro, who discovered it.
Breeding
Monteiro's Storm Petrel breeds on two islets in the Azores. As in all ProcellariiformesProcellariiformes
Procellariiformes is an order of seabirds that comprises four families: the albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm petrels, and diving petrels...
, a single egg is laid and is incubated by both parents. The egg-laying period for this species is May to early July (in contrast to the Band-rumped Storm Petrel, which on these islands lays in October–December). The first chicks hatch in June and the last chicks fledge by October. The species is thought to forage in the local seas all year round, possibly near the breeding sites; this is in contrast to the Band-rumped Storm Petrel, which disperses to the West Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. Their diet is unknown, but analysis of stable isotopes in the feathers suggest that diet is different from that of the Band-rumped Storm Petrel as well.
Conservation
The species has a low reproductive output due to competition with other burrowing petrelPetrel
Petrels are tube-nosed seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. The common name does not indicate relationship beyond that point, as "petrels" occur in three of the four families within that group...
s, and the young are preyed upon by the Long-eared Owl
Long-eared Owl
The Long-eared Owl - Asio otus is a species of owl which breeds in Europe, Asia, and North America. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, family Strigidae, which contains most species of owl...
. The species has been assessed as Vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
by the IUCN because of its small population (estimated at just 250–300 pairs in 1999) and restricted breeding range (two islets in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
)