The Number of Albatross (Diomedeidae) Species

Abstract

Abstract:The basis of the widespread practice of recent years to recognise 23 or 24 species of albatross is critically examined. In large part this can be traced back to an analysis which split the traditional species of albatross on the basis of theoretical fiat: the embrace of the narrow Phylogenetic Species Concept. The role of conservation concerns in albatross taxonomy is examined and rejected. Claims that introgression is likely to explain the low cytochrome-b distance found between many "new" albatross species are rejected. An analysis of climatic conditions at albatross breeding colonies can explain plumage differences in the ontogeny of albatross taxa, and plumage colouration can be related to differing environmental pressures. It is concluded that the variation among taxa within albatross taxa is ecophenotypic. Finally, it is suggested that a plausible mechanism for such variation can be found in epigenetics.

Genomic and Morphological Analysis of a Semipermeable Avian Hybrid Zone Suggests Asymmetrical Introgression of a Sexual Signal

“…There may also be epigenetic effects that affect plumage color that would not be explained by simple underlying allele frequencies. Epigenetic effects on plumage color in birds are very poorly understood, but have been suggested to explain variation in plumage color among albatross species (Family: Diomedeidae; Penhallurick ). Without a more detailed study of the genetics of plumage color or crossing experiments, the likelihood of these alternatives is difficult to evaluate.…”

The conservation status and priorities for albatrosses and large petrels

“…The taxonomic debate surrounding albatrosses was revisited when a new taxonomy was proposed by Robertson and Nunn (1998). This largely applied the Phylogenetic Species Concept and recognised 24 albatross species; however, some decisions were controversial (Penhallurick, 2012;Penhallurick and Wink, 2004;Rheindt and Austin, 2005). Although the recommendation to re-establish four genera (resurrecting Phoebastria and Thalassarche) has been universally accepted, there is no current consensus at the species level; subsequent taxonomic treatises, field guides and reviews recognised between 13 and 24 albatross species (e.g.…”

Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of shape variation in the albatross compound bill

“…Species identification and assignment in albatross is a complex challenge, especially for birds caught as fisheries bycatch far from their breeding colonies [22]. Over the last few decades, several studies have sought to clump and split species as advances in integrative taxonomic frameworks have evolved [23][24][25][26][27][28]. There are currently between 13 and 24 recognized species across four genera, with varying levels of sub-species assignment depending on the bird checklist [3,[29][30][31].…”