Oran Donohue
12/9/12
SEA DISC
Why Save the Short-Tailed Albatross
The Short-Tailed Albatross is a bird that must be saved because of the specific
niche it occupies and the vital role that it plays in the environment. Since the species
population has been brought down to 2,364 individuals, we are already seeing the
damaging effects on the ecosystem due to the absence of the Short-Tailed Albatross, and
its unoccupied niche. (Phoebastria albatrus, 2012) This type of Albatross helps to keep
the ecosystem at a natural equilibrium state by consuming large populations of
crustaceans, fish, shrimp, and squid in their environment. It also is food for uppertrophic predators like sharks and whales. If the species were to go completely extinct,
there would be a massive hole in the middle of the food web, which would hugely affect
the other organisms that coexist with the bird and would be incredibly detrimental to the
balance of the ecosystem. (Short-tailed Albatross Phoebastria albatrus, 2001)
All species are part of a food web, whether they are predators, prey or even
competition. While the species helps keep a balanced ecosystem, it also contributes
hugely to biodiversity and species richness. When a crucial member of the food web
goes extinct, it indirectly alters the livelihood of the survivors; the Short-Tailed Albatross
is an important species that helps regulate other species in different trophic levels and
needs to be saved. When breeding, the bird’s eggs also provide food for the native
rodents, reptiles, and small mammals in their breeding ground. The bird is also a great
indicator species because they are indicators of species richness and endemism
patterns. The Short-Tailed Albatross is also a keystone species because it plays a critical
role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other
organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various
other species in the community. Changes in bird populations can also provide a useful
indication of broader environmental change, even though the declination of the ShortTailed Albatross is almost completely gone because of human actions. (Short Tailed
Albatross: Facts, Characteristics, Habitat and More, 2012)
If the Short-Tailed Albatross was to go completely extinct a chain reaction would
unfold and organisms in different biomes would feel the sting. Locally, the fish would
overpopulate and would not have a sustainable population for their specific ecosystem.
The upper trophic predators would have a harder time finding food and their population
would be effected greatly. Also, with the Albatross’s niche unoccupied, there is a much
greater chance that a non-native species will be introduced to the ecosystem and create
even more of an ecological disaster. If an invasive bird occupied the old niche of the
Short-Tailed Albatross, they would eat all the fish, while not having a predator to help
control the populations of the invasive birds. With a result the food web would ultimately
break. Globally, when the Albatrosses migrate along the Pacific, they often spread seeds
with them adding to the biodiversity of plants in different areas, thus helping the plants
reproduce. Other ecosystems in different parts of the world will ultimately be affected as
well because they are all in some small way, linked together, and if one thing goes wrong
in one ecosystem, the others will undoubtedly suffer. (Short-Tailed Albatross 2008)
We must act now to save this amazingly spectacular bird. It has incredibly
promising aesthetic value for the world to view and uphold for many years to come. The
bird also has great intrinsic potential because of its plumage and bill. Its role in the
ecosystem is too important to let it go extinct. It is a living-breathing creature that has
feelings and deserves a fighting chance to live. Don’t let the Short-Tailed Albatross
down!