Table_1_Assisted colonization of albatrosses in the California Channel Islands: conservation basis and suitability assessment.xlsx

Laysan (Phoebastria immutabilis) and Black-footed Albatrosses (P. nigripes) nest primarily on low-lying atolls in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that are threatened by inundation from sea level rise and increasing storm surge associated with climate change. Restoration or creation of breeding colonies on higher islands is among the highest priority conservation actions for these species. A previous structured decision-making analysis identified the California Channel Islands as a possible restoration site for Black-footed Albatross. The California Current is part of the natural foraging ranges of Laysan and Black-footed albatrosses. Archaeological evidence indicates both species were present in the California Channel Islands prehistorically, yet neither currently nests in the Channel Islands. We assessed the feasibility of creating albatross breeding colonies in the Channel Islands using social attraction and translocation, and the suitability of each island. We used a risk analysis framework developed for the U.S. National Park Service to evaluate the potential ecological risks of this action. Creating an albatross colony in the Channel Islands is feasible using available methods. Santa Barbara and San Nicolas islands would be most suitable for albatross. Social attraction is less expensive and might be effective for creating a Laysan Albatross colony because that species is already visiting some islands. Translocation would be necessary to create a Black-footed Albatross colony. The risks associated with attempting to establish albatross breeding colonies in the Channel Islands were deemed to be generally low, but the risk of no action is high to these albatrosses. This can be a useful assisted colonization case study that can inform decisions by land managers and agencies regarding conservation of North Pacific albatrosses and other species.

莱桑（Phoebastria immutabilis）和黑脚信天翁（P. nigripes）主要在西北夏威夷群岛的低洼环礁上筑巢，这些环礁受到海平面上升和气候变化相关的增水现象的威胁。为这些物种恢复或创建位于较高岛屿上的繁殖群体，是当前最高优先级的保护行动之一。一项先前的结构化决策分析确定了加利福尼亚海峡群岛可能成为黑脚信天翁的恢复地点。加利福尼亚海流是莱桑和黑脚信天翁的自然觅食范围的一部分。考古证据表明，这两种物种在史前时期就存在于加利福尼亚海峡群岛，但目前均未在该群岛筑巢。我们评估了在海峡群岛使用社会吸引和移植方法创建信天翁繁殖群体的可行性，以及每个岛屿的适宜性。我们利用为美国国家公园管理局开发的危害分析框架来评估这一行动可能产生的生态风险。利用现有方法在海峡群岛创建信天翁群体是可行的。圣巴巴拉岛和圣尼古拉斯岛将是最适宜的地点。社会吸引方法成本较低，可能对创建莱桑信天翁群体有效，因为该物种已经访问了一些岛屿。为了创建黑脚信天翁群体，则需要移植方法。评估认为，在海峡群岛尝试建立信天翁繁殖群体的风险总体较低，但对于这些信天翁而言，不采取行动的风险则较高。这可以成为一个有用的辅助性殖民化案例研究，为土地管理者及相关部门关于北太平洋信天翁及其他物种的保护决策提供参考。