Genetic markers separate breeding populations of the endangered Antipodean Albatross and allow for determination of provenance of birds killed at-sea

Advances in technology and software have provided higher resolution of genetic data. Re-analysis of genetic data from the endangered Antipodean Albatross using STRUCTURE shows that samples from the two main breeding populations on Antipodes and Adams Islands can be assigned correctly to each population using a set of nine microsatellite markers. The new analyses allow for assignment of bycatch birds killed off the east coast of New Zealand with high accuracy and show all of them originated from Antipodes Island. This highlights not only the importance of using genetic markers to inform conservation and management of endangered species but also the important advances in bioinformatics and the value of existing datasets.