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Discovery of Extinct Petrel Species in Macaronesia Reveals Hidden Avian Diversity and Impact of Human Settlement

New Study Uncovers a Long-Lost Species of Gadfly Petrel in the North-East Atlantic's Macaronesian Islands

A recent study, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, has unveiled crucial insights into the historical avian diversity of Macaronesia, revealing the existence of an extinct petrel species, Pterodroma zinorum, among other findings. Led by Dr. Juan C. Rando of the University of La Laguna, this collaborative research effort provides the first comprehensive account of the petrel genus Pterodroma's once-widespread presence across the North Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.

The study’s findings highlight the extinct species, Pterodroma zinorum, which existed until the last millennium in the Azores Islands (Type locality: Furna das Torres, Pico Island (Azores), based on radiocarbon dating from 1104–1672 CE. This species likely disappeared due to the impact of human activities, such as the introduction of alien species and habitat modification, which have profoundly affected the ecological balance of isolated islands.

"Macaronesia once hosted a rich array of petrel species, which are now largely extinct," said Dr. Rando. "Our findings shed light on how human arrival in these fragile ecosystems led to substantial biodiversity loss, as these birds were especially vulnerable to invasive predators and environmental changes."

The extinct species occurred at least in the islands of Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Terceira, and São Miguel.

Currently, only three gadfly petrel species survive in the region, restricted to smaller, isolated populations (the Fea’s petrel, Pt. feae, in Cape Verde (islands of Santiago, Fogo, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau); the Zino’s petrel of Madeira, Pt. madeira, on the island of Madeira; and the Desertas petrel, Pt. deserta, on the islet of Bugio (Desertas Islands, Madeira Archipelago). The new discovery underscores the importance of preserving existing populations to prevent further loss and highlights the role of paleontological research in uncovering lost biodiversity.

For more information on the study, contact Dr. Josep Antoni Alcover at the Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats, the corresponding author of the study, or visit the journal's website at Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

Media Contact: Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB)
Ctra. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
Email: jaalcover@imedea.csic-uib.es