scholarly journals The 'Ura or Rimatara Lorikeet Vini kuhlii: its former range, present status, and conservation priorities.

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Mccormack ◽  
Judith Künzlè
Keyword(s):  
Present Status ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Austral Islands ◽  
Natural Range

SummaryFossils and other evidence from the Southern Cook Islands show that the Rimatara Lorikeet Vini kuhlii, known as the Kura, was widespread in the group during prehistoric times and, it was probably extirpated due to exploitation for its red feathers. Today, it survives only on Rimatara in the Austral Islands, where it is known as the ‘Ura. On Rimatara during 5-11 August 1992 we saw/heard 263 ‘Ura, and estimated the total population at 900 birds. The mixed horticultural belt, about 32% of the island, was the most favoured habitat at 2.2 birds ha1 and it supported about 61% of the total population. The species was uncommon in the coastal coconut plantations and central hills, and rare in the makatea/feo. Rats, especially Rattus rattus, have often been associated with the loss of forest birds on oceanic islands and R. rattus is thought to be responsible for the decline in other lorikeets of French Polynesia. A preliminary trapping study located R. norvegicus and R. exulans, but not R. rattus. The highest conservation priority should be given to confirming the absence of R. rattus on Rimatara and the implementation of a major quarantine programme to ensure that it is not accidentally introduced. We recommend reintroducing the lorikeet to islands within its former natural range.

Predation on green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, hatchlings by invasive rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Gronwald ◽  
Quentin Genet ◽  
Margaux Touron
Keyword(s):  
Food Source ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Chelonia Mydas ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Green Sea Turtle ◽  
Green Sea Turtles ◽  
Invasive Rats

We used camera traps to identify invasive Rattus rattus as predators at a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, nest in French Polynesia. The footage shows that the hatchlings are a familiar food source for rats and that the control of invasive rats has to be considered for the protection of endangered green sea turtles.

Partial melting below Tubuai (Austral Islands, French Polynesia)

1997 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 369-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martial Caroff ◽  
René C. Maury ◽  
Gérard Guille ◽  
Joseph Cotten
Keyword(s):  
Partial Melting ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Austral Islands

scholarly journals Notes on the status of Kuhl's Lorikeet Vini kuhlii in the Northern Line Islands, Kiribati

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dick Watling
Keyword(s):  
French Polynesia ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Disjunct Distribution ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Ship Rat ◽  
Austral Islands ◽  
The Status ◽  
Line Islands

SummaryKuhl's Lorikeet Vini kuhlii has a precarious status reflected by its disjunct distribution in the Pacific, with surviving populations in the Northern Line (Kiribati) and Austral Islands (French Polynesia) some 3,000 km apart, possibly as a result of Polynesian trade in red feathers. The species is extinct in the southern Cook Islands. On Rimatara (Austral Islands), where it is believed indigenous, it is still common but the recent introduction of the Rattus norvegicus is of concern. In the Northern Line Islands, R. rattus appears to have all but extirpated the lorikeet on Tabuaeran (Fanning Island), but one small population has apparently survived for over 70 years, an explanation for which may guide in situ conservation of Vini lorikeets on ship-rat-infested islands elsewhere. The arid and unpredictable climate of Kiritimati (Christmas Island) may preclude the establishment of lorikeets. Only on Teraina (Washington Island), where over 1,000 V. kuhlii survive, are there no confirmed threats and good in situ conservation potential.

scholarly journals Science should not be left behind during the design of a marine protected area: meeting conservation priorities while integrating stakeholder interests

FACETS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 472-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Muntoni ◽  
Rodolphe Devillers ◽  
Mariano Koen-Alonso
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Extractive Industries ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Conservation Priority ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Stakeholder Interests ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Complex Process

Marine protected areas (MPAs) design is a complex process that typically involves diverse stakeholders, requiring compromise between diverging priorities. Such compromises, when not carefully understood, can threaten the ecological effectiveness of MPAs. Using the example of the Canadian Laurentian Channel MPA, we studied a planning process from initial scientific advice to the final MPA. We analysed the impacts of successive boundary modifications to the draft MPA, often made to accommodate extractive industries, on the protection of seven species initially identified as potential conservation priorities. We also quantified the potential economic impacts of changes in boundary modifications on the fisheries industry. Results show that reducing the proposed MPA size by 33.4% helped reduce the potential economic impact on the fishing industry by 65.5%, but it resulted in up to 43% decrease in protection of species of conservation priority. Changes in MPA boundary delineation during the design were not subjected to formal scientific reviews, raising questions on the potential effectiveness of this MPA. Better integration of science in MPA design is required to help assess the impacts that trade-offs made during stakeholder consultations can have on the MPA ecological effectiveness.

scholarly journals Impacts of deforestation on passerine avifauna in the Opunohu Valley of Mo'orea, French Polynesia

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa M. ZoBell ◽  
Brett J Furnas
Keyword(s):  
Detection Probability ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
French Polynesia ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Green Fruit ◽  
Discrete Nature ◽  
Acoustic Recording

Human expansion has negatively impacted biodiversity. Oceanic islands have some of the most diverse, endemic biodiversity. Endemism leads to vulnerability due to the isolated and discrete nature of oceanic islands. Birds are indicator species that adapt to change very quickly. By analyzing birds, we can investigate how changes in behavior and abundance may occur for different species in the future. Nine passerine bird species were studied with automated acoustic recording devices. Recording devices were places in agricultural, forest, and mixed habitats. Three invasive species preferred agriculture areas and low canopy cover, based on call frequency and detection probability. Native bird detectability was significantly lower than invasive bird detectability. Occupancy was above 0.8 for all species, except for the gray-green fruit dove that was >0.6. Native bird populations are at risk, based on their calling number and detection probability.

scholarly journals Increased nesting success of Hawaii Elepaio in response to the removal of invasive black rats

The Condor ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C Banko ◽  
Kelly A Jaenecke ◽  
Robert W Peck ◽  
Kevin W Brinck
Keyword(s):  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Nest Success ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Nesting Success ◽  
Native Forest ◽  
Forest Bird ◽  
Bird Populations ◽  
Black Rats

Abstract In Hawaii and other oceanic islands with few native land mammals, black rats (Rattus rattus) are among the most damaging invasive vertebrate species to native forest bird populations and habitats, due to their arboreal behavior and generalist foraging habits and habitat use. We evaluated the nesting response of Hawaii Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis; Monarchidae), a generalist insectivore, to the removal of black rats using rodenticide in a before-after-control-impact study in high- and low-elevation mesic montane habitat recovering from long-term damage from introduced ungulates and weeds. We monitored nesting success and rat abundance during 2015–2016 before applying rodenticide bait in 2017 to remove rats from two 700 × 700 m treatment plots that were paired with 2 nontreatment plots of the same size. Rat abundance was reduced by 90% during treatment, with combined variables treatment and elevation best explaining the change using GLM methods and AIC model selection. The daily survival rate (DSR) of nests (n = 191) was greater on treated plots after rodenticide application (mean ± SE = 0.980 ± 0.004 treatment; 0.964 ± 0.004 nontreatment), modeled nest success increased from 29% to 50%, and apparent nest success (number of successful nests per total nests) increased from 37% to 52%. The most informative model for predicting DSR included the effect of treatment. Predation by rats was documented at 3 of 16 nests using video surveillance, and we observed additional evidence of rat predation during in-person nest monitoring. Rats targeted adults on the nest and sometimes removed intact eggs, leaving little trace of their activity. Our results demonstrate that reducing rat predation can immediately improve the nesting success of even a common bird species in habitat with a long history of forest restoration. Sustained predator control may be critical to accelerating the recovery of native forest bird communities.

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