First evidence of mtDNA sequence differences between Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) of Moroccan and Turkish origin

Pegoraro, Karin; Föger, Manfred; Parson, Walther

doi:10.1007/bf01651340

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…length and color of the bill; Siegfried 1972; Serra, personal observation) and genetically (Pegoraro et al 2001): a western population surviving in Morocco and Algeria and an eastern one in Turkey and Syria. As the Syrian population had already been declared extinct around or soon after 1928 (Safriel 1980;Baumgart 1995), the Northern Bald Ibis apparently became extinct in the wild from the whole eastern range in 1989, when the last survivors of the colony of Birecik, southern Anatolia, were prevented from migrating and became semi-captive (Kasparek 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Breeding ecology and behaviour of the last wild oriental Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) in Syria

Serra¹,

Peške

Abdallah³

et al. 2009

J Ornithol

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A relict colony of Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita), a critically endangered species, was unexpectedly discovered in Syria in 2002. During six subsequent breeding seasons (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007), the 3, and then 2, breeding pairs of Northern Bald Ibises have shown to be still vital and, when intensively protected, showed a higher average breeding success than that recorded in Morocco, the only other country where these birds still breed in the wild. During the six breeding seasons, a total of 24 chicks fledged and left the breeding area successfully. Between 2004 and 2007, a total of 5 immature ibises have made a return to the colony, separately and later than adults. As a consequence, two recruitment events have taken place (2006 and 2007), partly compensating for the gradual decrease in the number of adults. Breeding adults arrive from migration during the second half of February, separately, and leave together around mid-July. They nest in cavities and ledges of two limestone cliffs of the central Syria desert, located 20 km apart, well protected from the predominant wind. Breeding behaviour and the cycle are described, summarised and compared with data from the wild colonies of Morocco and the colony of Turkey before the extinction. Key threats still in place at the Syrian breeding quarters are human disturbance during settling and incubation, chick depredation by ravens, uncontrolled hunting and habitat degradation. Recommendations on how to enhance the breeding performance and ensure the survival of this colony in the future are given.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Breeding ecology and behaviour of the last wild oriental Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) in Syria

Serra¹,

Peške

Abdallah³

et al. 2009

J Ornithol

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“…However, they are likely to have included over-hunting, particularly of nestlings, habitat loss and possibly climate change. By the 20 th century, the remaining distribution was split into western and eastern sub-populations, which are now genetically if not morphologically distinct (Pegoraro et al 2001, Broderick et al 2001. Both populations were largely migratory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of research to conservation action for the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in Morocco

Bowden

Smith

Bekkay

et al. 2008

Bird Conservation International

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The Northern Bald Ibis or Waldrapp Geronticus eremita is a species of arid semi-deserts and steppes, which was formerly widely distributed as a breeding bird across North Africa, the Middle East and the European Alps. Just over 100 breeding pairs now remain in the wild at two sites in Morocco whilst two further wild pairs remain in Syria. There is also a population in Turkey, which is maintained for part of the year in captivity, and a large captive population in zoos. The species is classified by IUCN as ‘Critically Endangered’, the highest threat category. The wild population has grown during the past decade, which represents the first evidence of population growth in the species' recorded history. Conservation action in Morocco has contributed to this recovery. A large part of the contribution of research to conservation action has been to establish and document the value of simple site and species protection. Quantitative assessments of the importance of sites for breeding, roosting and foraging have helped to prevent disturbance and the loss of sites to mass-tourism development. Wardening by members of the local community have reduced disturbance by local people and others and increased the perceived value of the birds. Monitoring has suggested additional ways to improve the breeding status of the species, including the provision of drinking water and removal and deterrence of predators and competitors. These actions have been evaluated by subsequent testing. Steppe and two-year fallows were shown to be the key feeding habitats, and maintaining such non-intensive land uses in future may present major management challenges. The recovery in the Souss-Massa region remains precarious because the population is concentrated in a few places where adverse changes are possible. However, it could provide opportunities for natural extension of the range to formerly occupied sites further north in Morocco.

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“…Based on minor morphological distinctions and preliminary genetic work, two populations (eastern and western) have been identified, but the extent and timing of their separation appears to be minor and recent (Pegoraro et al, 2001; Wirtz et al, 2016, 2017). All fully captive populations in Europe, Japan and North America, and those used in European release projects, derive from western origin birds (Böhm, 1999, 2006), whereas the Turkish semi-wild birds are of local, eastern origin.…”

Section: Indigenous Range and Population Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

The northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita: history, current status and future perspectives

Böhm¹,

Bowden

Seddon

et al. 2020

Oryx

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The northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita was once widespread throughout the Middle East, northern Africa, and southern and central Europe. Habitat destruction, persecution and the impacts of pesticides have led to its disappearance from most of its former range. It disappeared from central Europe > 400 years ago, but has persisted as a relict and slowly growing breeding population in Morocco, where c. 700 wild birds of all ages remain. In Algeria, the last confirmed breeding was in 1984; in Turkey the fully wild population disappeared in 1989, but a population remains in semi-wild conditions. In Syria a small population was rediscovered in 2002, only to subsequently decline to functional extinction. Restoration programmes have been initiated independently in several locations, with over 300 free-flying birds resulting from reintroduction projects in Austria, Germany, Spain and Turkey, to restore both sedentary and fully migratory populations. Maintaining current efforts in Morocco remains a high conservation priority.

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First evidence of mtDNA sequence differences between Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) of Moroccan and Turkish origin

Cited by 7 publications

References 12 publications

Breeding ecology and behaviour of the last wild oriental Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) in Syria

Breeding ecology and behaviour of the last wild oriental Northern Bald Ibises (Geronticus eremita) in Syria

Contribution of research to conservation action for the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in Morocco

The northern bald ibis Geronticus eremita: history, current status and future perspectives

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