Nest Success and Nest Predation of the Endangered Rota White-eye (Zosterops rotensis)

Berry, Lainie; Taisacan, Estanislao

doi:10.1676/07-141.1

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Although our results suggest that predation by pied-crows is relatively uncommon, we recommend control of the pied-crow population to reduce nest disturbance, knowing that pied-crows are likely subsidized by human presence. Rat eradication on Europa would also be beneficial for other seabird species (Brooke et al 2018), such as the tropical shearwater (Puffinus bailloni), for vegetation (as in Wolf et al 2018) and for other species that are currently potential prey of rats, such as the Madagascar white-eye (Zosterops maderaspatana) (Berry and Taisacan 2008) and skinks, including the threatened endemics Trachylepis maculilabris infralineata and Cryptblepharus bitineatus (Probst 1998, Sanchez andProbst 2015). The positive impact of rat eradication on terrestrial ecosystems has been rapidly observed on nearby Tromelin Island where seabird and vegetation recovery has been spectacular since rat eradication (Le Corre et al 2015).…”

Section: Recommendations Management Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seabird predation effects and population viability analysis indicate the urgent need for rat eradication from Europa Island, western Indian Ocean

Saunier¹,

Amy²,

Barbraud³

et al. 2022

ACE

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Rats are among the worst invasive alien predators. They prey upon eggs, chicks, and sometimes adults of seabirds, leading to the decline of many populations. Rats have invaded 93% of the islands in the western Indian Ocean, which is an avian biodiversity hotspot. Europa Island, Mozambique Channel, is a major seabird breeding site, where at least 1,000,000 pairs bred at the end of 20th century, including the endemic white-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon lepturus europae). This species and the red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) are vulnerable to predation by black rat (Rattus rattus), barn owl (Tyto alba), and pied-crow (Corvus albus) on Europa Island. In this study, we estimate the current population sizes of these tropicbird species and their breeding success. The impact of predators on tropicbird nests was quantified with camera traps. Finally, we model the dynamics of these populations under three management scenarios (no action, complete rat eradication, and targeted control of rats around nests). In 2019, 1,027 pairs of redtailed and 100 pairs of white-tailed tropicbirds bred on Europa Island, which indicates an annual decline of 5% and 17% since 2009, respectively. Breeding success of red-tailed tropicbirds and white-tailed tropicbirds was extremely low (0.08 ± 0.07 and 0.06 ± 0.03 respectively). Rats were detected at most surveyed nests and were the main predators of eggs and chicks. Pied-crows and barn owls also depredated nests occasionally. Population viability analysis projected a local extinction in 32-85 years for the red-tailed tropicbird, and in 11-50 years for white-tailed tropicbirds without conservation intervention. The complete eradication of rats would result in a rapid recovery of both populations. Rat control around nests only would result in population recovery only if 74% of the nests of white-tailed and 63% of the nests of red-tailed tropicbirds are free of rats.Une analyse des effets de la prédation des oiseaux de mer et de la viabilité de la population révèle un besoin urgent d'éradication des rats dans l'île Europa, dans l'ouest de l'océan Indien RÉSUMÉ. Les rats font partie des prédateurs étrangers les plus invasifs. Ils se nourrissent d'oeufs, d'oisillons et parfois d'oiseaux de mer adultes, ce qui provoque le déclin de nombreuses populations. Les rats ont envahi 93 % des îles de l'ouest de l'océan Indien, qui est un haut lieu de biodiversité aviaire. L'île Europa, dans le canal du Mozambique, est un site majeur de reproduction des oiseaux, puisqu'au moins un million de couples s'y reproduisaient à la fin du XXe siècle, notamment le phaéton à bec jaune (Phaethon lepturus europae). Cette espèce, ainsi que le phaéton à brins rouges (Phaethon rubricauda) est vulnérable à la prédation par le rat noir (Rattus rattus), la chouette effraie(Tyto alba) et le corbeau-pie (Corvus albus) sur l'île Europa. Dans cette étude, nous estimons la taille des populations de ces espèces d'oiseaux tropicaux et le succès de leur reproduction. L'impact des prédateurs sur les nids de phaétons a été quan...

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Section: Recommendations Management Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seabird predation effects and population viability analysis indicate the urgent need for rat eradication from Europa Island, western Indian Ocean

Saunier¹,

Amy²,

Barbraud³

et al. 2022

ACE

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“…data) filmed seven Mariana Crow nests, revealing three predation events, none of which involved rats: predators were Mariana Crows ( n = 2) and Micronesian Starling Aplonis opaca ( n = 1). Berry and Taisacan ( 2008 ), using video cameras, recorded two instances of nest predation on Rota White-eyes Zosterops rotensis , another endangered species endemic to Rota; one nest was preyed on by a Mariana Crow and the other by a rat, although the authors believed this may have occurred after abandonment of the nest due to the presence of the camera itself. Sachtleben ( 2005 ), using wax eggs and video cameras, identified 10 predation events on small passerine nests on the nearby island of Saipan.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive association between rat abundance and breeding success of the Critically Endangered Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi

Amar

Esselstyn

2013

Bird Conservation International

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SummaryDiagnosing the causes of population declines of highly endangered species is vital to ensure that appropriate conservation measures are undertaken. Although experiments can provide critical information on potential causes, these can be time consuming and costly, and so it is important to determine the most plausible hypothesis for such tests. The last wild population of the Critically Endangered Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi has been declining rapidly on Rota in the Mariana Islands. Because nest predation by introduced rats Rattus spp. has been implicated in the declines of other Pacific island birds, we tested for a correlation between breeding success of Mariana Crows and abundance of rats R. diardii surrounding their nest sites. If rats are a contributing factor in this species’s decline, we predicted that breeding success would be lower in areas where rats were more abundant. In complete contrast to this prediction, we found that breeding success was significantly higher where rats were most abundant, suggesting that rats are unlikely to be a major driving force behind the decline in this species. The positive association between crow breeding success and rat abundance suggests these species may be responding to similar habitat needs or a shared predator. This study illustrates the importance of gathering sufficient knowledge on the ecology of a species prior to undertaking costly, logistically difficult and time consuming experiments.

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“…Controlling predators has become a common tool for the maintenance of populations of endangered species. Predation of nests and young is one of the primary limiting factors of endangered birds (Vickery et al 1992, Berry and Taisacan 2008, Vanderwerf 2012. Human activities have caused changes in the abundance and distribution of potential predators both indirectly (e.g., through landscape alteration and food subsidies) and directly (e.g., through transport of domestic animals; Boarman 2003, Fischer et al 2012, creating nearly insurmountable challenges to avian conservation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of top predator removal on the distribution of a mesocarnivore and nest survival of an endangered shorebird

Stantial¹,

Cohen²,

Darrah³

et al. 2021

ACE

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For trophic systems regulated by top-down processes, top carnivores may determine species composition of lower trophic levels. Removal of top predators could therefore cause a shift in community composition. If predators play a role in limiting the population of endangered prey animals, removing carnivores may have unintended consequences for conservation. Lethal predator removal to benefit prey species is a widely used management strategy. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are a common nest predator of threatened piping plovers (Charadrius melodus) and are often the primary target of predator removal programs, yet predation remains the number one cause of piping plover nest loss. Predator exclusion cages (hereafter, exclosures) around nests are often used to keep foxes from eating eggs, as an alternative to predator removal. Fox removals may increase the presence or activity of smaller predators, including American mink (Neovison vison), which can enter exclosures. We predicted that when foxes were removed from plover breeding sites, mesopredator release of mink would occur and lead to increased predation levels of plover nests. Average probability of mink occupancy was higher when foxes were absent (0.26 [95% BCI = 0.16, 0.38]) than when they were present (0.04 [0.01, 0.09]). For nests not protected by exclosures, nest predation was similar at sites with (0.42 [0.12, 0.68]) and without foxes (0.38 [0.10, 0.64]). At sites where foxes were absent, however, predation rates of exclosed nests were 3-fold higher (foxes absent [0.25 {0.06, 0.52}]) compared to sites where foxes remained [0.06 {0.01, 0.18}]). Our results suggest that removal of foxes from plover breeding sites allowed American mink to expand their local range. In turn, removal of foxes led to a decrease in nest survival of an endangered ground-nesting bird. Conservation within complex trophic systems may fail if interactions among species are not well understood when implementing lethal predator removal. Effet de l'élimination d'un supraprédateur sur la répartition d'un mésocarnivore et la survie des nids d'un oiseau de rivage en voie de disparition RÉSUMÉ. Dans les systèmes trophiques régulés par des processus descendants, les carnivores de niveaux trophiques supérieurs peuvent déterminer la composition des espèces des niveaux trophiques inférieurs. L'élimination des supraprédateurs pourrait donc entraîner une modification de la composition des communautés. Si les prédateurs jouent un rôle dans la restriction de la population de proies menacées, l'élimination des carnivores peut avoir des conséquences inattendues pour la conservation. L'élimination des prédateurs par voie létale au profit des espèces proies est une stratégie de gestion largement utilisée. Le Renard roux (Vulpes vulpes) est un prédateur commun des nids de Pluviers siffleurs (Charadrius melodus), une espèce menacée, et il fait souvent l'objet de programmes d'élimination, mais la prédation reste la cause première de destruction des nids des pluviers. Les cages d'exclusion de prédateurs (ci-après,...

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Nest Success and Nest Predation of the Endangered Rota White-eye (Zosterops rotensis)

Cited by 7 publications

References 1 publication

Seabird predation effects and population viability analysis indicate the urgent need for rat eradication from Europa Island, western Indian Ocean

Seabird predation effects and population viability analysis indicate the urgent need for rat eradication from Europa Island, western Indian Ocean

Positive association between rat abundance and breeding success of the Critically Endangered Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi

The effect of top predator removal on the distribution of a mesocarnivore and nest survival of an endangered shorebird

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