Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-p566r Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T17:16:32.526Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Causes of land-bird extinctions in French Polynesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Julia Seitre
Affiliation:
Le Bourg, 37370 Marray, France.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

During a 4-month study in French Polynesia, the authors visited 28 islands, seven of which had never been explored by ornithologists. They collected ecological data on endemic land birds, introduced animals and habitats, focusing particularly on the factors involved in population declines and extinctions. As well as hunting and habitat destruction, it appears that introduced predators play a major role, with the roof rat Rattus rattus being the most dangerous. Rapid action to eradicate introduced predators, coupled with translocations, would be the most effective way to ensure the survival of the remaining bird species.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1992

References

Atkinson, I.A.E. 1985. Spread of commensal speciesof Rattus to oceanic islands and their effects onisland avifaunas. In Conservation of Island Birds (ed. Moors, P. J.), pp. 3581. ICBP Technical Publication No. 3. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Collar, N.J. and Andrew, P. 1988. Birds to Watch: TheICBP World Check-List of Threatened Birds. ICBP Technical Publication No. 8. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Daly, K. and Goriup, P. 1987. Eradication of Feral Goatsfrom Small Islands. ICBP Study Report No. 17. ICBP, Cambridge, 46pp.Google Scholar
Fuller, E. 1987. Extinct Birds. Viking/Rainbird, London.Google Scholar
Garnett, M.C. 1980. Management Plan for NatureConservation in the Line and Phoenix islands, Part 1:Description. S.P.C. Nouméa.Google Scholar
Goodwin, D. and Gillmor, R. 1970. Pigeon and Dovesof the World. British Museum, Cornell University Press, London.Google Scholar
Hay, R. 1986. Bird Conservation in the Pacific Islands. ICBP Study Report No. 7. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Holyoak, D.T. 1975. Les oiseaux des Marquises, L'Oiseau et RFO. 45, 207233, 341366.Google Scholar
Holyoak, D.T. and Thibault, J.C. 1984. Contribution à l'étude des oiseaux de Polynésie Orientale. Mémoires du MNHN, Paris, 209pp.Google Scholar
Jenkins, C.D., Temple, S.A., Van Riper, C. and Hansen, W.R. 1989. Disease related aspects of conservingthe endangered Hawaiian Crow. In Diseases and Threatened Birds (ed. Cooper, J. E.), pp. 77871. ICBP Technical Publication No. 10. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Moors, P.J. 1983. Predation by mustelids and rodentson eggs and chicks on natural and introduced birds in Kowhai Bush, New-Zealand. Ibis, 125, 137154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moors, P.J. 1985. Eradication campaigns against Rattus norvegicus on the Noises Islands, New Zealand, using Brodifacoum and 1080. In Conservation of Island Birds (ed. Moors, P. J.), pp.143155. ICBP Technical Publication No. 3. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Séchan, Y. 1987. Lutte contre les rats en Polynésiefranchise, dératisation de l'ilôt Teuaua, Ua Huka, Marquises, Note et Doc. d'Entomologie Médicale, ORSTOM Papeete No. 09, 37pp.Google Scholar
Seitre, R. and Seitre, J. 1991. Causes de disparition desoiseaux terrestres de Polynésie française. SPREP occasionalpaper series No. 8, South Pacific Commission, Nouméa, 92pp.Google Scholar
Sparrman, A. 1953. A Voyage Round the World with Captain James Cook in HMS Resolution. Robert Hale Ltd, London.Google Scholar
Steadman, D.W. 1989. Extinction of birds in Eastern Polynesia: a review of the records and comparisons with other Pacific Island Groups. Journal of Archaeological Science, 16, 177205.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, R.H. 1985. Status, habits and conservation of Cyanoramphus parakeet in the New Zealand region. In Conservation of Island Birds (ed. Moors, P. J.), pp. 195211. ICBP Technical Publication No. 3. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Taylor, R.H. and Thomas, B.W. 1989. Eradication of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from Hawea Island, Fiordland, using Brodifacoum. NewZealand Journal of Ecology, 12, 2332.Google Scholar
Thibault, J.-C. 1973. Remarques sus l'appauvrissementde l'avifaune polynésienne. Bull. Soc. Et.Oceaniennes, 15, 262270.Google Scholar
Thibault, J.-C. (ed.) 1988. Menaces et conservation des oiseaux de Polynésie françhise. In Livre Rougedes Oiseaux Menacés des Régions Francaises d'Outre-Mer. pp. 87124. ICBP Monographic No. 5. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Thibault, J.-C. 1989. L'avifaune des îles Eiao et Hatuta'a (Polynésie, pacifique Sud): modifications intervenues au XXème siecle. L'Oiseau et la RFO, 59, 305324.Google Scholar
Thibault, J.-C. and Guyot, I. 1987. Recent changes inthe avifauna of Makatea Island (Tuamotu, CentralPacific). Atoll Research Bulletin, 300, 113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thibault, J.-C. and Varney, A. 1991. Numbers andhabitat of the Rapa fruit-dove, Ptilinopus huttoni, Bird Conservation International, 1, 7581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, B.W. and Taylor, R.M. 1988. Rat eradicationin Breaksea Sound. Forest and Bird, 19, 3034.Google Scholar
Veitch, C.R. 1985. Methods of eradicating feral catsfrom offshore islands in New-Zealand. In Conservation of Island Birds (ed. Moors, P. J.), pp. 125141. ICBP Technical Publication No. 3. ICBP, Cambridge.Google Scholar