Anas melleri

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	ANSERIFORMES	ANATIDAE

Scientific Name:

Anas melleri

Species Authority:

P.L. Sclater, 1865

Common Name/s:

English	–	Meller's Duck
French	–	Canard de Meller

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Taylor, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Hughes, B., Young, G.

Justification:
This species is listed as Endangered because it is believed to have a very small, although widely dispersed, population, all in one subpopulation, which is undergoing a continuing decline owing to intensive hunting, habitat loss and degradation, and disturbance.

History:

2006	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Anas melleri is endemic to Madagascar, where it is found on the eastern and northern high plateau, in eastern drainage patterns¹². There are populations on isolated massifs on the western edges of the plateau¹². Records from the west^2,7, below the plateau¹², probably refer to vagrant or wandering birds⁹. An introduced population on Mauritius may persist if maintained through releases¹², although it is probably close to extinction⁸. Although previously described as common in many areas of Madagascar (apparently with little supporting evidence¹²), there has been a widespread decline since human colonisation, which has continued unabated over the last 20 years³. It is probably no longer common anywhere, except perhaps in the wetlands around Lake Alaotra where there are some breeding pairs, but where many non-breeders collect¹², with up to 500 birds present^4,9(but see¹⁰). All birds seem to be within a single subpopulation^2,6, which is probably continuing to decline rapidly⁸.
Countries:	Native: Madagascar
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	H.G. Young in litt. 2002 to Wetlands International (2002).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Behaviour This species is largely sedentary, although there exist some records from the west coast where it does not usually occur, suggesting that it may wander to some degree within Madagascar¹⁴. Nesting usually takes place during the months of September-April^3,6, with the exact timing thought to be dependent upon levels of rainfall¹⁵. It has been recorded to breed as early as July¹⁵. During the breeding season it usually occurs in pairs¹⁶, and is highly territorial and aggressive towards both conspecifics and other duck species^12,16, with pairs defending territories of up to 2 km in length¹². Non-breeding birds often congregate in small groups^15,16, or occasionally in large numbers, with flocks of over 200 birds recorded at Lake Alaotra^3,6,15. Habitat This species occurs in inland freshwater wetland⁸ habitats from sea-level to 2000m¹⁴. It is most often found in small streams that run east off the high plateau¹², but also inhabits lakes, rivers, woodland ponds and marshes, especially in humid forested areas^3,6,7,12. It is sometimes found in rice-fields^14,16. It favours slow-moving water but will inhabit faster-moving streams and rivers when the preferred habitat is not available^14,15. It rarely inhabits coastal regions¹⁶. Breeding It especially breeds along small streams and backwaters around lakes¹¹, and also probably along undisturbed rivers^5,11. Diet This species forages mainly by dabbling^12,15, but may also forage on land¹⁵. Its diet includes aquatic seeds and plants^3,12 as well as invertebrates, particularly molluscs¹⁵. In captivity small fish, chironomid flies, filamentous algae and grasses are also eaten¹⁵. Its presence in rice-fields suggests that it consumes rice when available¹⁶. Breeding Site The nest is constructed from dry grass, leaves and other vegetation, and is built among tufts of herbaceous vegetation on the ground at the water's edge^8,11,14.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Behaviour This species is largely sedentary, although there exist some records from the west coast where it does not usually occur, suggesting that it may wander to some degree within Madagascar¹⁴. Nesting usually takes place during the months of September-April^3,6, with the exact timing thought to be dependent upon levels of rainfall¹⁵. It has been recorded to breed as early as July¹⁵. During the breeding season it usually occurs in pairs¹⁶, and is highly territorial and aggressive towards both conspecifics and other duck species^12,16, with pairs defending territories of up to 2 km in length¹². Non-breeding birds often congregate in small groups^15,16, or occasionally in large numbers, with flocks of over 200 birds recorded at Lake Alaotra^3,6,15. Habitat This species occurs in inland freshwater wetland⁸ habitats from sea-level to 2000m¹⁴. It is most often found in small streams that run east off the high plateau¹², but also inhabits lakes, rivers, woodland ponds and marshes, especially in humid forested areas^3,6,7,12. It is sometimes found in rice-fields^14,16. It favours slow-moving water but will inhabit faster-moving streams and rivers when the preferred habitat is not available^14,15. It rarely inhabits coastal regions¹⁶. Breeding It especially breeds along small streams and backwaters around lakes¹¹, and also probably along undisturbed rivers^5,11. Diet This species forages mainly by dabbling^12,15, but may also forage on land¹⁵. Its diet includes aquatic seeds and plants^3,12 as well as invertebrates, particularly molluscs¹⁵. In captivity small fish, chironomid flies, filamentous algae and grasses are also eaten¹⁵. Its presence in rice-fields suggests that it consumes rice when available¹⁶. Breeding Site The nest is constructed from dry grass, leaves and other vegetation, and is built among tufts of herbaceous vegetation on the ground at the water's edge^8,11,14.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	A. melleri is among the largest species of wildfowl found in Madagascar and is widely hunted and trapped for subsistence (and for sport)^1,6. Interviews with hunters at Lake Alaotra suggest c.450 individuals are taken each year, constituting 18% of the global population¹⁰. Long term deforestation of the central plateau, conversion of marshes to rice-paddies and degradation of water quality in rivers and streams, as a result of deforestation and soil erosion, have probably contributed to its decline^6,12. Widespread exotic carnivorous fishes, notably Micropterus salmoides and Channa spp., may threaten young¹² and cause desertion of otherwise suitable habitat¹⁵. Its decline on Mauritius has been attributed to hunting, pollution and introduced rats and mongooses^1,12 as well as possible displacement by introduced Common Mallard Anas platyrhynchos⁸ Pairs are very territorial and susceptible to human disturbance¹².

Major Threat(s):

A. melleri is among the largest species of wildfowl found in Madagascar and is widely hunted and trapped for subsistence (and for sport)^1,6. Interviews with hunters at Lake Alaotra suggest c.450 individuals are taken each year, constituting 18% of the global population¹⁰. Long term deforestation of the central plateau, conversion of marshes to rice-paddies and degradation of water quality in rivers and streams, as a result of deforestation and soil erosion, have probably contributed to its decline^6,12. Widespread exotic carnivorous fishes, notably Micropterus salmoides and Channa spp., may threaten young¹² and cause desertion of otherwise suitable habitat¹⁵. Its decline on Mauritius has been attributed to hunting, pollution and introduced rats and mongooses^1,12 as well as possible displacement by introduced Common Mallard Anas platyrhynchos⁸ Pairs are very territorial and susceptible to human disturbance¹².

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway The species occurs in at least seven protected areas⁹. It is known from 14 Important Bird Areas (78% of eastern Malagasy wetland IBAs)⁹. No regular breeding sites are known. In 2007, there was a drive to increase the number of institutions that keep the species in captivity¹³. Conservation Actions Proposed Change its national status from game species to protected species. Protect remaining areas of least-modified wetlands at Lake Alaotra. Conduct wide-scale status surveys of eastern wetlands. Study its ecology to identify all causes of its decline.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in at least seven protected areas⁹. It is known from 14 Important Bird Areas (78% of eastern Malagasy wetland IBAs)⁹. No regular breeding sites are known. In 2007, there was a drive to increase the number of institutions that keep the species in captivity¹³.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Change its national status from game species to protected species. Protect remaining areas of least-modified wetlands at Lake Alaotra. Conduct wide-scale status surveys of eastern wetlands. Study its ecology to identify all causes of its decline.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Anas melleri. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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