Ptilinopus roseicapilla

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	COLUMBIFORMES	COLUMBIDAE

Scientific Name:

Ptilinopus roseicapilla

Species Authority:

(Lesson, 1831)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mariana Fruit-dove, Mariana Fruit Dove, Mariana Fruit-Dove

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A3cde;B1ab(iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Saunders, A., Hawley, N., Amidon, F.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Endangered because it is restricted to four very small islands, including Saipan, where brown tree-snake Boiga irregularis has recently been found to have become established, and Tinian and Rota where the snake has also been detected. These three islands support 97% of the population. It formerly occurred on Guam, where it was extirpated by brown tree-snake. It is therefore very likely to undergo a rapid overall population decline in the immediate future.

History:

2004

–

Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Ptilinopus roseicapilla is fairly common on four islands in the Northern Mariana Islands (to USA), where it is primarily a bird of mature forest although it is also found in some moderately disturbed mixed woodland and second growth habitats^1,2,4. It has become extirpated from Guam (to USA) owing to predation by the introduced brown tree snake Boiga irregularis, and although single birds turn up once every few years, these are almost certainly individuals dispersing from the island of Rota, 60 km to the north⁵. In 1982, the total population was estimated at 9,443 birds, with 2,541 on Saipan, 3,075 on Tinian, 3,535 on Rota and 292 on Aguijan². In 2007 the population on Aguijan had dropped to 149, but numbers on other islands were similar to those in 1982¹⁰. A recent "Promoting Protection through Pride" campaign on Rota has resulted in legislation fully protecting the species from hunting and trapping³. However, the species must be affected by habitat loss and is at great risk from the recent introduction of B. irregularis to Saipan, and the likely introduction to Tinian.
Countries:	Native: Northern Mariana Islands
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Engbring et al. (1982). Population estimated at 9,443 birds in 1982: 2,541 (Saipan), 3,075 (Tinian), 3,535 (Rota) and 292 (Aguijan).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species eats a variety of fruit from the forest canopy² particularly from native Ficus spp. and Premna obtusifolia trees. It may also descend to feed in bushes or on the ground, where it takes the fruits of the introduced prostrate vine Momordica charantia⁸. It is found in a variety of forest types but appears more common in limestone forest¹ and to prefer mature native forest⁸. On Aguijan it is found in heavily grazed forest and on Tinian in the scrubland of introduced Leucaena trees. It seems to breed all year round with a peak in breeding activity and consequently population size during April-July¹. It lays one egg in a nest approximately 2.8 m from the ground⁸.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This species eats a variety of fruit from the forest canopy² particularly from native Ficus spp. and Premna obtusifolia trees. It may also descend to feed in bushes or on the ground, where it takes the fruits of the introduced prostrate vine Momordica charantia⁸. It is found in a variety of forest types but appears more common in limestone forest¹ and to prefer mature native forest⁸. On Aguijan it is found in heavily grazed forest and on Tinian in the scrubland of introduced Leucaena trees. It seems to breed all year round with a peak in breeding activity and consequently population size during April-July¹. It lays one egg in a nest approximately 2.8 m from the ground⁸.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Brown tree snake is now well established on Saipan, and has also been detected on Tinian and Rota^6,9; although it appears not to have become established there¹⁰, there is a risk it may be in the future since tourism development on Tinian necessitates the importation of large amounts of building materials⁷. Unless the snake can be controlled on Saipan and prevented from becoming established on Tinian and Rota, the populations on three islands are likely to be extirpated rapidly. Other threats include the spread of introduced plant species, especially Leucaena, habitat destruction and hunting⁸.

Major Threat(s):

Brown tree snake is now well established on Saipan, and has also been detected on Tinian and Rota^6,9; although it appears not to have become established there¹⁰, there is a risk it may be in the future since tourism development on Tinian necessitates the importation of large amounts of building materials⁷. Unless the snake can be controlled on Saipan and prevented from becoming established on Tinian and Rota, the populations on three islands are likely to be extirpated rapidly. Other threats include the spread of introduced plant species, especially Leucaena, habitat destruction and hunting⁸.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway A recent "Promoting Protection through Pride" campaign on Rota has resulted in legislation fully protecting the species from hunting and trapping³. A brown tree-snake barrier is under construction at the port on Tinian and plans are underway to build a barrier at the port on Rota to support interdiction efforts^10,11. Conservation Actions Proposed Control Boiga irregularis population by trapping and monitor its spread on Saipan. Take precautions to prevent the introduction of B. irregularis onto Tinian and Rota, such as traps and monitoring around the airport and harbour⁷. Formulate species managment plan and consider introduction to snake-free islands. Monitor populations on Saipan to assess population trend following introduction of B. irregularis. Control the spread of introduced plant species, especially Leucaena. Implement an education program to help control hunting and limit habitat destruction.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
A recent "Promoting Protection through Pride" campaign on Rota has resulted in legislation fully protecting the species from hunting and trapping³. A brown tree-snake barrier is under construction at the port on Tinian and plans are underway to build a barrier at the port on Rota to support interdiction efforts^10,11.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Control Boiga irregularis population by trapping and monitor its spread on Saipan. Take precautions to prevent the introduction of B. irregularis onto Tinian and Rota, such as traps and monitoring around the airport and harbour⁷. Formulate species managment plan and consider introduction to snake-free islands. Monitor populations on Saipan to assess population trend following introduction of B. irregularis. Control the spread of introduced plant species, especially Leucaena. Implement an education program to help control hunting and limit habitat destruction.

Bibliography [top]

	Craig, R. J. 1996. Seasonal population surveys and natural history of a Micronesian bird community. Wilson Bulletin 108: 246-267. del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Engbring, J.; Ramsey, F. L.; Wildman, V. J. 1982. Micronesian forest bird survey, 1982: Saipan, Tinian, Agiguan, and Rota. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu. Jenkins, J. M. 1983. The native forest birds of Guam. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. Williams, S. 2004. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; Endangered Status for the Rota Bridled White-Eye (Zosterops rotensis) from the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Federal Register 69(14): 3022-3029.

Craig, R. J. 1996. Seasonal population surveys and natural history of a Micronesian bird community. Wilson Bulletin 108: 246-267.

del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1997. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Engbring, J.; Ramsey, F. L.; Wildman, V. J. 1982. Micronesian forest bird survey, 1982: Saipan, Tinian, Agiguan, and Rota. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu.

Jenkins, J. M. 1983. The native forest birds of Guam. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

Williams, S. 2004. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; Endangered Status for the Rota Bridled White-Eye (Zosterops rotensis) from the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Federal Register 69(14): 3022-3029.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Ptilinopus roseicapilla. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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