Ptilinopus huttoni

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	COLUMBIFORMES	COLUMBIDAE

Scientific Name:

Ptilinopus huttoni

Species Authority:

Finsch, 1874

Common Name/s:

English

–

Rapa Fruit-dove, Rapa Fruit Dove, Rapa Fruit-Dove

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D1+2 ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Millett, J., Raust, P.

Justification:
This species is classified as Vulnerable because the population is extremely small and confined to undisturbed forest fragments on one tiny island. However, at present the population appears to be stable.

History:

2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Ptilinopus huttoni is endemic to the tiny island of Rapa in the Tubuai Islands, French Polynesia, where its population was estimated at 274 individuals (175-368) in 1989-1990². Although it is probable that the area of available habitat has diminished during the 20th century and this may have caused a decrease in population, in 1991 there was thought to have been no serious decline since 1974². The situation now is thought to be much the same³, but the introduction of the Chinese guava Psidium cattleianum may have provided an additional food source and be causing the population to increase, although surveys are needed to confirm this⁴.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate is from figures published in Thibault and Varney (1991).
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Although once thought to be confined to remaining undisturbed forest fragments in valleys and mountains between 40 and 450 m (292 ha in 1991), and not able to utilise coastal vegetation or secondary forest², it has been seen in pine plantations and may feed on the introduced Chinese guava Psidium cattleianum⁴. It feeds on fleshy fruit and nectar from flowers².
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Destruction and degradation of forest by goats, cattle, fires (used to control fernland and increase grazing land) and felling are the main threats. Predation by feral cats and Polynesian rat Rattus exulans are possible threats, while hunting for food by local inhabitants is no longer a threat owing to an improvement in the standard of living on the island².

Major Threat(s):

Destruction and degradation of forest by goats, cattle, fires (used to control fernland and increase grazing land) and felling are the main threats. Predation by feral cats and Polynesian rat Rattus exulans are possible threats, while hunting for food by local inhabitants is no longer a threat owing to an improvement in the standard of living on the island².

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Proposals have been made to protect the Hiri Valley and to consider captive breeding². Guava trees have recently become established on the island, these may reduce the impact of cattle grazing on the specie's habitat and provide a new food source³. Conservation Actions Proposed Re-survey the population. Study the level of use of P. cattleianum and its impacts on occupancy and population trends. Discuss with the local community the possibility of establishing a protected area in the upland forests¹. If agreement for a protected area is reached, fence forest remnants to reduce grazing pressure¹. Reduce goat numbers¹. Exclude fires from upland areas¹. Consider the possibility of translocation to another island to establish a second population¹. Investigate the impact of cats and rats on the species, and take precautions to prevent invasion by black rat Rattus rattus. As a precaution, establish a captive population.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Proposals have been made to protect the Hiri Valley and to consider captive breeding². Guava trees have recently become established on the island, these may reduce the impact of cattle grazing on the specie's habitat and provide a new food source³.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Re-survey the population. Study the level of use of P. cattleianum and its impacts on occupancy and population trends. Discuss with the local community the possibility of establishing a protected area in the upland forests¹. If agreement for a protected area is reached, fence forest remnants to reduce grazing pressure¹. Reduce goat numbers¹. Exclude fires from upland areas¹. Consider the possibility of translocation to another island to establish a second population¹. Investigate the impact of cats and rats on the species, and take precautions to prevent invasion by black rat Rattus rattus. As a precaution, establish a captive population.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Ptilinopus huttoni. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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