Ptilinopus chalcurus

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 chalcurus

Species Authority:

Gray, 1859

Common Name/s:

English

–

Makatea Fruit-dove, Makatea Fruit Dove, Makatea 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:

Thibault, J., Raust, P.

Justification:
This species is classified as Vulnerable because of its very small population and range, which place it at risk from chance events and human impacts.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Ptilinopus chalcurus is endemic to Makatea in the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, where it was found to be common in 1972 and 1986-1987⁴, and may now even be increasing slightly owing to the cessation of mining activities⁶.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate = 12.8-53.0 individuals/km² x 11 km² (45% EOO) = 141-583, but probably best placed in band 250-999 (density range lower to upper quartile of 21 estimates for 15 congeners in BirdLife Bird Population Density Spreadsheet, in agreement with description as "common").
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found in all wooded habitats as well as dense forest in the south of the island, and is also present near villages¹. It probably takes fruit from a wide variety of trees¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Although much forest was destroyed during the period 1917-1964, as a result of phospate mining, the indigenous vegetation has recovered over the last 40 years and it appears that the mining did not change either the distribution or abundance of the species^1,3. There is no hunting or disturbance (given that the human population is low)². Predation by introduced rats (particularly black rat Rattus rattus) may be a problem³ although the species has coexisted with rats for several decades⁵.

Major Threat(s):

Although much forest was destroyed during the period 1917-1964, as a result of phospate mining, the indigenous vegetation has recovered over the last 40 years and it appears that the mining did not change either the distribution or abundance of the species^1,3. There is no hunting or disturbance (given that the human population is low)². Predation by introduced rats (particularly black rat Rattus rattus) may be a problem³ although the species has coexisted with rats for several decades⁵.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway None is known. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor the population. Assess the threat posed by introduced species. Consider captive breeding and translocation.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
None is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor the population. Assess the threat posed by introduced species. Consider captive breeding and translocation.

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