Prosobonia cancellata

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	CHARADRIIFORMES	SCOLOPACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Prosobonia cancellata

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1789)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Sharp-billed Sandpiper, Tuamotu Sandpiper

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Blanvillain, C., Raust, P.

Justification:
This species was formerly widespread, but is now restricted to predator-free, usually uninhabited islands. It is listed as Endangered because it has a very small range overall, is currently known only from a few locations, and is likely to be undergoing a continuing decline owing to the effects of introduced species, and to a lesser extent, habitat degredation. If predators were to become established on Tenararo and Morane (which hold 80% of the population) the species would warrant uplisting to Critically Endangered.

History:

2006	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Prosobonia cancellata is endemic to the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia, where it has declined throughout the last century. It formerly occurred on Kiritimati (= Christmas Island), Kiribati, where the type specimen was collected, though this record may constitute a distinct species¹². Only four islands are now thought to support populations: Tenararo (a minimum of 500 in 2001), Morane (a minimum of 530 in 2003), Reitoru (57 in 2003) and Tahanea (185 in 2003 and 59 in 2007). Elsewhere in the Tuamotu Archipelago one bird was seen on Aratika in 2007¹³, and otherwise small numbers of birds were reported in the 1980s and 1990s, most notably from Fakarava (reports from fishermen in the 1980s) and Anuanuraro (30-40 in 1990) ^{1,2,3,4,5,7,8,10,12}. There have been an increasing number of nil returns when islands where small numbers had been reported are re-surveyed, implying a continued decline correlated with the spread of rats Rattus spp and cats ¹². Consequently, populations on the latter three islands may already be extinct and records of small numbers of individuals elsewhere may refer to visiting (rather than established) birds². It is unlikely that many more populations will be discovered, the population is estimated to be 1300 individuals.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate based on surveys by Pierce in 2003, reported on in Pierce and Blanvillain (2006).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is found on upper beaches of coral rubble and sand amongst dwarf srubs (especially Scaevola, Messerschmidti and Guettarda) and scattered tall shrubs, as well as in adjacent areas of shrubland and interior of forest, especially open forest ^6,12. Dense stands of Pandanus are avoided ¹². The species is regularly reported along atoll shorelines and lagoon edges⁶, but it is thought they only frequent these habitats when attracted out of curiosity to the observers ¹². It is non-migratory but may visit islands where it does not nest⁶. Food, which comprises mainly invertebrates and some plant material, is gleaned from the vegetation of scrubs and trees and also from the surface of the ground ¹².
Systems:	Terrestrial; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

It is found on upper beaches of coral rubble and sand amongst dwarf srubs (especially Scaevola, Messerschmidti and Guettarda) and scattered tall shrubs, as well as in adjacent areas of shrubland and interior of forest, especially open forest ^6,12. Dense stands of Pandanus are avoided ¹². The species is regularly reported along atoll shorelines and lagoon edges⁶, but it is thought they only frequent these habitats when attracted out of curiosity to the observers ¹². It is non-migratory but may visit islands where it does not nest⁶. Food, which comprises mainly invertebrates and some plant material, is gleaned from the vegetation of scrubs and trees and also from the surface of the ground ¹².

Systems:

Terrestrial; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The introduction of rats, particularly black rat Rattus rattus, and also cats, has probably eliminated the species from all but the most infrequently visited islands in the archipelago ^6,12. The establishment of coconut plantations is thought not to be a threat unless native undergrowth is also cleared ¹². However, the establishment of coconut plantations, and especially coprah plantations, increases the frequency of human visits to islands and consequently the likelihood of predator introduction ¹². Of particular concern is that the two neighbouring islands to Tenararo, where there is coprah, support rats Rattus spp. ¹². An additional concern is that visiting birdwatchers may accidentally introduce rats to Tenararo¹³.

Major Threat(s):

The introduction of rats, particularly black rat Rattus rattus, and also cats, has probably eliminated the species from all but the most infrequently visited islands in the archipelago ^6,12. The establishment of coconut plantations is thought not to be a threat unless native undergrowth is also cleared ¹². However, the establishment of coconut plantations, and especially coprah plantations, increases the frequency of human visits to islands and consequently the likelihood of predator introduction ¹². Of particular concern is that the two neighbouring islands to Tenararo, where there is coprah, support rats Rattus spp. ¹². An additional concern is that visiting birdwatchers may accidentally introduce rats to Tenararo¹³.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Information on this species has been collected as a result of expeditions in 1999 and follow-up work in 2001 and 2003. Te Manu has developed an action plan to eradicate rats on Vahanga (adjacent to Tenararo) with technical support from the New Zealand Department of Conservation, however they are still seeking funding¹³. Conservation Actions Proposed Maintain the predator-free status of Morane and Tenararo by restricting access. Eradicate predators from motus (islets) where the species is no longer present on the atolls Tahanea and Reitoru to allow it to re-colonise these naturally. Survey islands where historical records indicate that the species may still persist, particularly Maruta Sud and islands in the Duke of Gloucester Group⁹. Identify suitable islands for translocation, either rat- and cat-free or where eradication is possible⁹. Consider translocating birds to islands on which predators have been eradicated where the species never occurred but which supported now extinct species of Prosobonia. Develop a recovery plan⁹. Involve local people in the implementation of the recovery plan, with the species as its emblem, so that they associate it with increased coprah yields which will result from rat eradication.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Information on this species has been collected as a result of expeditions in 1999 and follow-up work in 2001 and 2003. Te Manu has developed an action plan to eradicate rats on Vahanga (adjacent to Tenararo) with technical support from the New Zealand Department of Conservation, however they are still seeking funding¹³.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Maintain the predator-free status of Morane and Tenararo by restricting access. Eradicate predators from motus (islets) where the species is no longer present on the atolls Tahanea and Reitoru to allow it to re-colonise these naturally. Survey islands where historical records indicate that the species may still persist, particularly Maruta Sud and islands in the Duke of Gloucester Group⁹. Identify suitable islands for translocation, either rat- and cat-free or where eradication is possible⁹. Consider translocating birds to islands on which predators have been eradicated where the species never occurred but which supported now extinct species of Prosobonia. Develop a recovery plan⁹. Involve local people in the implementation of the recovery plan, with the species as its emblem, so that they associate it with increased coprah yields which will result from rat eradication.

Bibliography [top]

	Blanvillain, C.; Florent, C.; Thenot, V. 2002. Land birds of Tuamotu Archipelago, Polynesia: relative abundance and changes during the 20th century with particular reference to the critically endangered Polynesian Ground-dove (Gallicolumba erythroptera). Biological Conservation 103: 139-149. Holyoak, D. T.; Thibault, J. -C. 1984. Contribution à l'étude des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Memoires du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle - Serie A: Zoologie 127: 1-209. Lacan, F.; Mougin, J. -L. 1974. Les oiseaux des îles Gambier et de quelques atolls orientaux de l'archipel des Tuamotu (Océan Pacifique). L'Oiseau et la Revue Française d'Ornithologie 44: 193-280. Lovegrove, R.; Mann, I.; Morgan, G.; Williams, I. 1989. Tuamotu Islands expedition March-April 1989: report of an expedition to ascertain the status of Red Data Book species in the Tuamotu Archipelago (French Polynesia). Pierce, R.J.; Blanvillain, C. 2004. Current status of the endangered Tuamotu Sandpiper or Titi Prosobonia cancellata and recommended actions for its recovery. Wader Study Group Bulletin 105: 93-100. Pratt, H. D.; Bruner, P. L.; Berrett, D. G. 1987. A field guide to the birds of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton. Seitre, R.; Seitre, J. 1991. Causes de disparition des oiseaux terrestres de Polynésie Française. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Nouméa. SPREP. 1999. Proceedings of the Polynesian Avifauna Conservation Workshop held in Rarotonga, 26-30 April 1999. Thibault, J. -C. 1988. Menaces et conservation des oiseaux de Polynésie Française. In: Thibault, J.-C.; Guyot, I. (ed.), Livre rouge des oiseaux menacés des régions françaises d'outre-mer, pp. 87-124. Conseil International pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Saint-Cloud.

Blanvillain, C.; Florent, C.; Thenot, V. 2002. Land birds of Tuamotu Archipelago, Polynesia: relative abundance and changes during the 20th century with particular reference to the critically endangered Polynesian Ground-dove (Gallicolumba erythroptera). Biological Conservation 103: 139-149.

Holyoak, D. T.; Thibault, J. -C. 1984. Contribution à l'étude des oiseaux de Polynésie orientale. Memoires du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle - Serie A: Zoologie 127: 1-209.

Lacan, F.; Mougin, J. -L. 1974. Les oiseaux des îles Gambier et de quelques atolls orientaux de l'archipel des Tuamotu (Océan Pacifique). L'Oiseau et la Revue Française d'Ornithologie 44: 193-280.

Lovegrove, R.; Mann, I.; Morgan, G.; Williams, I. 1989. Tuamotu Islands expedition March-April 1989: report of an expedition to ascertain the status of Red Data Book species in the Tuamotu Archipelago (French Polynesia).

Pierce, R.J.; Blanvillain, C. 2004. Current status of the endangered Tuamotu Sandpiper or Titi Prosobonia cancellata and recommended actions for its recovery. Wader Study Group Bulletin 105: 93-100.

Pratt, H. D.; Bruner, P. L.; Berrett, D. G. 1987. A field guide to the birds of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Seitre, R.; Seitre, J. 1991. Causes de disparition des oiseaux terrestres de Polynésie Française. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Nouméa.

SPREP. 1999. Proceedings of the Polynesian Avifauna Conservation Workshop held in Rarotonga, 26-30 April 1999.

Thibault, J. -C. 1988. Menaces et conservation des oiseaux de Polynésie Française. In: Thibault, J.-C.; Guyot, I. (ed.), Livre rouge des oiseaux menacés des régions françaises d'outre-mer, pp. 87-124. Conseil International pour la Protection des Oiseaux, Saint-Cloud.

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