Poliocephalus rufopectus

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	PODICIPEDIFORMES	PODICIPEDIDAE

Scientific Name:

Poliocephalus rufopectus

Species Authority:

Gray, 1843

Common Name/s:

English

–

New Zealand Dabchick, New Zealand Grebe

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(i) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Bell, B., Robertson, H., Taylor, G.

Justification:
This species is considered Vulnerable because it has a very small, fragmented population which may be declining overall.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Poliocephalus rufopectus is endemic to New Zealand. The remaining population is restricted to North Island with a wide but fragmented distribution. It was last recorded breeding on South Island was in the 1940s. The population is estimated at 1,700-1,800 birds, including c.200 in Northland, c.500 in the Volcanic Plateau, c.400 in the Hawkes Bay, c.150 in Wairarapa and c.400 in Manawatu². Numbers may be decreasing in parts of the range, but stable or increasing in others³. The reason for the rapid decline and extinction on South Island is not known.
Countries:	Native: New Zealand
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Heather and Robertson (1997)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits small bodies of freshwater such as sand-dune lakes and lagoons and larger inland lakes with shallow, sheltered inlets^2,3. It also uses "artificial" habitats such as farm ponds and dams and oxidation ponds. It usually builds its nest at the water's edge, floating but attached to vegetation or overhanging branches; as such, it is easily broken up by wave motion or swamped³. It feeds predominantly on aquatic invertebrates, mostly insects and larvae, but sometimes fish and freshwater crayfish².
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits small bodies of freshwater such as sand-dune lakes and lagoons and larger inland lakes with shallow, sheltered inlets^2,3. It also uses "artificial" habitats such as farm ponds and dams and oxidation ponds. It usually builds its nest at the water's edge, floating but attached to vegetation or overhanging branches; as such, it is easily broken up by wave motion or swamped³. It feeds predominantly on aquatic invertebrates, mostly insects and larvae, but sometimes fish and freshwater crayfish².

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Threats include changes in water quality, drying of dune lakes, destruction of nesting habitat, increasing vegetation, increased human activity on waterways, and predation by introduced rats Rattus spp. and mustelids Mustela spp., especially when nesting^3,5. Very low breeding success is achieved on large waters, maybe due to fluctuating water-levels, wave action and disturbance by other species. Breeding success on dune lakes and farm dams appears to be higher³. The recently-established T. novaehollandiae may be a potential competitor⁴.

Major Threat(s):

Threats include changes in water quality, drying of dune lakes, destruction of nesting habitat, increasing vegetation, increased human activity on waterways, and predation by introduced rats Rattus spp. and mustelids Mustela spp., especially when nesting^3,5. Very low breeding success is achieved on large waters, maybe due to fluctuating water-levels, wave action and disturbance by other species. Breeding success on dune lakes and farm dams appears to be higher³. The recently-established T. novaehollandiae may be a potential competitor⁴.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Infrequent, region-wide surveys have been undertaken to monitor population changes¹. Conservation Actions Proposed Regularly monitor population changes throughout range. Determine extent of competition with T. novaehollandiae⁴. Quantify the effects of introduced predators on nest success. Consider reintroductions to the South Island¹.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Infrequent, region-wide surveys have been undertaken to monitor population changes¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly monitor population changes throughout range. Determine extent of competition with T. novaehollandiae⁴. Quantify the effects of introduced predators on nest success. Consider reintroductions to the South Island¹.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Poliocephalus rufopectus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012.
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