Apalopteron familiare

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	Passeriformes	Zosteropidae

Scientific Name:

Apalopteron familiare

Species Authority:

(Kittlitz, 1831)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Bonin White-eye, Bonin Honeyeater

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Butchart, S., Crosby, M., Gilroy, J. (BirdLife International Red List Authority) & Chan, S. (Wild Bird Society of Japan)

Justification:
This species has a small, declining population as a result of historical clearance of primary forest and continued threats to secondary forest from tourism and infrastructure developments, as well as potentially from introduced pest species. It therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable
1988	–	Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Apalopteron familiare is endemic to the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, where it has been recorded from all three island groups, the Muko-jima, Chichi-jima and Haha-jima Islands, but is possibly extinct in the first two.
Countries:	Native: Japan
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate based on Kato et al. (1995) estimate of 3,000-4,000 on Haha-jima island, plus information from the other islands presented in BirdLife International (2001).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits low secondary forest, forest edge, bushes, plantations and gardens. On Haha-jima, it favours forest with well-developed undergrowth, feeding mainly 2-6 m above the ground, on the fruit of papaya Acacia farnesiana, bananas, and other fruit and flowers. Nests are situated in tree forks and occasionally in tree cavities².
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Virtually all the original subtropical forest has already been cleared from the Ogasawara Islands, and it is now extinct on several of these islands, presumably as a result of the wholesale loss of its habitat. Economic development on Haha-jima Island, including developments for tourism, and a consequent reduction in forest cover is an important threat. Plans to construct a new airport on Ani-jima or the main island of Chichi-jima would cause habitat loss, if it remains extant there, and increase the chance of invasion by exotic species. Predation by domestic and feral cats may pose a minor threat¹.

Major Threat(s):

Virtually all the original subtropical forest has already been cleared from the Ogasawara Islands, and it is now extinct on several of these islands, presumably as a result of the wholesale loss of its habitat. Economic development on Haha-jima Island, including developments for tourism, and a consequent reduction in forest cover is an important threat. Plans to construct a new airport on Ani-jima or the main island of Chichi-jima would cause habitat loss, if it remains extant there, and increase the chance of invasion by exotic species. Predation by domestic and feral cats may pose a minor threat¹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: It is legally protected in Japan. The Ogasawara Islands are a National Wildlife Protection Area, established primarily for this species. An active conservation programme is underway there, including the propagation and reintroduction of threatened native plants. Conservation actions proposed: Survey islands in its range to determine which islands still support populations and whether conservation measures are required on them. Establish a monitoring programme on Haha-jima Island. Promote habitat protection and restoration of forest with well-developed undergrowth on Haha-jima Island and other smaller islands where populations persist. Study the reasons for its extinction on some islands. Study the feasibility of reintroduction to other islands in Ogasawara.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

It is legally protected in Japan. The Ogasawara Islands are a National Wildlife Protection Area, established primarily for this species. An active conservation programme is underway there, including the propagation and reintroduction of threatened native plants.

Conservation actions proposed:

Survey islands in its range to determine which islands still support populations and whether conservation measures are required on them. Establish a monitoring programme on Haha-jima Island. Promote habitat protection and restoration of forest with well-developed undergrowth on Haha-jima Island and other smaller islands where populations persist. Study the reasons for its extinction on some islands. Study the feasibility of reintroduction to other islands in Ogasawara.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Apalopteron familiare. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 March 2010.
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