Pomarea iphis

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	PASSERIFORMES	MONARCHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pomarea iphis

Species Authority:

Murphy & Mathews, 1928

Common Name/s:

English

–

Iphis Monarch, Ua Huka Flycatcher

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Mahood, S., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Raust, P.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Vulnerable because it is confined to one tiny island and is at risk from the introduction of alien species, especially black rats.

History:

2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Not Recognized
2000	–	Not Recognized
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pomarea iphis is endemic to the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. It is restricted to Ua Huka, where several hundred pairs were estimated in 1975¹, and 500-1,250 in 1998, at a mean density of 2-5 pairs/ha⁶.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Several hundred pairs were estimated in 1975 by Holyoak and Thibault (1984), and 500-1,250 pairs were estimated in 1998, at a mean density of 2-5 pairs/ha (Thibault and Meyer 2001).
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	On Ua Huka (c.30% forested), breeding birds were found from 30 m to 650 m (non-breeders to 840 m) in all native low- to mid-elevation moist and wet forest in the south and locally in lowland dry forest (with Pisonia grandis) on the eastern coast⁶. It forages in dense brush, gleaning insects from branches or hawking them in dark, shaded areas beneath brush-covered canopy².
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	On Ua Huka, there are no current threats, however the introduction of black rat Rattus rattus, which is established on Teuaua, a nearby motu⁵ would cause a rapid decline. Habitat degredation by cyclones is a minor cause for concern.

Major Threat(s):

On Ua Huka, there are no current threats, however the introduction of black rat Rattus rattus, which is established on Teuaua, a nearby motu⁵ would cause a rapid decline. Habitat degredation by cyclones is a minor cause for concern.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway A programme to eradicate R. rattus from Teuaua was unsuccessful, although in 1998 trapping indicated that R. rattus is still absent from Ua Huka⁵. Conservation Actions Proposed On Ua Huka, resurvey the population to ascertain any trends. Take precautions to prevent the establishment of R. rattus. Continue to survey for black rat R. rattus³ and assess any other threats. On Teuaua, attempt to eradicate R. rattus again.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
A programme to eradicate R. rattus from Teuaua was unsuccessful, although in 1998 trapping indicated that R. rattus is still absent from Ua Huka⁵.

Conservation Actions Proposed
On Ua Huka, resurvey the population to ascertain any trends. Take precautions to prevent the establishment of R. rattus. Continue to survey for black rat R. rattus³ and assess any other threats. On Teuaua, attempt to eradicate R. rattus again.

Bibliography [top]

	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. 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. Thibault, J. -C. 1989. L'avifaune des îles Eiao et Hatuta'a (Polynésie, Pacifique Sud): modifications intervenues au XXe siècle. L'Oiseau et la Revue Française d'Ornithologie 59: 305. Thibault, J.-C.; Meyer, J.-Y. 2000. The arrival of the black rat (Rattus rattus) on Fatuiva, Marquesas Islands. Bulletin de la Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie (Te Manu) 31: 5-7. Thibault, J.-C.; Meyer, J.-Y. 2001. Contemporary extinction and population declines of the monarchs (Pomarea spp.) in French Polynesia, South Pacific. Oryx 35: 73-80.

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.

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.

Thibault, J. -C. 1989. L'avifaune des îles Eiao et Hatuta'a (Polynésie, Pacifique Sud): modifications intervenues au XXe siècle. L'Oiseau et la Revue Française d'Ornithologie 59: 305.

Thibault, J.-C.; Meyer, J.-Y. 2000. The arrival of the black rat (Rattus rattus) on Fatuiva, Marquesas Islands. Bulletin de la Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie (Te Manu) 31: 5-7.

Thibault, J.-C.; Meyer, J.-Y. 2001. Contemporary extinction and population declines of the monarchs (Pomarea spp.) in French Polynesia, South Pacific. Oryx 35: 73-80.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Pomarea iphis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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