Pomarea mendozae

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 mendozae

Species Authority:

(Hartlaub, 1854)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Marquesan Flycatcher, Marquesan Monarch

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Bird, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Raust, P.

Justification:
This species formerly occurred on three islands, but survives on only one tiny island where its very small population is apparently stable, but still at risk from habitat degradation by sheep and predation by cats. It therefore qualifies as Endangered.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pomarea mendozae was formerly widespread in the central Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, occurring as two subspecies on three islands. On Hiva Oa, nominate mendozae was common in 1921 and 1922, and was last seen in March 1975, when only one individual was seen despite several weekly field searches. It was not seen in 1990, 1996 or in 2000⁶, and two recent records of single birds⁵ are considered erroneous⁶. The subspecies also occurred on Tahuata. It was apparently common in 1922 but it was not found in 1975 or 1990. It is considered extinct on both the islands where it formerly occurred⁶. The species survives only on Mohotani, where the population of subspecies motanensis was estimated at 200-350 pairs in 1975¹ and, although only 80-125 pairs in 2000, considered stable at 4-5 pairs/10 ha in Pisonia forest (the apparent difference being due to discrepancies in estimates of island size and forest-cover)⁶. In 2006 the island was revisited and the population appeared to be healthy⁷.
Countries:	Native: French Polynesia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population was estimated at 80-125 pairs in 2000, with 4-5 pairs/10 ha in Pisonia forest (Thibault and Meyer 2001) i.e. 160-250 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This mainly insectivorous species occurred in forested valleys at high elevations and in degraded forest at all altitudes (probably originally preferring lowland forests which are now destroyed). On Mohotani, it is found in dry forest with Pisonia grandis¹. Adults apparently prefer areas of dense, luxuriant vegetation while immatures often frequent shrubby vegetation in dry areas¹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	On Mohotani, feral cats are a threat and, to a lesser extent, Pacific rat Rattus exulans, as well as intense grazing by feral sheep². All the Marquesas Islands have been devastated by intense grazing and fire, and much of the original dry forest has been reduced to grassland, and upland forest to relict forest patches. On all islands, introduced species have been a threat, especially black rat Rattus rattus and (which is not present on Mohotani), on Hiva Oa, introduced birds such as the predatory Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus and the very competitive Common Myna Acridotheres tristis.

Major Threat(s):

On Mohotani, feral cats are a threat and, to a lesser extent, Pacific rat Rattus exulans, as well as intense grazing by feral sheep². All the Marquesas Islands have been devastated by intense grazing and fire, and much of the original dry forest has been reduced to grassland, and upland forest to relict forest patches. On all islands, introduced species have been a threat, especially black rat Rattus rattus and (which is not present on Mohotani), on Hiva Oa, introduced birds such as the predatory Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus and the very competitive Common Myna Acridotheres tristis.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Mohotani has been protected since 1968. However, the banning of hunting has resulted in serious degradation by an increasing population of feral sheep³. A management plan, involving people from nearby islands (sheep hunters and wood carvers) is being prepared⁷. Conservation Actions Proposed Carry out regular surveys to monitor population trends. Consider possibilites of translocation. On Mohotani, eliminate or control feral sheep if socially acceptable³. If it is not possible to reduce sheep numbers, fence part of the island to prevent grazing and allow habitat regeneration/restoration³. Eradicate cats³. Take precautions to prevent invasion by black rat R. rattus. Eradicate B. virginianus and A. tristis.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Mohotani has been protected since 1968. However, the banning of hunting has resulted in serious degradation by an increasing population of feral sheep³. A management plan, involving people from nearby islands (sheep hunters and wood carvers) is being prepared⁷.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out regular surveys to monitor population trends. Consider possibilites of translocation. On Mohotani, eliminate or control feral sheep if socially acceptable³. If it is not possible to reduce sheep numbers, fence part of the island to prevent grazing and allow habitat regeneration/restoration³. Eradicate cats³. Take precautions to prevent invasion by black rat R. rattus. Eradicate B. virginianus and A. tristis.

Bibliography [top]

	Anon. 1998. Perdu: le Monarque Marquisien a Ua Pou et Nuku Hiva. Te Manu 24: 1-2. Anon. 1999. Monarque Marquisien (Pomarea mendozae) a Hiva Oa. Te Manu 29. 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. Seitre, R.; Seitre, J. 1992. Causes of land-bird extinctions in French Polynesia. Oryx 26: 215-222. SPREP. 1999. Proceedings of the Polynesian Avifauna Conservation Workshop held in Rarotonga, 26-30 April 1999. 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.

Anon. 1998. Perdu: le Monarque Marquisien a Ua Pou et Nuku Hiva. Te Manu 24: 1-2.

Anon. 1999. Monarque Marquisien (Pomarea mendozae) a Hiva Oa. Te Manu 29.

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.

Seitre, R.; Seitre, J. 1992. Causes of land-bird extinctions in French Polynesia. Oryx 26: 215-222.

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

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 mendozae. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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