Eudyptes moseleyi

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	SPHENISCIFORMES	SPHENISCIDAE

Scientific Name:

Eudyptes moseleyi

Species Authority:

Mathews & Iredale, 1921

Common Name/s:

English

–

Northern Rockhopper Penguin

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2acde+3cde+4acde ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Cuthbert, R., Hilton, G.

Justification:
This species has been classified as Endangered owing to very rapid population decreases over the last three generations (30 years) throughout its range. Precise reasons for the declines are poorly known, but changes in sea temperature, competition and incidental capture in fisheries and introduced predators are all likely to be implicated.

History:

2008	–	Endangered
2004	–	Not Recognized
2000	–	Not Recognized
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Eudyptes moseleyi breeds on Gough Island and islands in the Tristan da Cunha group (St Helena to UK), and Amsterdam and St Paul Islands (French Southern Territories). The large population at Gough Island appears to have been stable between 1982 and 2000⁸, although it suffered large declines prior to the 1980s. The majority of the population is in the Atlantic Ocean (c. 80%)¹². Early records indicate that millions of penguins used to occur on both Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island¹². The most recent population estimates indicate declines in excess of 96% for Gough and 98% for the main island of Tristan that have occurred over at least 45 and 130 years, respectively¹². Numbers breeding at Inaccessible Island (Tristan da Cunha) may also have declined, albeit modestly, whereas numbers on Tristan appear to have been stable over the last few decades¹². Current population estimates are 32,000-65,000 breeding pairs at Gough, 18-27,000 at Inaccessible and 3,200-4,500 at Tristan¹². The population on Nightingale Island decreased from an estimated 25,000 pairs in 1973 to 19,500 in 2005¹⁹. Although 100,000 breeding pairs were estimated on Middle Island in 1973, an observed decrease in the area of the colony due to fur seal encroachment suggests it has also decreased¹⁹. Overall, declines at Gough, Tristan, Nightingale and Inaccessible indicate an annual decline rate of c. 2% and a three-generation decline of 52%¹⁹. In the Indian Ocean, the Amsterdam Island population decreased by 57% between 1971 and 1993 to 25,000 pairs, whereas on St Paul Island the population increased from 4,000 to 9,000 pairs over the same period, following cessation of exploitation as crayfish bait¹¹. Population trends during the last 10 years in the Indian Ocean are unknown.
Countries:	Native: French Southern Territories (the); Saint Helena
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	R. Cuthbert in litt. (2007) gave current population estimates of 32,000-65,000 breeding pairs at Gough, 18-27,000 at Inaccessible and 3,200-4,500 at Tristan. Nightingale and Middle Islands were estimated to support 125,000 pairs in the 1970s, but recent observations suggest that the main colony on Nightingale has decreased in size. Jouventin et al (2006) detail the following: Amsterdam Island 25,000 pairs, St Paul Island 9,000 pairs (both 1993 counts).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

R. Cuthbert in litt. (2007) gave current population estimates of 32,000-65,000 breeding pairs at Gough, 18-27,000 at Inaccessible and 3,200-4,500 at Tristan. Nightingale and Middle Islands were estimated to support 125,000 pairs in the 1970s, but recent observations suggest that the main colony on Nightingale has decreased in size. Jouventin et al (2006) detail the following: Amsterdam Island 25,000 pairs, St Paul Island 9,000 pairs (both 1993 counts).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Rockhoppers breed in colonies, from sea-level to cliff-tops and sometimes inland. They are seasonal visitors to breeding colonies, arriving in late winter, laying in September, and fledging chicks in December and January. They feed on krill and other crustaceans, squid, octopus and fish⁷.
Systems:	Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Past human exploitation and the impact of introduced predators are likely to be responsible for past declines, but these factors cannot explain the sharp decreases since the 1950s¹². Food supplies may be affected by squid fisheries, climate change and shifts in marine food webs^1,3,9. Increasing disturbance and pollution results from ecotourism and fishing². Driftnet fishing and rock-lobster fisheries (which previously used birds for bait) has caused significant mortality^5,6. On Nightingale, egging continues, perhaps causing decreases^4,6. On some islands introduced predators may affect breeding success⁵, and predation and competition for space with subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis may cause local declines.

Major Threat(s):

Past human exploitation and the impact of introduced predators are likely to be responsible for past declines, but these factors cannot explain the sharp decreases since the 1950s¹². Food supplies may be affected by squid fisheries, climate change and shifts in marine food webs^1,3,9. Increasing disturbance and pollution results from ecotourism and fishing². Driftnet fishing and rock-lobster fisheries (which previously used birds for bait) has caused significant mortality^5,6. On Nightingale, egging continues, perhaps causing decreases^4,6. On some islands introduced predators may affect breeding success⁵, and predation and competition for space with subantarctic fur seals Arctocephalus tropicalis may cause local declines.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Regular monitoring is, or will be, undertaken on Tristan da Cunha, Gough, Amsterdam and St Paul Islands^8,10. Several ecological and demographic studies have been undertaken^2,3. Many islands with breeding colonies are reserves. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue or start to monitor all populations to assess trends. Conduct studies to assist in interpreting population changes and assessing interactions with commercial fisheries⁵. Investigate the impact of the introduced house mouse Mus musculus on chick survival on Gough. Eradicate introduced predators where possible⁵. Investigate impact of egg harvest on Nightingale¹⁰. Obtain new population estimate for Middle Island.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Regular monitoring is, or will be, undertaken on Tristan da Cunha, Gough, Amsterdam and St Paul Islands^8,10. Several ecological and demographic studies have been undertaken^2,3. Many islands with breeding colonies are reserves.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue or start to monitor all populations to assess trends. Conduct studies to assist in interpreting population changes and assessing interactions with commercial fisheries⁵. Investigate the impact of the introduced house mouse Mus musculus on chick survival on Gough. Eradicate introduced predators where possible⁵. Investigate impact of egg harvest on Nightingale¹⁰. Obtain new population estimate for Middle Island.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Eudyptes moseleyi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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