Formicivora littoralis

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	THAMNOPHILIDAE

Scientific Name:

Formicivora littoralis

Species Authority:

Gonzaga & Pacheco, 1990

Common Name/s:

English

–

Restinga Antwren

Taxonomic Notes:

Firme and Raposo (2011) analyse morphometry, plumage and vocalisations of Formicivora serrana and F. littoralis to conclude that Formicivora littoralis is not a valid taxon, but simply a population of Formicivora serrana.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Contributor/s:

Alves, M., Bruno, S., Kirwan, G., Pongiluppi, T. & Silveira, L.

Justification:
This species has been downlisted to Endangered because it has been found to occupy a larger range than previously thought; however, its range remains very small, severely fragmented and in on-going decline owing to habitat loss and degradation. caused primarily by beachfront development. Its habitat remains imminently threatened by more tourist developments. A review of this species's taxonomy is expected in the near future.

History:

2011	–	Critically Endangered
2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Formicivora littoralis occupies a highly restricted range around Cabo Frio in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil (Collar et al. 1992). The type-locality, near Arraial do Cabo, is a strip of dunes some 30 km long and up to 400 m wide. It was recorded at two locations on the northern edge of Lagoa de Araruama in 2003-2005 (Vecchi and Alves 2008). Surveys in 2005-2007 resulted in a new locality for the species, Praia de Tucuns (Armação dos Búzios municipality), extending the eastern limit of the species's known range by 5 km, although this likely represents an isolated population (Mattos et al. 2009). These surveys indicate that its range has been underestimated, and its Area of Occupancy has subsequently been estimated at 148 km² by Mattos et al. (2009). The species is found at high densities within suitable habitat and has been considered abundant on Ilha do Cabo Frio. Its population was recently estimated at c.2,500-3,800 individuals following the surveys in 2005-2007 (Mattos et al. 2009). The species is likely to be declining rapidly owing to habitat loss and degradation.
Countries:	Native: Brazil
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The total population was recently estimated at c.2,500-3,800 individuals, thus the number of mature individuals is precautionarily estimated to be in the range 1,000-2,499.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It occupies restinga (beach-scrub habitat, rich in cacti and bromeliads, growing on sand-dunes) and other scrub vegetation on coastal hillsides, and can persist in tiny areas of habitat around holiday homes (G. M. Kirwan in litt. 1999). Birds usually forage in pairs, remaining close to the ground in dense thickets. Nests have been found in June, October and November on Ilha do Cabo Frio, and breeding would appear to be almost year-round, as judged from the state of the gonads of collected specimens. The nest is constructed from fibres attached to horizontal branch forks. The clutch-size is two with both sexes sharing parental duties.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It occupies restinga (beach-scrub habitat, rich in cacti and bromeliads, growing on sand-dunes) and other scrub vegetation on coastal hillsides, and can persist in tiny areas of habitat around holiday homes (G. M. Kirwan in litt. 1999). Birds usually forage in pairs, remaining close to the ground in dense thickets. Nests have been found in June, October and November on Ilha do Cabo Frio, and breeding would appear to be almost year-round, as judged from the state of the gonads of collected specimens. The nest is constructed from fibres attached to horizontal branch forks. The clutch-size is two with both sexes sharing parental duties.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The species's range is within a major holiday development area, where suitable habitat is under pressure from clearance for real-estate projects and the increasing presence of squatters. The type-locality is severely threatened by the salt industry and the development of beachfront housing and high standard holiday resorts. An impending major resort development is likely to result in the destruction of most of the restinga fragment at Praia do Peró, which lies within the Pau Brasil Area of Environmental Protection (Mattos et al. 2009).

Major Threat(s):

The species's range is within a major holiday development area, where suitable habitat is under pressure from clearance for real-estate projects and the increasing presence of squatters. The type-locality is severely threatened by the salt industry and the development of beachfront housing and high standard holiday resorts. An impending major resort development is likely to result in the destruction of most of the restinga fragment at Praia do Peró, which lies within the Pau Brasil Area of Environmental Protection (Mattos et al. 2009).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Small amounts of restinga habitat have been protected by three designated areas: the Jacarepiá and Massambaba State Reserves, and the Massambaba Environmental Protection Area. However, in April 2011, Rio de Janeiro created the 9,841 ha Costa do Sol State Park, encompassing six municipalities and protecting almost all of the species' range. Access to Ilha do Cabo Frio is restricted by the Brazilian navy, thereby providing some protection. Research into its ecology (in particular reproduction rates, home range and foraging behaviour) has been completed (T. Pongiluppi in litt. 2010) and a land ownership assessment has commenced, which should result in the creation of new public protected areas (S. F. Bruno in litt. 2008). Awareness campaigns include printing t-shirts and posters and arranging workshops directed at local school teachers (S. F. Bruno in litt. 2008). In 2009, it was reported that a study was underway to investigate the occurrence of the species in the Núcleo Experimental de Iguaba Grande with the aim of assessing the minimum requirements for its survival, including its habitat requirements (Bruno and Brandes 2009). A Species Action Plan was published in 2010 (Alvarez et al. 2010). The removal of marmosets Callithrix spp. is on-going at Massambaba and in Área de Relevante Interesse Ecológico (ARIE) Formigueiro-do-litoral (Area of Relevant Ecological Interest - Restinga Antwren) (T. Pongiluppi in litt. 2010). Conservation Actions Proposed Survey to ascertain and monitor its status, especially in the Massambaba area. Ensure continued support for the protected areas where it occurs. Conduct impact assessments prior to real-estate projects. Continue environmental awareness campaigns in the area. Transform the Massambaba and Pau Basil Areas of Environmental Protection into biological reserves in order to increase restrictions on human activities and preserve crucial habitat (Mattos et al. 2009). A detailed conservation action plan is presented in Alvarez et al. (2010).

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Small amounts of restinga habitat have been protected by three designated areas: the Jacarepiá and Massambaba State Reserves, and the Massambaba Environmental Protection Area. However, in April 2011, Rio de Janeiro created the 9,841 ha Costa do Sol State Park, encompassing six municipalities and protecting almost all of the species' range. Access to Ilha do Cabo Frio is restricted by the Brazilian navy, thereby providing some protection. Research into its ecology (in particular reproduction rates, home range and foraging behaviour) has been completed (T. Pongiluppi in litt. 2010) and a land ownership assessment has commenced, which should result in the creation of new public protected areas (S. F. Bruno in litt. 2008). Awareness campaigns include printing t-shirts and posters and arranging workshops directed at local school teachers (S. F. Bruno in litt. 2008). In 2009, it was reported that a study was underway to investigate the occurrence of the species in the Núcleo Experimental de Iguaba Grande with the aim of assessing the minimum requirements for its survival, including its habitat requirements (Bruno and Brandes 2009). A Species Action Plan was published in 2010 (Alvarez et al. 2010). The removal of marmosets Callithrix spp. is on-going at Massambaba and in Área de Relevante Interesse Ecológico (ARIE) Formigueiro-do-litoral (Area of Relevant Ecological Interest - Restinga Antwren) (T. Pongiluppi in litt. 2010).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to ascertain and monitor its status, especially in the Massambaba area. Ensure continued support for the protected areas where it occurs. Conduct impact assessments prior to real-estate projects. Continue environmental awareness campaigns in the area. Transform the Massambaba and Pau Basil Areas of Environmental Protection into biological reserves in order to increase restrictions on human activities and preserve crucial habitat (Mattos et al. 2009). A detailed conservation action plan is presented in Alvarez et al. (2010).

Bibliography [top]

	Alvarez, A. D.; Develey, P. F.; Vecchi, M. B.; Alves, M. A. 2010. Plano de Ação Nacional para a conservação do Formigueiro-do-Litoral (Formicivora littoralis). Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brasilia. Collar, N. J.; Gonzaga, L. P.; Krabbe, N.; Madroño Nieto, A.; Naranjo, L. G.; Parker, T. A.; Wege, D. C. 1992. Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K. IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012). Mattos, J. C. F.; Vale, M. M.; Vecchi, M. B.; Alves, M. A. S. 2009. Abundance, distribution and conservation of the Restinga Antwren Formicivora littoralis. Bird Conservation International 19(4): 392-400. Vecchi, M. B.; Alves, M. A. S. 2008. New records of the Restinga Antwren Formicivora littoralis Gonzaga and Pacheco (Aves, Thamnophilidae) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: inland extended range and threats. Brazilian Journal of Biology 68(2): 391-395.

Alvarez, A. D.; Develey, P. F.; Vecchi, M. B.; Alves, M. A. 2010. Plano de Ação Nacional para a conservação do Formigueiro-do-Litoral (Formicivora littoralis). Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Brasilia.

Collar, N. J.; Gonzaga, L. P.; Krabbe, N.; Madroño Nieto, A.; Naranjo, L. G.; Parker, T. A.; Wege, D. C. 1992. Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K.

IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2012.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 19 June 2012).

Mattos, J. C. F.; Vale, M. M.; Vecchi, M. B.; Alves, M. A. S. 2009. Abundance, distribution and conservation of the Restinga Antwren Formicivora littoralis. Bird Conservation International 19(4): 392-400.

Vecchi, M. B.; Alves, M. A. S. 2008. New records of the Restinga Antwren Formicivora littoralis Gonzaga and Pacheco (Aves, Thamnophilidae) in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: inland extended range and threats. Brazilian Journal of Biology 68(2): 391-395.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2012. Formicivora littoralis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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