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Melamprosops phaeosoma
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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AVES
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Order:
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PASSERIFORMES
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Family:
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FRINGILLIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Melamprosops phaeosoma
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Species Authority:
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Casey & Jacobi, 1974
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Common Name/s:
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PO'O-ULI (Eng)
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR A2ace; C2a(ii); D1 ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2007
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Bird, J. & Butchart, S. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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This species has been listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) because, of three known individuals in 1998; one died in captivity in 2004 and the remaining two individuals have not been seen since 2003 and 2004. It may be extinct, but continuing surveys in all areas of potential habitat are needed to confirm that no other individuals survive. If any do still survive, the total population must be tiny.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Critically Endangered (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2000) |
| 2004 | - | Critically Endangered (BirdLife International 2004) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Melamprosops phaeosoma is endemic to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands (USA), where it was discovered in 1973, in the Ko`olau Forest Reserve on the north-eastern flanks of Haleakala5,8, and estimated to number fewer than 200 birds. During 1975-1985, there was a 90% decline in density in the upper Hanawi watershed4, the only area where it now persists. In 1995, only five to seven birds were known but, by mid-1997, only three individuals could be found (two male, one possibly female), each with distinct home ranges in Hanawi Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the immediately adjacent Haleakala National Park1. One of three known individuals was captured in September 2004 but died on 28 November 200412. The two other individuals known to be a male and a female have not been seen since 2003 and 200412. If alive, both birds are now a minimum of 10 years old12. No other individuals have been located since 1998 despite almost constant presence of researchers in the field in recent years12. A few unlocated individuals may exist in the wild.
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Countries:
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Native:
United States (Hawaiian Is.)
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Population
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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It is found in remote `ohi`a forest6 at 1,400 to 2,100 m, but this may be suboptimal habitat as subfossil evidence indicates that it occurred in much drier habitat at 300 to1,500 m2,4,7. It feeds primarily on snails, insects, and spiders, and occasionally fruit3,5. The two known nests were found in `ohi`a trees5.
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System:
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Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine
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List of Habitats:
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| 1.5 | Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry |
| 1.9 | Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane |
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Threats
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Threats:
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Habitat destruction and modification, and the rapid spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes in the lowlands are thought to be responsible for past declines, and the latter continues to be a threat4,6. The precise causes of the recent population decline are unknown8, although a correlation with a concurrent 473% increase in pig activity within the Hanawi NAR has been hypothesised, as indexed by ground-cover disturbance4. Predation by introduced rats, cats and small Indian mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus is also possible. Rats and the introduced garlic snail (Oxychilus alliarius) have been blamed for the decline of native land snails, an important food source for the Po'o-uli11. Helicopters may disturb birds, especially during the nesting season5.
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List of Threats:
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| 1.3.3.3 | Habitat Loss/Degradation - Extraction - Wood - Clear-cutting (ongoing) |
| 1.5 | Habitat Loss/Degradation - Invasive alien species (ongoing) |
| 2.1 | Invasive alien species (directly affecting the species) - Competitors (ongoing) |
| 2.2 | Invasive alien species (directly affecting the species) - Predators (ongoing) |
| 2.4 | Invasive alien species (directly affecting the species) - Pathogens/parasites (ongoing) |
| 10.6 | Human disturbance - Other (ongoing) |
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
In 1986, the 30 km² Hanawi NAR was created to protect this species and, during 1990 to 1997, all feral pigs were systematically eradicated from three fenced areas5,7,8. However, there was evidence of pig activity within one of these areas in 19986,8. An environmental assessment has been produced and a management plan proposed9. Two wild birds were briefly united when one was caught and moved into the home range of another. However, after just one day the translocated bird had returned to its own territory11. One of three known individuals was captured in September 2004 but died on 28 November 200412.
Conservation measures proposed:
Survey all remaining `ohi`a forest on East Maui2. Create more pig-free areas below the existing fence-lines to help prevent the spread of mosquitoes into upper elevation forests and abet the restoration of more lower elevation habitat7. Intensify habitat management in Hanawi NAR and adjacent areas.
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List of Conservation Actions:
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| 3.2 | Research actions - Population numbers and range (in place, needed) |
| 4.1 | Habitat and site-based actions - Maintenance/Conservation (in place, needed) |
| 4.2 | Habitat and site-based actions - Restoration (in place, needed) |
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Bibliography
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Bibliography:
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Baillie, J. and Groombridge, B. (compilers and editors) 1996. 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. Bird Reference Citations. The numbers inserted in the text accounts above (usually in bold) refer to references. For further details on these references, click on the BirdLife International link above to go to the specific species account on the BirdLife web site. In some cases, particularly in the taxonomic notes, the references are cited using the author names. Details for these can be found on the BirdLife International web site at the following two places:
For References from A–L.
For References from M–Z. BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, U.K. BirdLife International. 2004 Threatened Birds of the World 2004. CD-ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K. Collar, N.J. and Andrew, P. 1988. Birds to Watch. The ICBP World Checklist of Threatened Birds. ICBP Technical Publication No. 8. Page Bros. (Norwich) Ltd, Norfolk, England. Collar, N.J., Crosby, M.J. and Stattersfield, A.J. 1994. Birds to Watch 2. The World List of Threatened Birds BirdLife International. Page Bros (Norwich) Ltd, U.K. IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1986. 1986 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. IUCN. 1990. 1990 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
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