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Nesoenas mayeri
– 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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COLUMBIFORMES
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Family:
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COLUMBIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Nesoenas mayeri
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Species Authority:
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(Prévost, 1843)
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Synonym/s:
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Columba mayeri Prévost, 1843 Streptopelia mayeri Prévost, 1843
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Common Name/s:
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PINK PIGEON (Eng)
PIGEON ROSE (Fre)
PALOMA DE MAURICIO (Spa)
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Taxonomic Notes:
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Columba picturata and C. mayeri (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) were previously transferred to the genus Streptopelia following Johnson et al. (2001). But are now placed in Nesoenas following Cheke (2005).
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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EN B1ab(iii) ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2006
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Assessor/s:
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BirdLife International
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Evaluator/s:
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Butchart, S. & Pilgrim, J. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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The population of this species has successfully been maintained at over 50 mature individuals since 1993, and over 250 since 1996. However, it has a very small range concentrated in just a few locations, and remains threatened by a continuing decline in the quality of suitable habitat. For these reasons, the species is still listed as Endangered. It seems doubtful that present populations could be maintained without the current intense management programme and, were management to cease, this species would stand a high risk of extinction.
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History:
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| 1988 | - | Threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988) |
| 1994 | - | Critically Endangered (Collar, Crosby and Stattersfield 1994) |
| 2000 | - | Endangered (BirdLife International 2000) |
| 2004 | - | Endangered (BirdLife International 2004) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Nesoenas mayeri survives in the Black River Gorges of south-west Mauritius and on Ile aux Aigrettes, just off the eastern coast. Although once common, it declined to just 10 wild individuals in 1990. Since then, intensive management has resulted in a spectacular increase. In January 2000, the wild population was 364-375, at four mainland sites plus Ile aux Aigrettes - with a target population of 500 within the next five years4. By the end of 2004, the population was 359-395 indviduals, likely nearer the lower estimate9. There is some limited movement between the mainland populations3.
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Countries:
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Native:
Mauritius
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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 inhabits native forest and has a diverse diet, including both native and exotic plants2. In the early 1990s, the entire wild population nested in a single grove of introduced Japanese red cedar Cryptomeria japonica. Research has shown that Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra also prefers exotic trees for nesting, and that its nesting success is highest in Cryptomeria6. However, ongoing studies suggest that rat predation in Cryptomeria is higher than in native vegetation, thus the value of Cryptomeria is unclear1,8.
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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Severe loss of habitat has been compounded by predation of nests and adults by introduced Crab-eating Macaque Macaca fascicularis, mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus, rats and feral cats5,8. Cyclones destroy nests and accelerate habitat degradation4. Disease and late-winter food shortages are also threats3.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Conservation measures underway:
A captive-breeding and reintroduction programme, combined with establishment of Conservation Management Areas, habitat restoration, control of exotic predators, supplementary feeding, nest guarding, clutch and brood (fostering) manipulations, rescue of eggs and young from failing nests, control of disease and monitoring of survival and productivity, has helped this species survive4. The Black River National Park covers much of its range8. Research is ongoing into genetic variation so that the effects of the population bottleneck can be quantified and populations managed to preserve genetic diversity3.
Conservation measures proposed:
Continue research into population genetics and disease4. Continue rehabilitation of mainland native vegetation7. Extend Conservation Management Areas and surrounding predator-proof fences4. Consider introduction to other Mauritian islets (and Réunion) if ecosystem rehabilitation and predator elimination are successful7.
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