*F
Pterodroma phaeopygia Dark-Rumped
Petrel Critically Endangered
(also known as:
Galapagos Petrel
Hawaiian Petrel)
* -- From Galapagos Islands
*F -- From Floreana
*E -- From Hood (Espanola)
above information according to <http://www.iucnredlist.org>
Important Information/Details
-Threats: Invasive Species(dogs, cats, rats, pigs -- eat eggs/chicks),
Habitat loss (or disruption by humans, other species, natural disasters)
-Dark-Rumped Petrel is an endemic subspecies of the Galapagos Islands;
there are four (five, according to Birdlife International) basic colonies
one of which is on Floreana; generally "found well away from land during
the day" (Swashi pg. 40)
-are pelagic, meaning they generally live/feed in open oceans versus
water near shore
-populations decreased dramatically (I'm still trying to figure out
why -- specific reasons that they know of) in 1980's; currently it is estimated
to have between 20,000 to 60,000 individuals and the population seems to
be decreasing (Birdlife International)
-basic information ecological information according to Birdlife International
-"breeds in the humid highlands" (300-900 m)
-lives/nests/breeds in natural burrows
- diet consists of squid, fish and crustaceans
-"On Santa Cruz in 1978-1979, the average
adult life expectancy was only 6.2 years."
Possible Solutions:
-attempt to monitor populations (reproduction rates -- number of eggs
hatched and raised versus number eaten, unhatched)
-try to exterminate invasive species, esp. black rat (eat eggs/ chicks
-- black rats may also be contributing to the Galapagos penguin decline
so it is a broad problem)
Sources:
BirdLife International 2000. Pterodroma phaeopygia. In: IUCN 2003. 2003
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.redlist.org>. Downloaded
on 16 October 2004
IUCN 2003. 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.redlist.org>.
Downloaded on 2 October 2004.
Swashi, Andy and Rob Still. Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of
the Galapagos Islands. Pica Press. East Sussex. 2000.
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