Extirpation of the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin, West Indies
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Abstract: Recent surveys for the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) on St. Martin reveal that the species is no longer a resident on the island. Following surveys from 1997–2005, when the species was annually detected and observed breeding, plovers were no longer observed on the island. Both human disturbance to nesting birds and predation by invasive species are potential causes of the extirpation.
Keywords: Charadrius alexandrinus, extirpation, human disturbance, invasive species, Snowy Plover, St. Martin,
West Indies
Resumen: Extinción local de charadrius alexandrinus en St. Martin, Caribe insular- Los muestreos recientes para Charadrius alexandrinus en St. Martin muestran que la especie ya no es residente en la isla. Después de los muestreos de 1997-–005, cuando la especie fue detectada anualmente y se registró nidificando, no ha sido visto ningún otro individuo en la isla. Tanto el disturbio humano a los individuos en cría y la depredación por especies invasoras son causas probables de esta extinción local.
Palabras clave: Caribe insular, Charadrius alexandrinus, extinction local, disturbio humano, especies invasoras, St. Martin
References
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PRINS, T. G., J. H. REUTER, A. O. DEBROT, J. WATTEL, AND V. NIJMAN. 2009. Checklist of the birds of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, South Caribbean. Ardea 97:137-268.
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STEADMAN, D. W., R. L. NORTON, M. R. BROWNING, AND W. J. ARENDT. 1997. The birds of St. Kitts, Lesser Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science 33:1–20.
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VOOUS K. H., AND H. J. KOELERS. 1967. Check-list of the birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Ardea 55:115–137.
WELLS, J. V., AND A. C. WELLS. 2006. The significance of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, as a breeding site for terns and plovers. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19:21–26.
BROWN, S. C., C. HICKEY, B. HARRINGTON, AND R. GILL. 2001. The U. S. Shorebird Conservation Plan. 2nd edn. Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, Manomet, MA.
BROWN, A. C. 2008. Status and range of introduced mammals on St. Martin, Lesser Antilles. Living World, Journal of Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists’ Club 2008:14-18.
CHAPIUS, J. L. 1995. Alien mammals in the French Subantarctic islands, vol. 2. Pp. 127–132 in Conservation of the southern polar region (P. R. Dingwall, ed.). International Union for Conservation of Nature, Cambridge, UK.
CHASE III, C. A., AND J. A. GORE. 1989. Snowy Plover breeding distribution. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Tallahassee, FL.
EBENHARD, T. 1988. Introduced birds and mammals and their ecological effects. Swedish Wildlife Research 13:1–107.
ELLIOTT-SMITH, S., M. HAIG, C. L. FERLAND, AND L. R. GORMAN. 2004. Winter distribution and abundance of Snowy Plovers in SE North America and the West Indies. Wader Study Group Bulletin 104:28–33.
GORMAN, L. R., AND S. M. HAIG. 2002. Distribution and abundance of Snowy Plovers in eastern North America, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas. Journal of Field Ornithology 73:38–52.
GRUVER, J. B. 2009. Florida’s endangered species, threatened species, and species of special concern. Florida Fish and Game Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL.
HIMES, J. G., N. J. DOUGLASS, R. A. PRUNER, A. M. CROFT, AND E. M. SECKINGER. 2006. Status and distribution of Snowy Plover in Florida. Study final report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL.
HOOGERWERF, A. 1977. Notes on the birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Studies on the Fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean islands 54(176):60–123.
HUNTER, W. C., R. NOFFSINGER, AND J. A. COLLAZO. 2000. Southeastern Coastal Plains—Caribbean Region Shorebird Conservation Plan. A regional report of the U. S. Shorebird Conservation Plan. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA.
KING, W. B. 1985. Island birds: will the future repeat the past? Conservation of Island Birds. International Council for Bird Preservation Technical Publication 3:3–15.
LEVER, C. 1994. Naturalized animals: the ecology of successfully introduced species. Poyser Natural History Press, London.
PAGE, G. W., J. S. WARRINER, J. C. WARRINER, AND P. W. C. PATON. 1995. Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). The birds of North America no. 154 (A. Pool and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, DC.
PAGE, G. W., L. E. STENZEL, W. D. SHUFURD, AND C. R. BRUCE. 1991. Distribution and abundance of Snowy Plover on its western North American breeding grounds. Journal of Field Ornithology 62:245–255.
PRINS, T. G., J. H. REUTER, A. O. DEBROT, J. WATTEL, AND V. NIJMAN. 2009. Checklist of the birds of Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire, South Caribbean. Ardea 97:137-268.
RIDGELEY, R. S., T. N. ALLNUT, T. BROOKS, D. K. MCNICOL, D. W. MEHLMAN, B. E. YOUNG, AND J. R. ZOOK. 2003. Digital distribution maps of the birds of the Western Hemisphere, version 1.0. Natureserve, Arlington, VA.
STEADMAN, D. W., R. L. NORTON, M. R. BROWNING, AND W. J. ARENDT. 1997. The birds of St. Kitts, Lesser Antilles. Caribbean Journal of Science 33:1–20.
THOMAS, G. H., R. B. LANCTOT, AND T. SZEKELY. 2006. Population declines in North American shorebirds: ecology, life history, and sexual selection. Pp. 207–208 in Waterbirds around the world (G. C. Boere, C. A. Galbraith, and D. A. Stroud, eds.). The Stationary Office, Edinburgh.
VOOUS K. H., AND H. J. KOELERS. 1967. Check-list of the birds of St. Martin, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Ardea 55:115–137.
WELLS, J. V., AND A. C. WELLS. 2006. The significance of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, as a breeding site for terns and plovers. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 19:21–26.
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Jun 27, 2012
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