Abstract
This study investigated the effect of the presence of introduced mongoose, environmental quality and habitat on the distribution of native and endemic birds on 16 small islands within Fiji. In total, 9055 birds representing 45 species were observed within four key habitats (forest, villages, crop land and coastal vegetation) on the 16 islands, half of which had mongoose present. Previous studies attribute bird declines and extirpation anecdotally to the mongoose. The presence of mongoose, environmental quality and habitat type had a measurable influence on observed extant native and endemic bird communities. We conclude that three ground birds; Gallirallus phillipensis, Anas supericiliosa and Porphyrio porhyrio were negatively influenced by the presence of mongoose and that Ptilinopus perousii, Phigys solitarius, Chrysoenas victor, Ducula latrans, Clytorhyrchus vitiensis, Pachycephala pectoralis, Prospeia tabunesis, and Foulehaio carunculata were particularly dependent on good quality forest habitat. Conservation priorities in relation to protecting Fiji's endemic birds from the effect of mongoose are discussed and preventative measures suggested.
Highlights
Since AD1500 it is estimated that at least 153 bird species have become extinct worldwide, 92% of them being endemic to islands
No mongoose were recorded on islands designated as mongoose-free, whilst mongoose were recorded on all the other islands (Table 1)
Conjecture and anecdotal evidence have both played a part in attributing the decline of bird populations to the introduction of mongoose [53,54,55,56]
Summary
Since AD1500 it is estimated that at least 153 bird species have become extinct worldwide, 92% of them being endemic to islands. Several additional species from the Fiji Islands comprising a duck (Dendrocygna arcuata), and an owl (Tyto longimembris) were last seen in the late 1800s and are considered extinct [8]. Other birds such as the red-throated lorikeet (Charmosyna amabilis) have not been observed for over a decade [9] and species such as the pink-billed parrotfinch (Erythrura kleinschmidti) and longlegged warbler (Trichocichla rufa) are rarely seen and are thought to be in serious decline [7]. A grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), four megapodes (Megapodius alimentum, M. amissus, M. amissus/molistructor and Megavitiornis altirostris) and two pigeons (Ducula lakeba and Natunaornis gigoura) are only known from subfossils [10,11], and seven extinct rails from seven sympatric genera were present in the immediate pre-human period on Viti Levu [12]
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