Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus Research Articles

The complete mitochondrial genome of Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae)

The complete mitochondrial DNA genome of spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus was determined by using the polymerase chain reaction method and the phylogenetic tree including 15 species of Charadriiformes were reconstructed to validate our samples in this study. The circular mitogenome (16,707 bp in length) contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 tRNA genes and a control region. The content of four kinds of bases of the complete mitochondrial DNA is 31.29% for A, 24.85% for T, 13.84% for G and 30.02% for C, respectively.

Third record of the Spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus from Kochi Prefecture, Japan (Charadriiforms: Scolopacidae)

Third record of the Spoon-billed sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus from Kochi Prefecture, Japan (Charadriiforms: Scolopacidae)

Survey and conservation of the critically endangered Spoon‐billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh

Survey and conservation of the critically endangered Spoon‐billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh

Rapid and continued population decline in the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus indicates imminent extinction unless conservation action is taken

SummaryThe Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (IUCN Category: Critically Endangered) is in rapid decline. Data from across the entire breeding range (Chukotka and Koryakya in the Russian far north-east) and especially from the well-studied southern core breeding area at Meinypilgyno, confirm the continuing strong decline. At four breeding sites, where more than two counts were available for analysis, the decline was estimated at 26% per annum between 2002 and 2009, or an 88% decline over this period. Allowing for unsurveyed areas, this equates to a decline from a total population of approximately 1,000 breeding pairs in 2000 to 120–220 in 2009. Breeding studies at Meinypilgyno in 2003–2007 (not 2006) showed that the proportion of nests hatching at least one chick was 0.65 and once chicks left the nest, the mean brood size of chicks up to one week old was 1.99. Where it was possible to follow broods, 0.61 chicks fledged per nesting attempt. Survival and recruitment analysis of birds ringed at Meinypilgyno indicated that annual adult survival did not significantly differ over the 2003–2009 study but that recruitment in to the adult breeding population was effectively zero in all but one year of the study (2005). Resighting data for the last two years of the study were sparse due to very low numbers of marked adults being recorded and survival rates over the last 2–3 years of the study must therefore be treated with caution. The analysis therefore indicated that after fledging, survival during immaturity must be very low, leading to a low (or no) recruitment into an ageing population. Recent observations collated from the non-breeding areas confirm the declining trend observed in the breeding areas and imply that the main threats to the population lie along the migration route or in the wintering areas. These are poorly known although hunting in the wintering areas has been identified as a major mortality factor. Other threats include major loss of their intertidal habitats, and collection of birds on the breeding areas by specimen collectors. Improved monitoring in both the breeding and non-breeding areas as well as research on juvenile survival is recommended. Concerted international conservation action is essential if this species is to avoid extinction. This requires (i) improved understanding of the main wintering and staging areas and associated threats; (ii) addressing those threats that can be tackled with immediate effect, such as hunting; (iii) continued long-term monitoring on the breeding areas; (iv) an exploration of other potential breeding areas; (v) conservation action at all important stop-over and wintering sites along the entire flyway and (vi) consideration of a captive-breeding programme to ensure the survival of this species.

Status and Conservation of Shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

This publication comprises the proceedings of the Australasian Shorebirds Conference held in Canberra in 2003. It is No. 18 of Wetlands International Global Series and International Wader Studies 17 of the International Wader Study Group. Although publication was delayed, the papers in this proceedings remain an important contribution to international shorebird conservation. Eighteen of the 25 papers are about Australian and New Zealand shorebirds, while the remainder are mainly from Southeast Asia. Topics include managing human disturbance of plovers on Australian beaches, conservation of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus in Russia, shorebird studies in Taiwan, and threats from marine farming in New Zealand.

First indications of a sharp population decline in the globally threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus is classed as globally Vulnerable, based on the only available population estimate, made in 1977, of 2,000–2,800 pairs. Surveys for breeding Spoon-billed Sandpipers were carried out in summer 2000 on the Anadyr estuary coast, the Chukotka autonomous region, Russia. Although six new breeding sites were found, only 16–17 breeding males/pairs were recorded on the northern coast of the Anadyr estuary and five males/pairs on the southern coast and more southerly lagoons. These numbers were much lower than expected, and the species was not recorded in several apparently suitable areas. Four formerly known breeding sites held only one displaying male between them. At no site was there evidence of an increasing or stable local population. Together with other indicative data these suggest a sharp decline in the population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper. The previous population size estimate obviously requires updating, both because there were some incorrect assumptions in the calculations made for the first population estimate, and also due to a recent population decline. It is likely that the current population numbers under 1,000 breeding pairs. Given that the population of this species may be substantially lower than the only previous estimate, and the evidence for a possible rapid decline in its population described in this paper, it is recommended that its IUCN status is changed from Vulnerable to Endangered. No reasons for the apparent rapid rate of decline are evident within the breeding range. “Bottle-necks” should be looked for at migration sites or wintering grounds, but currently, monitoring of the population is only possible on the breeding grounds.

Additional records of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus from Hokkaido

Additional records of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus from Hokkaido