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Island Conservation Action in Northwest Mexico.P65

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Island Conservation Action in Northwest Mexico.P65 ISLAND CONSERVATION ACTION IN NORTHWEST MÉXICO C. Josh Donlan1,2, Bernie R. Tershy1,4, Brad S. Keitt1,3, Bill Wood1, José Ángel Sánchez5, Anna Weinstein1, Donald A. Croll1,4, Miguel Ángel Hermosillo5, and José Luis Aguilar6 1 Island Conservation and Ecology Group, P. O. Box 141, Davenport, CA 95107 (831) 469-8651, FAX (831) 469-8651, E-mail: [email protected] 2 Dept. of Biology, A-316 E.M.S. Building, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-4581, FAX (831) 459-4882 3 Dept. of Ocean Sciences, A-316 E.M.S. Building, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-4581, FAX (831) 459-4882 4 Institute of Marine Sciences, A-316 E.M.S. Building, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 (831) 459-3610, FAX (831) 459-4882 5 Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas A. C., AP 71, Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur 23940 México 011-52 (115) 7-11-20, FAX 011-52 (115) 7-11-20 6 Departamento de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Secretaría del Medio Ambiente Recursos Naturales y Pesca, Delegación Baja California. Privada Riviera # 1-A, Conjunto PRONAF, Zona Centro. Ensenada, Baja California 763510 México 011-52 (617) 6-35-10, FAX 011-52-(617) 6-09-77 ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Introduced mammals are present on many of the over Islands cover 2.7% of the earth’s surface (AMNH 230 islands and islets in northwest México. Introduced mam- 1998). Islands around the world are of critical importance mals threaten many endemic species with extinction: of the to global biodiversity because they are rich in endemic spe- 19 island vertebrate extinctions in northwest México, 18 can cies and important breeding areas for many wide-ranging be attributed to introduced mammals. Over the past four years marine animals (e.g., sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mam- the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) mals). Furthermore, islands are natural habitat fragments to and the Island Conservation and Ecology Group (ICEG) have which species and communities have adapted. Unlike man- worked with Mexican government agencies (Mexican Of- made habitat fragments in continental protected areas, natu- fice of National Protected Areas of Secretaría del Medio ral ecological and evolutionary processes can persist on pro- Ambiente Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP), tected islands without intensive management. Thus by con- Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, and the Gulf of California Is- serving island ecosystems, both significant biological diver- lands Reserve) and local Mexican fishing cooperatives to sity and important ecosystem processes are preserved with protect island ecosystems. These collaborations have resulted minimal land requirements (Tershy and Croll1994). in introduced mammal removal projects on nine islands in The most serious threat to islands worldwide is the the region. Introduced mammals have been removed from introduction of nonnative plants and animals. The majority nine islands: feral cats from Isabel, Asunción and Coronado of recorded animal extinctions (75%) have been on islands Norte Islands; feral cats and rats from Isla San Roque; rats and most of these island extinctions can be attributed to in- from Isla Rasa; goats and sheep from Isla Natividad; feral troduced species (Diamond 1989; Groombridge 1992). cats and rabbits from Isla Todos Santos Sur; and goats and Plants show a similar pattern: of the 250 plant species listed burros from the Islas San Benito Oeste and Medio. Addi- in the 1978 International Union for Conservation of Nature tional removal projects are currently in progress: feral cats and Natural Resources Plant Red Data Book, 96 (38%) are from Isla Natividad and rats from Isla Isabel. To aid in the from islands and many of these plants are threatened by in- systematic prioritization of islands for conservation action troduced species (IUCN 1978). In addition to direct effects, and guide research activities, we have developed an island introduced species can also lead to numerous indirect ef- conservation relational database for the northwest México fects, which can have dramatic consequences on island com- region that is available over the Internet via the World Wide munities and ecosystems (Elton 1958; Moors 1985; Mooney Web at: http://islandconservation.org. and Drake 1986; Cushman 1995). There are over 230 islands and islets in northwest Keywords: Baja California, introduced mammals, endemic, (NW) México. Overall, these islands harbor considerable extinction, seabirds, rats, cats, goats, rabbits, burros, rela- biodiversity, including a wide taxonomic range of endemics tional database. (Huey 1964; Avise 1974; Soulé and Sloan 1966; Soulé and Yang 1973; Cody et al. 1983, Lawlor 1983; Murphy 1983; 330 Island Conservation Action in Northwest México Grismer 1993). These islands are considered by some bio- geographers to be one of the most ecologically intact non- polar archipelagos in the world (Case and Cody 1983). De- spite this, introduced plants and animals threaten many of the region’s island ecosystems. For example, the introduced iceplant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum and the intro- duced annual Malva parviflora have become common or dominant plants on some of the region’s islands (Junak and Philbrick 1994a, 1994b, 1999; J. Donlan, pers. obs. 1998). Introduced mammals are responsible for 18 of the 19 ani- mal extinctions that have taken place on islands in NW México (ICEG, unpublished 1998). Introduced mammals are present on at least 39 islands in NW México (ICEG, unpublished 1998). The most common nonnative mammals in this region include black rats (Rattus rattus), Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis familiaris), european rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), goats (Capra hirca), and burros (Equus asinus). A number of groups have participated in introduced species removal projects on islands in NW México: the Figure 1. Islands in northwest México where introduced species Mexican Office of National Protected Areas (ANP) of the have been removed or are currently being removed. Secretaría del Medio Ambiente Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP), Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Gulf elegant terns (Sterna elegans) and Heermann’s gulls (Larus of California Islands Reserve, Delegación SEMARNAP of heermanni). An estimated 360,000 gulls and terns breed on Baja California, and the Island Conservation and Ecology this small island between March and June (Velarde and Group/Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas (ICEG/ Anderson 1994). Guano miners introduced rats and mice at GECI). In this paper, we first review past and present intro- the turn of the century. While rats and mice had minor im- duced mammal removal projects in this region, with an em- pacts on the gulls and terns, they are possibly responsible phasis on the projects of ICEG. We then discuss a recently for the absence of nocturnal hole and crevice nesting birds developed island conservation database. This relational da- such as the Craveri’s murrelet (Synthliboramphus craveri), tabase, developed by ICEG, compiles relevant conservation black storm-petrels (Oceanodroma melania), least storm- data for islands in the region to help prioritize conservation petrels (O. microsoma), and black-vented shearwaters action. (Puffinus opisthomelas). Isla Rasa was the first island in NW México to receive protected status (in 1964) and since then has been a conservation success story. INTRODUCED SPECIES REMOVAL IN NORTH- WEST MÉXICO Isla Isabel Gulf of California Cristina Rodríguez Juarez and Hugh Drummond (Centro de Ecología, UNAM) led a program to remove cats Isla Rasa and black rats (R. rattus) from Isla Isabel (98 ha) located at The fall of 1994 marked the beginning of introduced the mouth of the Gulf of California (Figure 1). This island, species eradication on the islands of NW México. Jesús off the Pacific coast of the state of Nayarit, was once the Ramírez (Centro de Ecología, UNAM) in conjunction with largest sooty tern (Sterna fuscata) colony in México; how- Enriqueta Velarde (INE) started the removal of Norway rats ever, over the last 60 years cat predation has decreased the (R. norvegicus) and house mice (Mus musculus) from Isla size of the colony considerably. Feral cats prey on these terns Rasa (60 ha) in the central Gulf of California (Figure 1). as well as the native lizards Sceloporus clarcki and Following techniques developed in New Zealand, Ramírez Cnemidophorus costatus (Rodríguez Juarez 1998). worked with a large team of undergraduate and community Some 600 cats were removed from Isla Isabel between volunteers to set bait stations filled with Talon Weatherblock 1995 and 1998. Both poisoning, trapping, and hunting were (0.05% brodifacoum). The bait stations were maintained for used to remove cats from the island. As of winter 1999, the one year on this uninhabited island. island appeared to be free of cats. Rats were poisoned using The eradication effort was successful; the island has Talon Weatherblock. However, rat removal has not been been free of introduced mammals for over three years. Isla successful due to native land crabs consuming much of the Rasa is one of the most important seabird colonies in North rat bait (invertebrates are not affected by Talon; Rodríguez America with more than 90% of the global populations of Juarez 1998). Alternative methods for rat removal are being investigated. 331 Donlan, C. J., et al. Pacific Islands In press). This predation is likely the main cause for the extirpation of these two species from this island (Table 1). Isla Coronado Norte In conjunction with the Baja California State Office of ANP, personnel from the Gulf of California Islands Re- The Los Coronados Islands are located close to the serve, and Abulones Cultivados, ICEG began a removal ef- México/U.S. border, approximately 13 km2 offshore of fort for both rabbits and cats on the South Island in Novem- Tijuana (Figure 1). This island group consist of four rocky ber 1997. A combination of trapping and hunting was used islands: Isla Norte, Isla Sur, Isla Medio and a small unnamed to remove both rabbit and cat populations.
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