Using the Draft Forest Ecosystem Maps Prepared in (I), the Botanist Will Visit
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MALGRETOUTE WILDLIFE INVENTORY Methodology The method employed in the gathering of wildlife data for this study included ground truthing, sample plots and desk reviews. Ground-Truth and Ecological Zoning The Site Plan and Agreed Ownership Map provided by the Client were used to determine the ecosystems and wildlife habitats that fall within boundaries of the proposed development area. A total of four (4) different ecosystems, with their associated transition zones and different habitats, were identified. The different ecosystems includes:- 1. Marine ecosystem 2. The Forests ecosystem 3. Agriculture/human ecosystem 4. The Riparian zone Establishment of Sample Plots and Data Collection Sampling sites were randomly selected within each ecosystem and transition area, paying particular attention to corridor habitats. Assessments of wild animals were conducted in all ecosystems. A combination of standard survey techniques including line transects, quadrats, point counts and time survey were used. Data on wild life species seen, heard and indices were recorded for each site, in order to facilitate the identification of priority species and make recommendations for mitigation measures. The techniques used for the different taxonomic groups of wildlife are as follows:- Point counts for birds and butterflies, whereby the expert will remain in one place for a fixed period of time and record all birds seen, heard and indices within a fixed radius during that time. Birds species were identified using bird field guides and binoculars. Time surveys were used for mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Data were collected using standardized visual encounter for a predefined period in each sample site. Small quadrats plots were used for invertebrates (snails, beetles, ants, spiders etc) except for butterflies. Identification of Priority Species and Areas for Special Management Using a combination of literature searches, interviews and field observations species of management importance and the specific habitats they depend upon were identified. Photographs of these species were taken and included in the final report. These areas were highlighted on the topographic map of the study site. The priority species include those that are important, rare or endangered, specifically:- Any indigenous (native) species listed as globally threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and/ or listed as nationally threatened with extinction. Table III describe the IUCN threatened species categories. Any non-IUCN Red Listed indigenous (native) species that appear to be: scarce, rapidly declining, endemic to Saint Lucia, known or suspected to have highly specialised needs, or are vulnerable to hybridisation with introduced species. Species that perform a keystone role in the ecosystems identified in the above section. Indigenous species that serve as indicators for ecosystems or certain conditions. Species that are or could be used as flagships for forest conservation Recommendations for mitigation measures were formulated based on the best available information. FAUNA SPECIES A total of 4 groups of fauna species were recorded on the site, which were largely represented by birds and micro-fauna. The other animal groups include mammals and heptafauna. The highest diversity of species was found among birds (n=49), while the lowest diversity (n=3) was recorded for reptiles (See Table I and II). The taxonomic groupings were further represented according to whether they are endemic, native, migratory and exotic. Endemic means that the species occurs only in St. Lucia and nowhere else in the world. Native species are those that have occurred over sufficiently long periods to be considered part of the natural environment. Migratory species are those that periodically or seasonally visit the island from other countries to and from their breeding grounds. Exotic species are those that were either introduced by man from other parts of the world, or settled through migration and have not been considered part of the natural ecosystem. AVIFAUNA The diversity of avifauna of Saint Lucia has been well documented when compared to other forms of wildlife. The avian species diversity of the Piton Management Area (PMA), in which the study area is located, has also been well documented; as a result the PMA is now listed as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Saint Lucia since the year 2003. The IBA Programme of BirdLife International aims to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world's birds and other biodiversity. IBAs are key sites for conservation – small enough to be conserved in their entirety and often already part of a protected-area network. They do one (or more) of three things: Hold significant numbers of one or more globally threatened species Are one of a set of sites that together hold a suite of restricted-range species or biome-restricted species Have exceptionally large numbers of migratory or congregatory species. A total of 49 bird species (Table I) are listed for the project area. The priority birds species, or species of national importance found in the study area include 2 endemics; St. Lucian Oriole (Icterus laudabilles), the St. Lucia Warbler (Dendroica delicata); 5 endemic subspecies, including the St Lucia wren (Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus and 7 Lesser Antillean regional endemics. The other priority species listed for the Piton Management Area are the St Lucia black finch and the St Lucia Pewee (Contopus oberi), were not observed in the study area during the time of this inventory, but were listed for the PMA (D. Anthony 1997 and C. Cox 1999). The habitats found in the ravine (Area 3b), the hillside in the direction of Piton Mitan (Area 3c and d) and the base of Petit Piton (Area 2a and b) are ideal for the existence of these two species (Figure 1). The migratory and seasonal behaviour of avifauna can limit their observation in any point in time, and therefore, the existence of these two species should not preclude their existence. In this case historical records were used to complete the list of avifauna species for the study area. ST. LUCIA ORIOLE Icterus laudabilis Local Name: Carouge The St. Lucia Oriole belongs to the family Icteridae, the same family as the Carib Grackle or Merle, Quiscalu lugubris. The adult is black except for the lower back, rump, shoulder and lower belly which are rich orange or orange-yellow (Figure 2A). The adult female is similar to the male, but orange-yellow is duller; the immature is mostly greenish with a blackish throat. It inhabits coastal vegetation, dry scrub, edges of banana plantations, plantation forest, secondary and primary forest up to 700 m. The breeding period is from April to July. The nest is a well-made basket woven of grass and fiber. It is usually hung from large leaves, e.g. balizier, banana, coconut or palmiste. In it the female lays three white eggs with dark brown spots. The main threats to the oriole include the lost of habitat and natural disasters such as hurricanes, pests and diseases, and aerial application of agricultural pesticides. An additional and major threat to the oriole population is a brood parasite called the Shiny Cowbird or Merle Bar Bade. The Shiny Cowbirds were very common in small in flocks in Area1, Area 2a and 2c. They were seen in the open areas; whereas the orioles were sighted in the dense forested areas of Area 3,b, c and d, and in Area 2 a and b (Figure 1). It appears that there is some form of ecological separation effect here that serves to mitigate the impact of the brood parasite. It is therefore necessary to maintain the stratification in the forested areas in order to keep the existing ecological separation found in the study site and to reduce the impact of the brood parasite and other threats. According to the IUCN, the Saint Lucia Oriole is classified as Near Threatened because it has an extremely small range and small population and, although numbers appear to be stable at present, population trends are poorly known and should be monitored. Were this species found to be declining it may be uplisted to Vulnerable. FIGURE 2A ST. LUCIA ORIOLE ST. LUCIA WARBLER Dendroica delicate Local Names: Chic-chic, Sequia Ba bad This is one of two St. Lucian endemic warblers. It can be distinguished by its bluish- grey upper parts; yellow throat and breast; yellow eyebrow stripe; and black crescent below the eye (Figure 2B). The voice is a loud trill, variable in pitch and speed. They occupy a wide range of habitats, but are found primarily at middle and high elevations. In the study area they were found mainly in Area 2 a, 2b, 2c and in Area 3b, 3c, 3d. They feed actively, gleaning insects and spiders from leaves and twigs. Although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is listed as Least Concern (LC) because it is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). FIGURE 2B ST. LUCIA WARBLER Dendroica delicate HOUSE WREN (ST. LUCIA WREN) Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus The St. Lucia Wren is considered an endemic subspecies of the House Wren. It is a small, active brown bird with a large head relative to body size (Figure 2C). The St. Lucia race is slightly paler below than the St. Vincent and Dominica races. The song of the wren is a bustling, gurgling warble compared to other birds. There is also a distinct variation in the dialect between the St. Lucia race and that of the other islands. This provides good grounds for elevating the St. Lucia subspecies to full species status. The wren is threatened by the loss of its forest habitat. It is now confined to the northeast coast of St.