Aythya nyroca -- (Güldenstädt, 1770) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ANSERIFORMES -- ANATIDAE Common names: Ferruginous Duck; Ferruginous Pochard; Fuligule nyroca; Porrón Pardo; White-eyed Pochard European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe. Within the EU27 this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine Vagrant: Denmark; Finland; Ireland, Rep. of; Norway; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 17,400-30,100 pairs, which equates to 34,800-60,300 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 13,100-20,600 pairs, which equates to 26,200-41,200 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size trend is unknown. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology The species shows a strong preference for fresh standing water (Snow and Perrins 1998, N. Petkov in litt. 2008). It frequents shallow pools and marshes with abundant emergent, floating and shoreline vegetation such as reeds, willows and alders. In the breeding season, it also frequents saline, brackish or alkaline lakes in some areas, e.g. in Hungary, also well-managed fishponds are important summer habitat locally. Outside breeding season, it may frequent larger lakes, including inland seas, reservoirs, lagoons and coastal marshes (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). Generally breeding commences April to May in central Europe and Turkey, but can commence as early as February in southern Europe and as late as end of June in northern areas of its range (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). It breeds in single pairs or loose groups. The nest is a low platform (Snow and Perrins 1998) of reeds, grass and leaves (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) placed on the ground or on an islet or hummock in thick vegetation close to water (Johnsgard 1978, Kear 2005). Alternatively nests may be placed over water on floating mats of vegetation or in dense reedbeds along the shoreline (Johnsgard 1978). Clutches are usually 8-10 eggs. Although the species is omnivorous, plant material such as seeds, roots and vegetative parts of aquatic plants dominates its diet. Animal matter taken includes worms, molluscs, crustaceans, insects and larvae, amphibians and small fish. This species is chiefly migratory (Carboneras and Kirwan 2014), although little is known about its migratory routes (Scott and Rose 1996). Adults undertake a wing moulting period on the breeding grounds between July and August (Robinson and Hughes 2006) and departure from the breeding grounds begins in mid- to late-August (N. Petkov in litt. 2008). The return migration to the breeding grounds begins in early March (Scott and Rose 1996). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Aquaculture Ponds suitable non-breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Wastewater Treatment Areas marginal resident Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Water Storage Areas (over ha) suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Brackish/Saline Lagoons/Marine Lakes suitable non-breeding Marine Coastal/Supratidal - Coastal Freshwater Lakes suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) major non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major non-breeding Altitude Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The species is threatened by the degradation and destruction of well-vegetated shallow pools and other wetland habitats (Vinicombe 2000, Kear 2005, Robinson and Hughes 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014) (e.g. changes to the vegetation community, disruption of water regimes, siltation, and increased water turbidity (Robinson and Hughes 2006)) as a result of excessive drainage and water abstraction (Vinicombe 2000, Grishanov 2006, Robinson and Hughes 2006), peat extraction (Grishanov 2006), eutrophication (from inadequate sewage treatment and nutrient run-off (Robinson and Hughes 2006)), oil pollution (Grishanov 2006), dam and barrage construction, the building of infrastructure on flood-plains (Vinicombe 2000, Robinson and Hughes 2006) and river canalisation (Kear 2005). Changing land management practices such as reed cutting and burning during the breeding season (Petkov 2006), over-grazing (Robinson and Hughes 2006) decreased grazing and mowing of wet meadows (Grishanov 2006), and abandonment (causing succession to scrub) or intensification (causing reversion to open water) of extensively managed fishponds (Vinicombe 2000, Kear 2005, Petkov 2006, Robinson and Hughes 2006) also threatens the species. The introduction of non-native species has caused further habitat degradation. For example the stocking of lakes with and accidental introduction of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) has resulted in reductions in macrophyte biomass and corresponding reductions in invertebrate biomass (Kear 2005, Robinson and Hughes 2006), and in Bulgaria an introduced shrub (Desert False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)) is changing the ecological character of wetlands (Robinson and Hughes 2006). Increased drought due to global climate change may pose a threat to the species in part of its range (Vinicombe 2000, Robinson and Hughes 2006). Disturbance by fishing boats and anglers alongside fringe vegetation could cause abandonment of the breeding sites or disrupt the timing of breeding (N. Petkov in litt. 2008). Hunting is another serious threat to the species (Vinicombe 2000, Robinson and Hughes 2006, Carboneras and Kirwan 2014). Large numbers are shot on passage in the autumn (e.g. through the Volga delta) (Kear 2005, Balmaki and Barati 2006). Illegal and accidental hunting also persists in most European countries. Other lower-level threats include lead poisoning (from ingestion of discarded lead shot), fires in areas of reed thickets, peat bogs and woods (Grishanov 2006), entanglement and drowning in fishing nets (Robinson and Hughes 2006) and hybridisation with native species (e.g. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Common Pochard (Aythya farina) in Switzerland (Leuzinger 2010)). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture farming Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem degradation Biological resource Gathering Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial plants Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact (unintentional Declines effects - species is not the target) Stresses Ecosystem degradation Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact (intentional use - Declines species is the target) Stresses Species mortality Climate change & Droughts Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem degradation Human intrusions & Recreational Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Species disturbance Invasive and other Common Pochard Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic (Aythya ferina) Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown species, genes & diseases Stresses Hybridisation Invasive and other Desert False Indigo Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic (Amorpha fruticosa) Ongoing Minority (<50%) Causing/Could Low Impact species, genes