BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME PETITION TO LIST THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET (BRACHYRAMPHUS BREVIROSTRIS) AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES UNDER THE ALASKA ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, AS §§ 16.20.180 - 210 © Glen Tepke (www.pbase.com/gtepke) CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY March 5, 2009 NOTICE OF PETITION________________________________________________________ Denby S. Lloyd, Commissioner Alaska Department of Fish and Game PO Box 115526 Juneau, AK 99811-5526 Phone: (907) 465-4100 Fax: (907) 465-2332 PETITIONERS The Center for Biological Diversity PO Box 100599 Anchorage, AK 99510-0599 Phone: (907) 274-1110 Fax: (907) 258-6177 [email protected] __________________________ Shaye Wolf, Ph.D. Natalie Dawson, Ph.D. Rebecca Noblin, J.D. Center for Biological Diversity Submitted on the 5th of March 2009 The Center for Biological Diversity (“Center”) formally request that the Commissioner list the Kittlitz’s murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris) as an endangered species under the Alaska Endangered Species Act, AS §§ 16.20.180 - 210. This petition is filed in accordance with AS § 44.62.220. The best available scientific data documents that the Kittlitz’s murrelet is a species whose “numbers have decreased to such an extent as to indicate that its continued existence is threatened,” and that the Commissioner must therefore determine that it is an endangered species pursuant to AS § 16.20.190. The Center therefore formally request, pursuant to AS § 44.62.220, that the Commissioner publish regulations that declare the Kittlitz’s murrelet to be an endangered species and add it to the list of species published at 5 AAC § 93.020. Under AS § 44.62.230, the Commissioner must, within 30 days of the day of this petition, either deny the petition in writing, or schedule a public hearing on the requested action under AS §§ 44.62.190 – 44.62.215. Petitioners look forward to the Commissioner’s response. The Center for Biological Diversity is a non-profit, public interest environmental organization dedicated to the protection of native species and their habitats through science, Petition to List the Kittlitz’s Murrelet as an Endangered Species Page ii policy, and environmental law. The Center has over 40,000 members in Alaska and throughout the United States. The Center submits this petition on its own behalf and on behalf of its members and staff in Alaska and elsewhere with an interest in protecting the Kittlitz’s murrelet and its habitat. Petition to List the Kittlitz’s Murrelet as an Endangered Species Page iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... 1 I. NATURAL HISTORY AND BIOLOGY OF THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET............... 3 A. SPECIES DESCRIPTION........................................................................................................... 3 B. TAXONOMY ............................................................................................................................ 3 C. RANGE AND DISTRIBUTION ................................................................................................... 4 1. Summer Distribution........................................................................................................ 5 2. Winter Distribution .......................................................................................................... 8 D. HABITAT REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................... 8 1. Nesting Habitat.................................................................................................................. 9 2. At-sea Foraging Habitat................................................................................................. 10 E. DIET AND FORAGING BEHAVIOR......................................................................................... 13 1. Diet ................................................................................................................................... 13 2. Foraging Behavior .......................................................................................................... 14 F. VOCALIZATIONS................................................................................................................... 15 G. REPRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 15 H. DEMOGRAPHIC RATES ........................................................................................................ 16 II. POPULATION STATUS ...................................................................................................... 18 A. HISTORIC ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES.................................................................................... 18 B. CURRENT ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES AND POPULATION TRENDS ........................................ 19 1. Global Population Estimates.......................................................................................... 19 2. Regional Population Estimates ...................................................................................... 21 3. Population Trends........................................................................................................... 22 III. THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR LISTING UNDER THE STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT ....................................................................... 26 A. DESTRUCTION, DRASTIC MODIFICATION, OR SEVERE CURTAILMENT OF THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET’S HABITAT ............................................................................................................. 26 1. Marine Oil Pollution....................................................................................................... 26 a. Acute oil spills.............................................................................................................. 27 b. Chronic oil pollution................................................................................................... 28 c. Offshore oil and gas exploration and development.................................................. 29 d. Other marine pollution............................................................................................... 31 2. Global Warming.............................................................................................................. 33 a. The climate system, greenhouse gas concentrations, the greenhouse effect, global warming, and ecological impacts.............................................................................. 33 b. Climate and environmental changes observed to date............................................ 37 c. Projected climate and environmental changes......................................................... 46 d. Impacts to the Kittlitz’s murrelet from global warming ........................................ 50 3. Ocean Acidification......................................................................................................... 53 B. OTHER NATURAL OR MANMADE FACTORS AFFECTING THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET...... 57 1. Small Population Size ..................................................................................................... 57 2. Commercial Fisheries ..................................................................................................... 58 Petition to List the Kittlitz’s Murrelet as an Endangered Species Page iv a. Gillnet bycatch mortality ........................................................................................... 58 b. Other fisheries interactions........................................................................................ 61 3. Ocean Climate Regime Shifts ........................................................................................ 61 4. Human Disturbance........................................................................................................ 62 a. Vessel activity .............................................................................................................. 62 b. Human disturbance to nesting areas ........................................................................ 65 C. DISEASE OR PREDATION...................................................................................................... 66 D. OVERUTILIZATION FOR COMMERCIAL OR SPORTING PURPOSES ..................................... 66 IV. EXISTING REGULATORY MECHANISMS ARE INADEQUATE ............................ 66 A. REGULATORY MECHANISMS ADDRESSING GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION AND GLOBAL WARMING ARE INADEQUATE.............................................................................................. 66 B. REGULATORY MECHANISMS ADDRESSING OTHER THREATS TO THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET ARE INADEQUATE............................................................................................. 72 V. CRITICAL HABITAT SHOULD BE DESIGNATED FOR THE KITTLITZ’S MURRELET ............................................................................................................................... 74 VI. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................... 74 LITERATURE CITED .............................................................................................................. 75 Petition to List the Kittlitz’s Murrelet as an Endangered Species Page v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Kittlitz’s murrelet, Brachyramphus brevirostris, is a small seabird in