Pink-footed shearwater (Puffinus creatopus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 12

Technical Summary

Puffinus creatopus

Pink-footed Shearwater – Puffin à pieds roses

Range of Occurrence in Canada:

British Columbia, Pacific Ocean

Extent and Area Information

Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²)

approx. 70,000 km²
Area of Canadian territorial waters on Pacific Coast

Specify trend in EO

Stable

Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?

Stable

Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)

approx. 70,000 km² (ca. 150 km² on breeding grounds)
Area of Canadian territorial waters on Pacific Coast

Specify trend in AO

Stable

Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?

may be seasonal and annual shifts in distribution within the EO, as related to oceanographic conditions

Number of known or inferred current locations

Not applicable in Canadian waters; 3 breeding locations

Specify trend in #

Not applicable in Canada; stable on breeding grounds

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?

No

Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat

breeding habitat possibly declining (definitely impacted)

Population Information

Generation time (average age of parents in the population)

15 years (conventional estimate used by BirdLife International for most procellariids in assessments for IUCN listing [P. Hodum pers. comm. 2003])

Number of mature individuals

< 60,000

Total population trend:

apparently a significant decline at one colony after coatis introduced in 1930s, another colony probably declining at present

 % decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.

Unknown

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?

No

Is the total population severely fragmented?

No

Specify trend in number of populations

 

Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?

 

List populations with number of mature individuals in each:

 

Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)

  • incidental mortality in fisheries
  • mortality in association with oil spills
  • on the breeding grounds the major threats are from introduced predators (Robinson Crusoe), human disturbance and exploitation (Isla Mocha)

Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)

Status of outside population(s)?

Not applicable

Is immigration known or possible?

Not applicable

Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?

Not applicable

Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?

Not applicable

Is rescue from outside populations likely?

Not applicable

Quantitative Analysis

Not done

Other Status

IUCN:  Vulnerable

Status and Reasons for Designation

Status: Threatened

Alpha-numeric code: D2

Reasons for Designation: This seabird breeds on only three islands off the coast of Chile, where it has suffered significant but unmeasured declines due to nest predation by introduced predators, exploitation by humans and habitat degradation.  It likely incurs mortality due to incidental take by fisheries off the coast of British Columbia during the non-breeding season and would be sensitive to any offshore oil spills there.

Applicability of Criteria

Criterion A (Declining Total Population): Not Applicable; significant but unmeasured declines about 70 years ago (more than 3 generations)
Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation): Endangered B2abv could apply if the breeding colonies outside Canada are considered and if declines are assumed to be ongoing, but continuing decline is only assumed at one colony.
Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline): Not Applicable; population too large
Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution): Threatened D2 applies if breeding colonies outside Canada are considered (only 3 locations).
Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis): not done.

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