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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