The Whenua Hou diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis) known also as Kuaka, is a highly endangered subspecies of the South Georgia diving petrel that is endemic to New Zealand.[2][3]
| Whenua Hou diving petrel | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Genus: | Pelecanoides |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | P. g. whenuahouensis
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Pelecanoides georgicus whenuahouensis Fischer et al., 2018
| |
The subspecies was first described by Johannes H. Fischer and collaborators in 2018. While formerly considered a unique population of the South Georgia diving petrel, differences in habitat preference and analyses of phenotypic differentiations indicates that it could be considered as a distinct species.[4] Only one extremely small population (less than 150 individuals) currently exists, breeding on the predator-free Whenua Hou island. There, it displays the unique nesting practice of burrowing into the sand dunes overlooking Sealers Bay, unlike the South Georgia diving petrel which nests on rocky slopes or flat land.[5]
Based on subfossil remains, this subspecies formerly nested on Auckland Island and Stewart Island, and possibly on the Chatham and Macquarie islands as well. It was extirpated from Auckland due to nest destruction by New Zealand sea lions,[6] while on Stewart it was extirpated due to nest predation by the introduced Polynesian rat.[7] The remaining population itself is highly threatened by storm events; one such event in 2003 led to the collapse of many dunes, killing many birds. They are also threatened by the advance of coastal forest and invasive grasses and herbs over the dunes,[5] as well as sea level rise due to climate change.[8] While the petrel's foraging areas are unknown, an oil spill over this area would be devastating for this subspecies.[5]
References
edit- ^ BirdLife International (2019). "Pelecanoides whenuahouensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T155187257A155188651. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T155187257A155188651.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Petrels, albatrosses". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Paewai, Pokere (8 October 2022). "Researchers investigate impact of light pollution at sea on migratory birds". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Fischer, Johannes H.; Debski, Igor; Miskelly, Colin M.; Bost, Charles A.; Fromant, Aymeric; Tennyson, Alan J. D.; Tessler, Jake; Cole, Rosalind; Hiscock, Johanna H. (27 June 2018). "Analyses of phenotypic differentiations among South Georgian Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) populations reveal an undescribed and highly endangered species from New Zealand". PLOS ONE. 13 (6): e0197766. Bibcode:2018PLoSO..1397766F. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0197766. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6021066. PMID 29949581.
- ^ a b c "South Georgian diving petrel | New Zealand Birds Online". www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "South-Georgia Diving Petrel – Polar Conservation Organisation". Polar Conservation Organisation. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ R.N., Holdaway; M.D., Jones; N.R., Beavan, Athfield (2003). "Establishment and extinction of a population of South Georgian diving petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus) at Mason Bay, Stewart Island, New Zealand, during the late Holocene". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 33 (3): 601–622. Bibcode:2003JRSNZ..33..601H. doi:10.1080/03014223.2003.9517748. ISSN 0303-6758. S2CID 140188250.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "New species, the Whenua Hou diving petrel, discovered near Stewart Island". Newshub. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
External links
edit- The Whenua Hou diving petrel (as the South Georgia diving petrel) on RNZ Critter of the Week, 29 July 2016