Wattled Curassows in Bolivia: abundance, habitat use, and conservation status

Hill, D. L. , Arañibar-Rojas, H. and MacLeod, R. (2008) Wattled Curassows in Bolivia: abundance, habitat use, and conservation status. Journal of Field Ornithology, 79(4), pp. 345-351.

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1557-9263.2008.00193.x

Abstract

The Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa) is a globally threatened species restricted to humid varzea forest (seasonally flooded forest along white-water rivers) in low-lying regions of Amazonia. The Wattled Curassow were thought to have been extirpated from the Beni area of Bolivia, but were rediscovered near the Rio Negro River in 2001. Our objectives were to determine the size of this population, examine habitat use, and based on our results, assess the conservation status of the Wattled Curassow. During July and August 2006, we used distance sampling to estimate the population density in our study area. We estimated the density of Wattled Curassows at 3.4 (95% CI: 1.4-8.1) individuals/km(2) and all were observed within 300 m of the river. Based on the availability of suitable habitat (18 km(2) of riparian varzea habitat within 300 m of the river), we estimated that the breeding population of Wattled Curassows in our study area consisted of 61 individuals. The specialized habitat requirements of the Wattled Curassow has important conservation implications because previous population estimates were based on the availability of varzea forest rather than the availability of water edge habitat within varzea forest. As a result, the current global population estimate (2500-9999) is higher than our estimate (500-2500) that takes the specialized habitat requirements of the Wattled Curassow into account. Given this low estimated population, along with the severely fragmented state of the few remaining populations and their dependence on a specialized and vulnerable habitat, we recommend that the status of the Wattled Curassow be upgraded from Vulnerable to Endangered.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:MacLeod, Dr Ross and Hill, Dr Davina
Authors: Hill, D. L., Arañibar-Rojas, H., and MacLeod, R.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Field Ornithology
ISSN:0273-8570
Published Online:08 December 2008

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