SummaryWe studied the breeding biology of Tahiti MonarchPomarea nigra, a ‘Critically Endangered’ forest bird endemic to Tahiti (French Polynesia). Nest activity was monitored from 1998 to 2002, and again from 2008 to 2015. During these 12 years, only 2–13 breeding pairs per year produced hatchlings. Egg-laying occurred all year, but usually increased between August and January, peaking around November. Of the 200 nests monitored, 33 (16%) were abandoned shortly after construction, 71 had an egg laid immediately after the nest were completed (34 %) and 96 nests (46 %) had a pre-incubation phase of 18.9 ± 1.9 days (3–62 days;n= 47 nests), during which the birds visited the nest on an irregular basis. Half (49 of 96) of these nests were abandoned before an egg was laid, with incubation subsequently commencing at the remaining nests (n= 47). Although both sexes incubated for an average of 13.6 ± 0.3 days (range 13–15), the female usually spent more time incubating than the male. Only one young per nest was ever observed. The average nestling phase was 15.5 ± 0.7 days (range 13 to 20 days). Parents continue to feed the young after fledging for 74 ± 4.7 days (range 42–174). As with many tropical island endemics, the Tahiti Monarch has low reproductive productivity as indicated by the fact that: 1) only 56% of pairs attempt to lay an egg in any one year, 2) most pairs attempt only one brood per year and 3) the considerable length of the nesting and fledging phases. Because of its low productivity, maximising the reproductive success of the Tahiti Monarch is essential to secure its recovery.
In order to identify potential infectious disease threats to the native avifauna of French Polynesia, an evaluation was performed on the health status of four wild non-native species of birds on the island of Tahiti: common myna, red-vented bulbul, rock dove, and zebra dove. From six locations, a large sample set (151–349 individuals) was tested for several viruses and bacteria, and a small sample set (22–40 birds), because of its proximity to the last remaining population of the critically endangered Tahiti monarch, was checked for more pathogens. Disease-specific screening methods were used. None of the following viruses were found: Newcastle disease virus, avian influenza virus, West Nile virus in 159, 189 and 204 sera; 349 birds examined for poxvirus lesion; avian metapneumovirus and avian adenovirus in 38 and 38 sera; avian polyomavirus in 28 cloacal swabs. The prevalence of bacteria and avian malaria was: Salmonella Heidelberg (5% from 21×10 pooled samples of intestinal contents), Chlamydia spp. (8% on 196 cloacal swabs) including Chlamydia psittaci (3%), Plasmodium relictum – haplotype GRW04 (2% on 205 DNA), Haemoproteus spp. (25% on 205 DNA). In the limited sample set, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bordetella avium and Riemerella columbina were isolated with a prevalence of 3% each in 40 tracheal swabs. The potential role of introduced birds as vectors of zoonosis in French Polynesia and the crucial finding of Plasmodium relictum with several ubiquitous and dangerous pathogens on Tahiti Island should be given the appropriate attention by local authorities and conservationists.
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