THE IMPACT OF FOX AND FERAL CAT PREDATION ON THE POPULATION VIABILITY OF THE THREATENED, ENDEMIC SOCOTRA CORMORANT ON SINIYA ISLAND, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

• Published in: Marine ornithology Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 171 - 177
• Main Authors: Muzaffar, Sabir Bin, Benjamin, Sonya D, GUBIANI, ROBERT E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Felis catus; Marine; Phalacrocorax nigrogularis; Vulpes vulpes; ISW, United Arab Emirates; ISW, Yemen, Socotra; ISW, United Arab Emirates, Umm Al Quwain; ISW, Oman
• ISSN: 1018-3337

Seabirds are vulnerable to a variety of threats occurring at breeding colonies, including disturbance, habitat degradation and predation from terrestrial predators. Socotra Cormorants Phalacrocorax nigrogularis are threatened, regionally endemic seabirds restricted to the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman regions. Populations have been collapsing throughout their range, mostly in response to habitat loss from oil exploitation and disturbance at breeding sites. Siniya Island, Umm Al Quwain, hosts the largest colony in the United Arab Emirates with an estimated 15 500 breeding pairs. Predation by feral cats Felis catus and native red foxes Vulpes vulpes constitutes a major threat to this colony. We simulated population trends under different mortality levels using the software Vortex. Our estimates of predation-related mortality were conservative, and the trends implied by the population model could potentially be catastrophic to the species. Eradication of feral cats and red foxes is recommended as a management tool to ensure long-term survival of this colony.