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NRLD - 330536 | Sterna repressa

Assessment ID
330536
Taxon name
Sterna repressa
Hartert, 1916
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Sterna repressa
Hartert, 1916
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Birds
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
aves
Order
charadriiformes
Family
laridae
Genus
Sterna
Species
repressa
Species authority
Hartert, 1916
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Vulnerable
Abbreviated status
VU
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A4acde
Criteria system used
IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
This species has a large breeding population in the UAE, which is in rapid decline, meeting the threshold for listing as Endangered. However, the breeding population in the wider Arabian Peninsula is stable; thus, the potential for immigration from outside the UAE remains very high. Therefore, the species has undergone a regional adjustment (of one category) and is listed as Vulnerable at the national level.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is very common during the breeding season from March to November, particularly along the southwestern coast, on islands in the Arabian Gulf and Ras al-Khaimah Emirate (Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017). The population is supplemented by migrant individuals on passage to and from the breeding grounds (Pedersen et al. 2017). The species is uncommon to rare in winter (Pedersen et al. 2017).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species inhabits coastal and inshore waters; occasionally, individuals have been observed inland over brackish water and sewage treatment plants close to the coast (Jennings 2010). It forages in shallow water over reefs, in the surf, in harbours and near jetties (Jennings 2010). It feeds by surface-dipping and plunge-diving, taking small fish like anchovies, sardines and mackerel, as well as invertebrates (del Hoyo et al. 1996, Jennings 2010). It nests colonially on sandy islands or on sandy or even stony patches on well-vegetated islands (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Breeding colonies are often associated with other tern species (Jennings 2010). The breeding season starts immediately upon arrival to the breeding colony, with eggs being recorded between April and August (Jennings 2010). The nest is a shallow scrape on soft sand, compact sand, shingle or stony surface or on a seaweed carpet, which may be lined with shells, fish bones, corals, pebbles or plant material (Jennings 2010). Usually, clutches contain two eggs (Jennings 2010). The species is migratory. After breeding, the colony is abandoned. The movements of this species are not well known; however it is assumed that the species disperses widely in the Indian Ocean, wintering between the coast of Kenya, the west coast of India and the Laccadive and Maldive islands (Jennings 2010).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
Across its global range, egg collection is believed to have caused rapid declines in a number of breeding colonies, with the population on Sheedvar Island (Iran) noted as falling from around 300,000 pairs in 1972 to fewer than 30,000 in 1977 (BirdLife International 2018). Egg collecting is believed to continue but at a reduced rate as the market for eggs reduces (Jennings 2010), although in 2016 it was noted that this practice is again increasing within UAE (Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi 2016). Other threats to UAE colonies include predation by introduced mammals, oil pollution and marine debris (plastic), tree planting, irrigation, development and disturbance (Aspinall 1996).
History
The population would have been at least twice as large and there is no indication of decline at the time, hence it is assessed as Least Concern in 1996.
Publication
Burfield, I.J., Westrip, J., Sheldon, R.D., Hermes, C., Wheatley, H., Smith, D., Harding, K.A. Allen, D.J. and Alshamsi, O. 2021. UAE National Red List of Birds. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates