Recovery plan for the Mariana common moorhen (= Gallinule) (Gallinula chloropus guami)
United States Fish And Wildlife Service. 1991. Recovery plan for the Mariana common moorhen (= Gallinule) (Gallinula chloropus guami). United States Fish And Wildlife Service. Portland, OR
The Mariana common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus guami) is federally listed as an endangered species. Current population estimates are not known for all sites; however, there are estimated to be between 100 and 200 birds on Guam, between 20 and 125 birds on Tinian and between 60 and 120 birds on Saipan. Loss of wetland habitat is considered the prime threat to the survival of this species. The moorhen is an inhabitant of emergent vegetation of freshwater marshes, ponds and placid rivers. In the Mariana Islands its preferred habitat includes freshwater lakes, marshes and swamps. Both man-made and natural wetlands are used. The key characteristics of moorhen habitat appear to be a combination of deep (greater than 60 cm) marshes with robust emergent vegetation and equal areas of cover and open water. This species is known to be wary and to be closely associated with cover provided by edge vegetation. The most serious threat to the continued existence of the moorhen is the continuing disappearance of suitable wetland habitat, through extensive human use and the spread of undesirable vegetation.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- United States Fish And Wildlife Service
- Date of Issue
- 1991
- Publisher
- United States Fish And Wildlife Service
- Units
- AMME , PACN , WAPA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Birds (Aves), Guam, Mariana common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus guami), Saipan, Threatened-Endangered-Sensitive Animals