Kittlitz's Murrelet - Threats

Threats

The Kittlitz's Murrelet is considered to be critically endangered by the World Conservation Union, based on dramatic declines at every site studies, although it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act (it was a Species of Conservation Concern until that category was abolished). It is threatened by habitat loss from global warming (as it is seemingly dependent on retreating glaciers), disturbance by boats and oil spills. An estimated 5-10% of the world population was killed during the Exxon Valdez oil spill. In much of Alaska surveys indicate that the population may have declined by 80–90% in 15 years since the early 1990s. In Prince William Sound the population declined by 84% from a population of 6436 birds in 1989 to 1033 birds in 2000, following a possible longer-term decline in 1972 when the population was estimated at 63000 birds. The rate of decline in Prince William Sound was estimated at 63% between 1989 and 2004 (5% per year). In the Malaspina Forelands the population declined by 38–75% between 1992 and 2002. Total abundance in Icy Bay, Alaska was estimated at 1725–2372 birds in 2002, suggesting a decline of 59% over a three-year period. In Glacier Bay, density estimates declined by 89.1% in 1991–2000, with 2200 estimated there in 1999–2000 and recent data suggesting that an 85–90% decline happened there between 1991 and 2008 with annual decline rates estimated at between -10.7% and -14.4%. In the Lower Cook Inlet, the population declined by 84% (26% per year) between 1993 and 1999. An analysis of data from the Kenai Fjords estimated that a decline of 90% has happened between 1989 and 2002, but this hampered by changing survey methods overtime, few years of survey efforts and low population numbers. The population in Alaska is estimated at 19578 birds. Data from Russia is scarce, but 5100 birds are estimated to occur along the Kamchatka and the Chukotka Peninsula.