Status of the Marbled Murrelet in North America: With Special Emphasis on Populations in California, Oregon, and Washington

摘要

The status of the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is summarized in terms of its conservation needs. The principal factor affecting the continued existence of the species over the southern portion of its North American range is destruction of old-growth and mature forests. Preservation of old-growth forest is needed to maintain populations of the marbled murrelet outside treeless areas in Alaska. A major research effort must be undertaken to identify other conservation needs, especially to locate and characterize forest habitat used by the species. Population monitoring is required to track population trends and to determine if future conservation measures are effective. Reproductive success, mortality rates, and longevity data are needed for determining acceptible mortality rates.