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ESR prepress abstract   -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01369

Life history, population dynamics and impacts of cat predation on an endemic gadfly petrel in Cabo Verde

Jacob González-Solís*, Joan Lluís Riera, Herculano Andrade Dinis, Admilton de Pina, Teresa Militão

*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Understanding an imperilled species’ life history, population dynamics, and viability is key in conservation biology. Insular fauna often suffers significant predation from invasive mammals, yet robust evidence of their impact from rigorous demographic analysis remains scarce. We aimed to understand the life history and population dynamics of the elusive Cape Verde petrel Pterodroma feae, an endemic seabird of the Cabo Verde archipelago, which is severely predated by cats. We analysed capture-mark-recapture data from birds mistnetted in a courtship area since 2007 and monitored their nests since 2012 on Fogo Island. Across all islands where this species breeds, we recorded cat predation rates and made additional captures of petrels in courtship areas. Demographic analysis revealed an 8.8% annual population decline of Cape Verde petrels, primarily driven by a 14.7% surplus mortality among breeders from threats in breeding areas, likely tied to at least 4% annual cat predation rate observed in monitored nests. Immature males exhibited lower survival rates, likely due to their increased vulnerability while seeking initial nest sites. The limited connectivity detected among and within islands, along with strong nest-site and mate fidelity rates, highlight the urgency of preventing local extinctions, which would be challenging to reverse. This study emphasizes the unsustainability of cat predation rates, the insufficiency on enhancing breeding success to counter the population decline and provides compelling evidence of a concerning decline of the Cape Verde petrel, primarily attributable to cat predation. Moreover, it emphasizes the significance of long-term demographic studies to understand the impact of invasive species on endangered populations.