The Hawaiʻi ʻakepa (Loxops coccineus) is an endangered ʻakepa native to Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiian Islands. All three of the ʻakepa were considered monotypic before being split by the NACC of the AOU in 2015. The Hawaii ʻakepa was first collected by western science during Captain James Cook's third voyage around the world. Several specimens were collected, as well as feather leis (necklaces resembling strings of flowers) constructed by Hawaiian artisans. The specimens were classified when brought back to England several years later. The Latin name of the bird, Loxops coccineus, means "crossed" (Loxops) and "red" (coccineus).
It is a four-inch (10 cm) long bird of a dusty green color. Males are bright orange. It has a small cross bill just like the other Loxops species. Its call is a slight quivering whistle ending with a long trill.
Distribution and habitatedit
The Hawaiʻi ʻakepa survives only in two or three locations, all on the island of Hawaii: one population in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (on the Hamakua Coast of Mauna Kea), one in the upper forest areas of Kau (in the southern part of the island), and one on the northern slope of Hualālai (perhaps extirpated). As of 2000, about 14,000 Hawaiʻi ʻakepa remained. They were listed as an endangered species in 1975.
Feedingedit
It eats spiders and other invertebrates and drinks the nectar of several flowers including the nectar of the ʻōhiʻa, the naio and the lobelia.
Breedingedit
These birds have a breeding season in spring. The Hawaii ʻakepa is the only obligate cavity-nester in Hawaii. There are no cavity-making birds in Hawaii (another honeycreeper, the ʻakiapolaʻau, drills small holes and excavates bark, but does not make holes large enough for ʻakepa nests). Thus, the ʻakepa must find naturally occurring cavities in the trunks and branches. Such cavities are generally found only in very large, old trees, making the ʻakepa an old-growth obligate. Large courtship groups have been observed during the breeding season, which is curious because this species makes permanent bonds. Another anomaly is the fact that for such a small bird, it does not lay many eggs—usually one or two, instead of the three to five of other similarly sized species.
Diseaseedit
Surviving ʻakepa live only in old growth forest above 1,200 metres (3,937 ft) elevation. This is a sign that avian malaria and avian pox have played a role in killing off populations of ʻakepa at lower elevations. These introduced diseases are implicated in more than 20 bird extinctions in Hawaii since 1826, when the first mosquito species (southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus) was introduced to the islands.[2] Disease continues to be a threat and could result in extinction of the ʻakepa if Hawaiian climate continues to warm (or if new bird diseases or mosquito species are allowed to invade the islands).
Old growth deteriorationedit
Due to their need for tree cavities, ʻakepa rely on old-growth ʻōhiʻa and koa forests for nesting. Although the largest populations of ʻakepa live within protected lands, large trees appear to be falling faster than they are replaced. It is unclear how management can deal with this in the medium-term, except by use of artificial nest boxes. Past experiments with nest boxes (Freed et al., 1987) have shown that birds will occasionally use them, with high nesting success. There is no ongoing research or use of nest boxes for ʻakepa as of 2010.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Loxops coccineus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T103823991A94685811. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103823991A94685811.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Joyce, C. R. (1961). "Potentialities for Accidental Establishment of Exotic Mosquitoes in Hawaii". Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. 17 (3): 403–413. hdl:10125/10832. ISSN 0073-134X.
Camp, R.J, T.K. Pratt, P.M. Gorresen, J.J. Jeffrey, and B.L. Woodworth. 2009. Passerine Bird Trends at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii. http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/hcsu/publications.php
Freed, L. A., T. M. Telecky, W. A. Tyler and M. A. Kjargaard. 1987. Nest site variability in the Akepa and other cavity-nesting birds on the island of Hawai'i. Elepaio: 47(8).
Freed LA, Medeiros MC, and Bodner GR. 2008. Explosive increase in ectoparasites in Hawaiian forest birds. J Parasitol. 94(5):1009-21.
Freed LA and Cann RL. 2009. Negative Effects of an Introduced Bird Species on Growth and Survival in a Native Bird Community. Current Biology.
Fretz, J. S. 2002. Scales of food availability for an endangered insectivore, the Hawaii Akepa. The Auk 119(1).
January 01, 1970
hawaiʻi, ʻakepa, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2017, learn, when, remove, this, message, loxops, cocc. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2017 Learn how and when to remove this message The Hawaiʻi ʻakepa Loxops coccineus is an endangered ʻakepa native to Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiian Islands All three of the ʻakepa were considered monotypic before being split by the NACC of the AOU in 2015 The Hawaii ʻakepa was first collected by western science during Captain James Cook s third voyage around the world Several specimens were collected as well as feather leis necklaces resembling strings of flowers constructed by Hawaiian artisans The specimens were classified when brought back to England several years later The Latin name of the bird Loxops coccineus means crossed Loxops and red coccineus Hawaiʻi ʻakepa Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Fringillidae Subfamily Carduelinae Genus Loxops Species L coccineus Binomial name Loxops coccineus Gmelin 1789 Range of Loxops coccineus Synonyms Loxops coccineus coccineus Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Feeding 4 Breeding 4 1 Disease 4 2 Old growth deterioration 5 ReferencesDescription editIt is a four inch 10 cm long bird of a dusty green color Males are bright orange It has a small cross bill just like the other Loxops species Its call is a slight quivering whistle ending with a long trill Distribution and habitat editThe Hawaiʻi ʻakepa survives only in two or three locations all on the island of Hawaii one population in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Hamakua Coast of Mauna Kea one in the upper forest areas of Kau in the southern part of the island and one on the northern slope of Hualalai perhaps extirpated As of 2000 about 14 000 Hawaiʻi ʻakepa remained They were listed as an endangered species in 1975 Feeding editIt eats spiders and other invertebrates and drinks the nectar of several flowers including the nectar of the ʻōhiʻa the naio and the lobelia Breeding editThese birds have a breeding season in spring The Hawaii ʻakepa is the only obligate cavity nester in Hawaii There are no cavity making birds in Hawaii another honeycreeper the ʻakiapolaʻau drills small holes and excavates bark but does not make holes large enough for ʻakepa nests Thus the ʻakepa must find naturally occurring cavities in the trunks and branches Such cavities are generally found only in very large old trees making the ʻakepa an old growth obligate Large courtship groups have been observed during the breeding season which is curious because this species makes permanent bonds Another anomaly is the fact that for such a small bird it does not lay many eggs usually one or two instead of the three to five of other similarly sized species Disease edit Surviving ʻakepa live only in old growth forest above 1 200 metres 3 937 ft elevation This is a sign that avian malaria and avian pox have played a role in killing off populations of ʻakepa at lower elevations These introduced diseases are implicated in more than 20 bird extinctions in Hawaii since 1826 when the first mosquito species southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus was introduced to the islands 2 Disease continues to be a threat and could result in extinction of the ʻakepa if Hawaiian climate continues to warm or if new bird diseases or mosquito species are allowed to invade the islands Old growth deterioration edit Due to their need for tree cavities ʻakepa rely on old growth ʻōhiʻa and koa forests for nesting Although the largest populations of ʻakepa live within protected lands large trees appear to be falling faster than they are replaced It is unclear how management can deal with this in the medium term except by use of artificial nest boxes Past experiments with nest boxes Freed et al 1987 have shown that birds will occasionally use them with high nesting success There is no ongoing research or use of nest boxes for ʻakepa as of 2010 References edit BirdLife International 2016 Loxops coccineus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T103823991A94685811 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T103823991A94685811 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Joyce C R 1961 Potentialities for Accidental Establishment of Exotic Mosquitoes in Hawaii Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 17 3 403 413 hdl 10125 10832 ISSN 0073 134X Camp R J T K Pratt P M Gorresen J J Jeffrey and B L Woodworth 2009 Passerine Bird Trends at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Hawaii http www uhh hawaii edu hcsu publications php Freed L A T M Telecky W A Tyler and M A Kjargaard 1987 Nest site variability in the Akepa and other cavity nesting birds on the island of Hawai i Elepaio 47 8 Freed LA Medeiros MC and Bodner GR 2008 Explosive increase in ectoparasites in Hawaiian forest birds J Parasitol 94 5 1009 21 Freed LA and Cann RL 2009 Negative Effects of an Introduced Bird Species on Growth and Survival in a Native Bird Community Current Biology Fretz J S 2002 Scales of food availability for an endangered insectivore the Hawaii Akepa The Auk 119 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hawaiʻi ʻakepa amp oldid 1191288748, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
