Population trends and conservation of the Mangrove Rail

Abstract

he Mangrove Rail occupies only mangrove areas in South America. Though present in one of the most endangered forests in the world, there is little data available on the Mangrove Rail. In this paper, I present local population trends and the latest population density estimates for the Mangrove Rail in an urban mangrove area based on two years of fieldwork conducted on the Island of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. I have also revised the global conservation status of the Mangrove Rail based on literature and specimen records. Surveys were conducted monthly at 10 stations along a 4 km-transect. The maximum number of individuals detected was 17 (2012). Total density was around 2 rails/ha, although a significant increase in population occurred when the surveyed area developed from 8.7 ha to 43 ha. A strong relationship between the presence of rails records and mangrove extension was observed and already expected. Altogether, the Mangrove Rail occurs in an extent of 19,615 km2 and an area of 12,455 km2 in South America, strictly associated with mangrove forests under severe pressure by deforestation, therefore qualifying as Vulnerable at a global level according to IUCN criteria. The results presented herein reinforce the importance of preserved wetlands for the conservation of the Mangrove Rail as well as of mangrove restoration initiatives since even areas of human intervention can be a good alternative to future adaptive management strategies and the conservation of this endangered species.