This discussion was first published as part of the 2021 Red List update. At the time a decision regarding its status was pended, but to enable potential reassessment of this species as part of the 2022.2 Red List update this post remained open and the date of posting had been updated.
The initial discussion on this topic can be viewed here.
I suugest do not change it’s current status regarding the habitat degradation of Mangroves here in Madagascar. also, since few years ago, no data available on its reproductive success.
I think its only recent change from CR to EN was already controversial due to the lack of recent data. Our survey in the Menabe Mangroves revealed only small numbers at two sites only (Zöckler et al 2021). Most of the habitats are degraded and the species highly reliant on mangroves has suffered. Without any further new evidence of recent population changes or new findings I suggest to keep it at least to Endangered.
I think the simplest way to assess the threat to the species is to assess its habitat, the mangroves. If mangroves are still being lost, if protected areas either do not conserve enough mangroves or the protection is ‘ineffective’ then the teal is going to be threatened with extinction.
Mangrove data should be available through the Birdlife network,
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 21 February 2022. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’s Red List status on this page on 21 February 2022, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Based on available information, and incorporating additional information from this discussion, our preliminary proposal for the 2022.1 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion. Although habitat degradation is an ongoing threat, the resulting declines do not currently meet the threshold to retain the Endangered listing.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 27 February 2022, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
I agree with the consistent application of the Red List Criteria and in the absence of convincing evidence of the species fulfilling EN criteria, the species should be treated as VU.
ASITY Madagascar have recently censused teal in the Mahavavy Delta, one of the most important sites for the species, and are compiling monitoring data from there over more than 10 years. They are about to do a similar census in the Mangoky Delta – this is a more marginal site but teal have been recorded there. This information could allow a more informed decision. So I suggest to hold off making any change to the Red List category for another year.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 7 March 2022.
Recommended categorisations to be put forward to IUCN
Based on available information, particularly regarding imminent new data, our proposal for the 2022.1 Red List is to pend the decision on this species and keep the discussion open, while leaving the current Red List category unchanged in the 2022.1 update.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2022.1 GTB Forum process. The final 2022.1 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in July 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
Vu que l’espèce est endémique du Madagascar et son habitat et ses sites de reproduction ne cessent d’être modifié tant au niveau de sa superficie qu’au niveau de sa qualité, je pense que son statut (EN) devrait rester inchangé. Les travaux de Razafindrajao et al (2017) en sont une illustration. De plus, ceux de Zöckler et al (2021) indiquent très peu d’individus en ce qui concerne l’espèce. Mais aucune autre donnée actuelle sur son succès de reproduction et les mesures de conservation durables sur l’espèce ne sont-elles disponibles. De ce fait, il serait regrettable de la reclasser comme vulnérable (VU).
Asity Madagascar was conducted regular waterbirds monitoring, including the Madagascar Teal at two new Protected Area in Madagascar: The Mahavavy Kinkony Wetland Complex (CMK) and the Mangoky Ihotry Wetland Complex (CMI). I summarize below the result of these monitoring showing some data details & analysis on the Madagascar Teal. Hope this information will help on decision making :
Site: Mahavavy Kinkony Wetland Complex (Period of survey take in account: July-August)
Year start: 2004
Year end: 2019
Number of year with count (number of visit): 10
Maximum count: 285 ind. (in 2006), 353 ind. (in 2011)
Number of missing value: 5 years (number of year without data)
Trends: moderate increase (interval of confiance p< 0.01)
Habitat type: mangroves, estuaries, downstream of Mahavavy river, tan/intertidal area
Mangoky Ihotry Wetland Complex (Period of survey take in account: July-August)
Year start: 2005
Year end: 2019
Number of year with count (number of visit): 8
Maximum count: 110 ind. (in 2005)
Number of missing value: 5 years (number of year without data)
Trends: incertain (population: no sign of increase/decrease)
Habitat type: mangroves, estuaries, tan/intertidal area, lake (Ihotry, Ankorohoro, Ankatrafaibe)
For these two APs together, we evaluate the population betwwen 400 – 450 individuals (using July-August data)
Additional informations for other important sites:
Mahajamba (mangroves & estuaries): 100 ind (in 2017) 319 (in 2018) 143 (in 2019)
Besalampy (mangroves): 116 ind. (in july 2018)
Riv Loza (mangroves): 32 ind. (in july 2020)
Baie de Bombetoka (mangrove): 30 ind. (in sept 2021)
Just my personal opinion according the info that I have, the population of the species is still less than 2500 individuals in Madagascar.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 18 July 2022. We will now analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 18 July 2022, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Based on new information submitted via this discussion, the Red List status of Madagascar Teal has been reassessed.
Additional survey information from ASITY Madagascar plus the frequency of records from other investigations of suitable mangrove habitat means that it is now possible to produce a bounded estimate for the population size based on the total area of mangrove habitat within the species’ range and the variation in abundance in the surveyed portions of the range. A summed total of the numbers of individuals supplied by Rivo Rabarisoa is 897-947 (maximum counts). These sites are considered likely to support most of the population and include more than 50% of the extent of mangrove in patches that are larger than just channel-side vegetation (based on the mapped extent of mangroves from Global Mangrove Watch v2.0, Bunting et al. [2018]). As such, a reasonable assumption would be to assume the total population size is no greater than double this value. The maximum population size would that based on the assumption that these surveys recorded only mature individuals, hence 1,794-1,894 mature individuals as a range for the maximum population size, rounded to 1,800-1,900 mature individuals. A more precautionary assumption would be to use a standard proportion of two-thirds of the sampled population were mature individuals, giving an upper range of 1,200-1,270 mature individuals. This is notably similar to the initial suspected value of 1,500-2,500 individuals (G. Young in litt. 2002), and to Rivo Rabarisoa’s value and there seems to be convergence on a value below 2,000 individuals. Considering the minimum bound, there are individuals at several more mangrove areas, but a minimum number for these is uncertain. Hence to encompass all likely values, the minimum bound is set as the maximum counted number, rounded to 950 individuals hence equivalent to 630 mature individuals.
With an inferred continuing decline in line with habitat loss and exacerbated by hunting at breeding and moulting sites, the estimated population size of 630-1,900 mature individuals means that the species meets the thresholds for listing as Endangered under Criterion C2a(ii).
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 24 July 2022, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN. The final 2022.2 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
New reference
Bunting P., Rosenqvist A., Lucas R., Rebelo L-M., Hilarides L., Thomas N., Hardy A., Itoh T., Shimada M. and Finlayson C.M. (2018). The Global Mangrove Watch – a New 2010 Global Baseline of Mangrove Extent. Remote Sensing, 2018, 10, 1669; doi:10.3390/rs10101669
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested by so many people in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the new information, and we will post a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 1 August 2022.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Madagasar Teal is recommended to be listed as Endangered under Criterion C2a(ii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2022.2 GTB Forum process. The final 2022.2 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in December 2022, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.