Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse laperouse) for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of Draft Recovery Plan for the Micronesian megapode

(Megapodius laperouse laperouse) for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the

Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse laperouse). This species is

known only from the Mariana islands and is currently limited to 10

islands in this archipelago with a total population of 1,000 to 1,500

individuals.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by December 24,

1997 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for

inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the

following locations: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands

Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, room 6307, P.O. Box 50167, Honolulu,

Hawaii 96850 (phone: 808/541-2749); the Northern Marianas College

Library, P.O. Box 1250, Asterlaje Campus, Saipan, MP 96950 (phone: 670/

234-5498, extension 1121/2); and University of Guam, RFK Memorial

Library, UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923 (phone: 671/734-9412).

Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and

materials regarding the plan should be addressed to Brooks Harper,

Field Supervisor-Ecological Services of the Pacific Islands Office at

the Honolulu address given above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Lusk, Fish and Wildlife

Biologist, Recovery Branch, at the Honolulu address given above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point

where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystem

is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help

guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to prepare recovery

plans for most of the listed species native to the United States, its

Territories and Commonwealths. Recovery plans describe actions

considered necessary for conservation of the species, criteria for

recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting or

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delisting them, and initial estimates of times and costs to implement

the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.) (Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed

species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a

particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,

requires that a public notice and an opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented during a public comment period prior

to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. Substantive technical

comments will result in changes to the plan.

Substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation may not

necessarily result in changes to the recovery plan, but will be

forwarded to appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can

take these comments into account during the course of implementing

recovery actions. Individualized responses to comments will not be

provided.

The species being considered in this recovery plan is the

Micronesian megapode (Megapodius laperouse laperouse). This forest bird

was historically widespread throughout the Mariana islands archipelago

and found on all the islands except Farrallon de Medinilla. The

extinction of birds in Micronesia began 2000 to 4000 years ago with the

arrival of aboriginal man. These human populations altered vegetation,

introduced predatory Polynesian rats (Rattus exulans), hunted adult

birds and gathered eggs. Decline in bird numbers continued with the

arrival of Europeans in the 16th century who brought domestic livestock

that caused widespread damage to native forests. At this time,

predatory black (R. rattus) and Norway (R. norwegicus) rats were also

introduced. Large areas were converted to agriculture during the German

(1899-1917) and Japanese (1917-1944) occupations and native forest were

further damaged during World War II battles. These factors, along with

the appearance of other exotic competitors and predators, such as the

brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), have led to reduction or

extirpation of megapode populations from most of the Mariana Islands.

Small remnant populations persist on Aguiguan, Tinian, and Saipan,

while larger populations persist on Anatahan, Guguan, Sarigan,

Alamagan, Pagan, Ascuion, and Maug. Habitat loss and exotic predators,

such as the brown tree snake, continue to be the greatest threats to

the survival of the Micronesian megapode.

The Micronesian megapode is currently represented by populations on

ten islands with a total estimate of 1,000 to 1,500 birds. The areas of

emphasis for recovery actions are the ten islands with existing

populations. In addition, the recovery plan recommends reintroduction

of the species onto the islands of Agrihan and/or Rota.

The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the

recovery of this species so that protection by the Act is no longer

necessary. Recovery efforts will focus on protection of all extant

individuals from habitat loss, control of introduced competitors and

predators, and preventing the spread of the brown tree snake. Further

research on the reproductive ecology, territory size and habitat use,

nesting requirements, demographics, and the impacts of predation and

hunting is needed to ensure the long-term survival of the megapode.

Recovery efforts will include augmenting existing populations and

reestablishment of the species in protected areas throughout its former

range.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan

described. All comments received by the data specified above will be

considered prior to approval of this plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered

Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: September 18, 1997.

Mike Spear,

Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97-25423 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]

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