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Saving the Manx Shearwater Flea Ceratophyllus (Emmareus) fionnus (Insecta: Siphonaptera): The Road to Developing a Recovery Plan for a Threatened Ectoparasite

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A Correction to this article was published on 21 November 2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The Manx shearwater flea Ceratophyllus (Emmareus) fionnus Usher, 1968 is a host-specific parasitic insect apparently restricted to the Isle of Rùm, off the west coast of Scotland. Although C. (E.) fionnus is one of only a small number of insect species endemic to the British Isles, its conservation status has never been evaluated. To enable effective management, the conservation status of the species was assessed.

Methods

The conservation status of C. (E.) fionnus was evaluated using host and distribution records in conjunction with two assessment rubrics; the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, and a flea-specific assessment rubric developed previously.

Results

Ceratophyllus (Emmareus) fionnus was found to be threatened with extinction due to its hyperendemicity on the Isle of Rùm and was classified as vulnerable.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of the assessment, immediate conservation action to protect C. (E.) fionnus is encouraged and a recovery plan is outlined. This includes surveys and studies of the bionomics of the species in conjunction with in-situ management of the known population. The creation of insurance populations through conservation translocations is also encouraged.

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Change history

  • 21 November 2019

    Due to a processing error, the presentation of Table 1 was incorrect. The corrected table is given below. The original article has been corrected.

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Acknowledgements

We kindly thank Erica McAlister and the Natural History Museum (London) for allowing us to use their copyright image of the Manx shearwater flea. We also thank Dominic Funnell for putting us in contact with Tim Marshall who allowed the use of his photograph of the host bird. We are also thankful to the two reviewers who provided constructive criticism and comments that greatly improved this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evolutionary Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore

    Mackenzie L. Kwak

  2. Animal Science Group, AgResearch Ltd, Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    Allen C. G. Heath

  3. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 169 Tory Street, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand

    Ricardo L. Palma

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  1. Mackenzie L. Kwak
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  2. Allen C. G. Heath
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  3. Ricardo L. Palma
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Correspondence to Mackenzie L. Kwak.

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The original version of this article was revised: Due to a processing error, the presentation of Table 1 was incorrect. The original article has been corrected.

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Kwak, M.L., Heath, A.C.G. & Palma, R.L. Saving the Manx Shearwater Flea Ceratophyllus (Emmareus) fionnus (Insecta: Siphonaptera): The Road to Developing a Recovery Plan for a Threatened Ectoparasite. Acta Parasit. 64, 903–910 (2019). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-019-00119-8

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