© Emanuel Tiberi
The imperial shag (Leucocarbo atriceps) is widely distributed along the coasts of Patagonia, with around 55,000 breeding pairs spread across 60 colonies. This species plays an important role in coastal-marine ecosystems due to its large biomass, making it an indicator species for the health of the coastal and marine environments in which it resides. Imperial shags are proficient divers, capable of diving for up to 30 minutes in search of prey, primarily fish, although they may also feed on crustaceans and cephalopods. The species is classified as “Not Threatened” in Argentina (MAyDS and AA, 2017) and as “Least Concern” globally (BirdLife International, 2018). However, it faces coastal threats such as habitat loss due to development and interactions with irresponsible recreational activities.
Species status tables, by year.
Select the year to display the status tables.
2021
CITATION CONSERVATION STATUS (IUCN criteria) Global Least Concern, 2018 1 Regional – Patagonian Sea Least Concern, 2016 9 Argentina Least Concern, 2015 2 POPULATION SIZE (Breeding pairs) Global Unknow 1 Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) 55,895 3 to 6 Isla Malvinas There are no breeding colonies 7 South Atlantic Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) There are no breeding colonies 7 POPULATION TREND Global Unknow 1 Argentina (without Islas Malvinas) Mixed 3 to 6 Isla Malvinas There are no breeding colonies South Atlantic Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) There are no breeding colonies CURRENT SITUATION IN ARGENTINA Total Number of Registered Colonies in Argentina 65 3 to 6 Number of Protected Colonies in Argentina 35 3 to 6, 8 Number of Colonies with Increasing Population Trends 6 3 to 6 Number of Colonies with Decreasing Population Trends 8 3 to 6 Number of Colonies with Stable Population Trends 0 3 to 6 Number of Colonies with Unknown Population Trends 51 3 to 6
Marine Protected Areas with the presence of the species
- Punta Tombo Marine Protected Area
- Punta León Protected Natural Area
- Patagonia Austral Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park
- Monte Loayza Provincial Natural Park
- Cabo Blanco Intangible Nature Reserve
- Isla Pingüino Interjurisdictional Marine Park
- Islas Cormorán y Justicia Special Protection Area for Scientific Use
- Bahía San Julián Limited Use Area Under Special Protection
- Isla Leones Limited Use Area Under Special Protection
- Monte León National Park
- Isla Monte León Provincial Reserve
- Isla Deseada Special Protection Area for Scientific Use
- Isla de los Estados y Archipiélago de Año Nuevo Wildlife Nature Reserve
Marine areas of intensive use by the species
- Feeding in shallow coastal waters and deep waters, more than 8 km from the shore.
- Primarily coastal areas in the provinces of Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur.
- In winter, some populations reach the coasts of Buenos Aires Province.
Marine Protected Areas within areas of intensive use by the species
- Península Valdés Protected Natural Area
- Punta León Protected Natural Area
- Punta Tombo Marine Protected Area
- Patagonia Austral Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park
- Monte Loayza Provincial Natural Park
- Isla Pingüino Interjurisdictional Marine Park
- Bahía San Julián Limited Use Area Under Special Protection
- Makenke Interjurisdictional Marine Park
REFERENCES:
- BirdLife International. 2018. Leucocarbo atriceps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22729686A133554713. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22729686/133554713
- Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable y Aves Argentina. (2017). Categorización de las Aves de la Argentina (2015). Informe del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación y de Aves Argentinas, edición electrónica. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Frere, E., Quintana, F., Gandini, P. (2005). Cormoranes de la costa patagónica: estado poblacional, ecología y conservación. Hornero 20, 35–52.
- Yorio, P., Frere, E., Gandini, P., Harris, G. (1998). Atlas de la distribución reproductiva de aves marinas en el litoral patagónico argentino. Fundación Patagonia Natural y Wildlife Conservation Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Ibarra, C., Marinao, C., Suárez, N., Yorio, P. (2018). Differences between colonies and chick-rearing stages in Imperial Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps) diet composition: implications for trophic studies and monitoring. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130, 224–234.
- Yorio, P., Pozzi, L., Herrera, G., Punta, G., Svagelj, W.S., Quintana, F. (2020). Population trends of Imperial Cormorants (Leucocarbo atriceps) in northern coastal Argentine Patagonia over 26 years. Emu – Austral Ornithology 120, 114–122.
- Kennedy, M., Spencer, H. (2014). Classification of the Cormorants of the World. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 79, 249–257.
- WCS Argentina Database – Marine Program
- Falabella V., Tamini L., García Borboroglu P., Frere E., Seco Pon J.P., Simeone Cabrera A., Stanworth A., Suazo C., Campagna C. 2019. Report of the IUCN Regional Red List First Workshop for Species of the Patagonian Sea: Sea Birds. Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Sea. http://marpatagonico.org/publicaciones/