Priorities for Future Research

The Appendix 7: Information Needs in Wheeler et al. (2 Wheeler, J., Y. Satgé, A. Brown, J. Goetz, B. Keitt, H. Nevins, and E. Rupp (2021). Black-capped Petrel Conservation Update and Action Plan: Conserving the Diablotin. International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group. Close ) summarizes the most critical information gaps with regards to Black-capped Petrel conservation. These gaps relate to rating threats, assessing status (i.e., key ecological attributes used as measures of success), and developing and implementing strategies.

Research is needed to understand the impact of threats on the viability of Black-capped Petrel, especially threats rated as High or associated with high uncertainty. Impact of a threat is defined as the changes in population vital rates and the extent of the population that is affected. There are notable gaps on some basic natural history parameters used to assess petrel population viability. These include (but are not limited to) life span, age at sexual maturity, survival rates of adults and immatures, food selection, and marine distribution of immatures. Wheeler et al. (2 Wheeler, J., Y. Satgé, A. Brown, J. Goetz, B. Keitt, H. Nevins, and E. Rupp (2021). Black-capped Petrel Conservation Update and Action Plan: Conserving the Diablotin. International Black-capped Petrel Conservation Group. Close ) identified seven Key Ecological Attributes (KEAs) to define the health of Black-capped Petrel and its nesting habitat. These relate to demographic parameters (population size, productivity, survival) and habitat parameters (distribution, intactness and management). For three KEAs, current data are insufficient to assess relative change or absolute values, either because a method needs to be developed or because data need to be analyzed. Ongoing monitoring is necessary to acquire the indicator data to track all KEAs.

Finally, there are priority research needs associated with the conservation strategies recommended for Black-capped Petrel. These included testing of methods or protocols (especially related to predator reduction and habitat restoration), as well as the assumptions underlying selected interventions (especially related to community development). To address the latter, social science is needed along with biological and ecological science.