Rationale (Changed due to Not applicable)

The regional population of the endemic Yellow-breasted Pipit Anthus chloris satisfies the criteria for regionally Vulnerable in that atlas data suggest a population size reduction of greater than 30% may have occurred over the past 10 years, based on a decline in Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and the quality of the remaining sensitive upland grassland habitat to which this species is restricted. This reduction and its causes are not likely to have ceased; indeed, based upon continuing threats to the Grassland Biome, the rate of decline is expected to increase and become more rapid in future. In addition, the Yellow-breasted Pipit's regional (and global) population size is estimated to number less than 10 000 mature individuals.

Distribution

Almost exclusively endemic to South Africa's upland grasslands, with an estimated distribution range of less than 3 000 km2 (Barnes 2000). The Lesotho population, while previously more extensive, is now limited to Sehlabathebe National Park (Osborne and Tigar 1990), due to excessive grazing and burning of unconserved areas. However, recent sight records in that country may suggest that the species is more widespread. It occurs marginally in Swaziland: although the population there is little known, the species appears to be restricted to high-lying grasslands in the west of the country.

In South Africa, the core distribution of the Yellow-breasted Pipit extends in a narrow strip northwards from about Matatiele, KwaZulu-Natal along the eastern slopes of the main escarpment in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. From there the species extends northwards along Free State's eastern border where it is found in the Warden, Vredefort, Memel, Leeuwspruit and Golden Gate areas, and near Harrismith on inselbergs such as Platberg. It reaches its northernmost limits in Mpumalanga, where it is known from the Wakkerstroom area and Steenkampsberg range around Dullstroom in the north.

Populations in the northern, interior parts of Eastern Cape appear (notwithstanding limited atlasing effort) to have contracted, and the remaining population of the Yellow-breasted Pipit in this province is very limited, presumably due to intensive grazing and burning and habitat transformation. However, it is suspected that isolated populations persist in this region (Barnes 2000), as evidenced by a few SABAP2 records south to about Cathcart.

The non-breeding distribution, although poorly known, appears to be larger with birds migrating to lower altitudes both east and west of their high-altitude breeding grounds. Isolated records have been obtained in the central Highveld grasslands in the west (including from Secunda in Mpumalanga, and several records from Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Gauteng) and the coastal grasslands of KwaZulu Natal in the east (Peacock 2006).

Overall, the EoO (95 182 km2) has decreased by 38.3% since SABAP1, while the AoO has decreased by 55% to 13 576 km2. However, given the Yellow-breasted Pipit's specialised habitat requirements, it probably occupies less than 10% of this area, which prompted Barnes (2000) to suggest its actual AoO may be closer to 3 000 km2. Applying the same assumption to the SABAP2 estimates, the effective AoO may be as small as c. 1 360 km2. This figure seems likely in light of the substantial decreases between the two atlas periods.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population

The regional (and global) population was quantified at 2 500-6 000 birds by Barnes (2000), roughly equivalent to 1 700-4 300 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2014). A coarse earlier estimate by Siegfried (1992) suggested that 1 500-5 000 individuals remain. Given the apparently substantial decreases in range that this species has experienced since Barnes' 2000 assessment (see Trend Justification), and assuming a concomitant population decrease, the total may now be considerably smaller; based on a relatively conservative decrease of 20% the population may now be in the order of 2 000-4 800 birds, approximately equivalent to 1 400-3 360 mature individuals. However, in the absence of more concrete data on population densities, demographics and range size, the confidence in this estimate is low.

Population trend

The population is suspected to have declined at a moderate rate, in line with loss and degradation of its grassland habitat (BirdLife International 2014). It should be noted that even in core parts of the distribution range, and in ostensibly suitable habitat, the Yellow-breasted Pipit's occurrence is reliant on conservative land-management. In the Wakkerstroom area, for example, this species has undergone a considerable reduction in range and abundance because of intensive grazing and frequent burning of its grassland habitat.

While Barnes (2000) estimated that the population would decline by up to 20% between 2000-2011, SABAP data suggest that the EoO has decreased by nearly 40% and the AoO by greater than 50%. Assuming a linear relationship between a decrease in AoO and population size, it seems that the decline has been greater than the 20% proposed by Barnes (2000) and closer to 50%. Based upon threats to the Grassland Biome, the rate of decline is expected to increase and become increasingly rapid in the next ten years. Increased fragmentation, and isolation of sub-populations, is a concern.

Threats

The grasslands of South Africa, on which the Yellow-breasted Pipit and a plethora of other threatened species rely, are very poorly conserved with less than 2.5% under formal protection and an estimated 80% irreversibly transformed. In moist high-altitude grasslands where this species breeds, agricultural practices and commercial afforestation have led to destruction of the majority of the remaining habitat (Allan et al. 1997). These grasslands are heavily utilised for crop agriculture, which is becoming more prolific with population growth and food demands. Areas that are not under cultivation are almost all grazed by domestic livestock, and in many areas overgrazing is further reducing the available habitat of this disturbance-sensitive species (Little 2011). This pattern can be seen in previously well-populated areas, including the Wakkerstroom grasslands.

Overly frequent (annual) burning, especially spring burns, further limit available habitat for the Yellow-breasted Pipit, and only allow breeding attempts late in the season when the grass sward has recovered. In areas where heavy grazing succeeds late burns, grass cover may never recover sufficiently for nesting (Little 2011). A major threat that has emerged in recent years is the dramatically increased extent of open-cast coal mining within the species' range. Given its adaptation to high-altitude grasslands, the Yellow-breasted Pipit is likely to be significantly impacted by climate change, and was identified as a high-risk species in this regard by Simmons et al. (2004).

One of the secondary effects of afforestation has been a significant increase in the abundance of Accipiter hawks, and particularly the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk A. rufiventris; this species frequents preys on Yellow-breasted Pipits and other terrestrial grassland passerines, and the Yellow-breasted Pipit's bright colouration and extended aerial display may make it especially vulnerable (D Pietersen pers. comm.). Although not quantified, increased predation from accipiters may constitute a severe threat.

Conservation

Underway

No species-specific conservation measures are currently implemented. A research project on the life history, conservation status and management of the species has recently commenced. Major aims are to determine the current distribution and population status, covering the historical, known current and predicted distribution in its entirety, to assess occupancy levels and habitat requirements, and to determine whether the Yellow-breasted Pipit can be used as an indicator species of ecological integrity of Moist Highland Grasslands (D Pietersen pers. comm.).

Proposed

The amount of Moist Highland Grassland under conservation needs to increase and, ideally, no more of the little remaining intact grassland should be lost. The proposed Grassland Biosphere Reserve (IBA SA020) will play a critical role in the conservation of this species: important populations persist in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park (IBA SA064) and Steenkampsberg (IBA SA016), in particular. Livestock grazing on existing intact grasslands should be conducted in a conservative manner without overgrazing or frequent burning, and spring burns should be avoided. A low stocking rate (greater than 5 ha/LAU) and biennial burning in winter (July) are recommended. Education of private, state and community land-owners is important, and incentives to land-owners to manage their properties for particular species, such as the Yellow-breasted Pipit, could prove to be effective conservation strategies.

Research

Research has been conducted on upland grassland threatened passerines (Muchai 2002, Little 2011), but not specifically on the Yellow-breasted Pipit. The following research components and questions are proposed:

* Identification of key habitat requirements of the Yellow-breasted Pipit for successful reproduction.

* Assess whether the species can be considered an indicator of intact grasslands, including both grass and forb components, throughout its range.

* Determine individual territory sizes, and estimate required size of conservation areas needed to support sustainable populations, through population modelling.

* Review current population estimates, and model future population trends.

* Assessment of relationships between remote sensing and SABAP2 data, in relation to ground truthing of current distribution and densities.

* Investigate the roles of thermal microclimates and predation risk in determining nest location.

* Determine if Yellow-breasted Pipits are approaching minimum viable population size, through a population-level genetic analysis and the development of microsatellite markers for the species.

* Quantify the threat posed by Accipiter hawks.