Boertmann, D. 2008. Grønlands Rødliste – 2007. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser, Aarhus Universitet, og Grønlands Hjemmestyre. 156 s.
This regional red list covers Greenland including the surrounding seas within the Exclusive economical zone (Figure 1). The red list is prepared according to the regional guidelines issued by IUCN (2001, 2003). As many species occur in Greenland with more than one subspecies or discrete population, many of these have been assessed separately. Mammals, birds, freshwater fi sh, butterfl ies and orchids were selected to be assessed, as these were the taxa, which had the adequate level of relevant knowledge.
In total 115 species/subspecies/populations have been assessed, including 37 mammals, 65 birds, 3 freshwater fi sh, 5 butterfl ies and 5 orchids. Most of these are reproducing regularly within Greenland. In addition a few regularly occurring visitors also are included. The red list is supplemented with a list over national responsibility taxa/discrete populations (> 20 % of the total population occurs within the Greenland area).
The 2006 Greenland red list is presented in Table 1, and national responsibility taxa are listed in Table 3. Three species/subspecies/discrete populations are categorised as extinct (EX) or regionally extinct (RE), six as critically endangered (CR), three as endangered (EN), twelve as vulnerable (VU) and twelve as near threatened (NT). This red list comprises 34 % of the assessed species/subspecies/discrete populations. Five species of marine mammals are categorised as data deficient (DD) (Table 2), and five species of mammals, six birds and one butterfly are categorised as not applicable (NA) (Table 4). This leaves thirteen mammals, 39 birds, two freshwater fish, four butterflies and four orchids as least concern (LC).
The assessment dates back to 1850, why extinct/regionally extinct species as great auk (Penguinus impennis) and grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) are not included. Since then, the endemic Northeast Greenland caribou (Rangifer tarandus eogroenlandicus) became extinct (EX) about 1900 probably due to severe winter conditions. Two bird species are categorised as regionally extinct (RE): Barrows goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) and fieldfare (Turdus pilaris ), both most likely due to climatic events.
The critically endangered (CR) species comprise six species/populations of marine mammals: Atlantic walrus, Northwater population (Odobenus rosmarus), harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), bowhead whale, Spitsbergen population (Balaena mysticetus), northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhal, West Greenland population (Monodon monoceros ). The populations of the two baleen whales bowhead and northern right, were reduced by commercial hunting in previous centuries, and has recovered only slightly or not since the termination of this hunt. The other critically endangered species are all utilised in Greenland, and unfortunately on non-sustainable level.
The endangered (EN) species comprise one mammal and three birds: Atlantic walrus, West Greenland population, Greenland white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons flavirostris) and common guillemot (Uria aalge). The walrus is hunted. The white-fronted goose is only hunted to a limited degree in Greenland (more in Iceland), but face the threat of competition from a rapidly increasing population of Canada geese (Branta canadensis ). The common guillemot has a restricted and localised breeding distribution in Greenland, and its numbers have decreased.
Three mammals are categorised as vulnerable (VU): One discrete population of caribou (Rangifer tarandus), polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and wolf (Canis lupus). The caribou population and the wolf population are very small, and the bear is threatened due to a predicted reduction in the distribution and quality of its main habitat, the ice surrounding Greenland. Eight birds are categorised as vulnerable (VU): Common eider, West Greenland population (Somateria mollissima) and Brünnich’s guillemot (Uria lomvia) are all declining and harvested/have been harvested below sustainable levels, black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is declining probably due to a combination of harvest and climatic factors, ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea), which is expected to decline in numbers due to reduction in habitat (ice covered waters) like polar bear and finally white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Ross’s gull (Rhodosthetia rosea) and a black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) which all have very small populations in Greenland. The spawning populating of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is also categorised as vulnerable (VU), because there is only one river in Greenland where spawning occurs. Among the orchids the small round-leaved orchid (Amerorchis rotundifolia) is categorised as vulnerable (VU) because it is only known from very few sites in Greenland.
Near threatened (NT) species/populations comprise three mammals: One local and discrete population of caribou, the northeast Greenland population of walrus and the Baffin Bay/Davis Strait population of bowhead whale. New research has revealed a much higher number of individuals of this whale than hitherto believed. Eight species of birds are categorised as near threatened (NT) because their populations are small: great northern diver (Gavia immer), harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), light-bellied brent goose, East Atlantic population (Branta bernicla hrota), gyr falcon (Falco rusticolus) and Sabines gull (Larus sabini). Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea ) is also categorised as near threatened due to a population decline.
Greenland Red List - 2007 (danish) in pdf format (5,624 kB)
