ABSTRACTS
– DOMESTIC CATEGORY
Lauren
Brudney, University of Minnesota
- Piping Plover Chick Mortality:
A Contribution to Great Lakes Population
Recovery.
Abstract:
The Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius
melodus) population is federally
endangered; <60 pairs nested
in 2006. Recovery efforts are diverse
but reduction of egg and chick predation
is a major management focus. Use
of predator exclosures has increased
hatching success (currently ~85%),
but does not provide protection
to mobile chicks. Chick survival
to fledging is typically about 50%
of eggs hatched. Identification
and evaluation of predator impacts
over spatial and temporal scales
is needed to increase chick survival
and ultimately improve likelihood
of population recovery. I propose
to study Piping Plover chick mortality
in the Great Lakes region by: (1)
Evaluating historical nesting records
to examine causes and variability
in chick mortality among breeding
sites, (2) Identifying avian and
mammalian predators present at the
breeding sites, (3) Examining timing
of predator activity during the
chick rearing period, and (4) Quantifying
relative abundance of avian and
mammalian predators at the breeding
sites.
Jennifer Mortensen, Villanova University
- Conservation ecology and social
organization of the endangered White-breasted
Thrasher on St. Lucia, West Indies
The
White-breasted Thrasher (Ramphocinclus
brachyurus) is an endangered mimid
endemic to the islands of St. Lucia
and Martinique. Research in 2002-2004
established that the population
comprises ca. 600 breeding pairs,
83% of which inhabit dry forest
along the east coast of St. Lucia
in two subpopulations, Praslin (ca.
450 pairs) and Petite Anse (ca.
50 pairs). This work also revealed
that the thrasher is a facultative
cooperative breeder. The Praslin
subpopulation is now facing an immediate
threat: a resort under construction
will destroy or fragment habitat
containing up to 30% of the global
thrasher population. Here I examine
the effects of habitat loss associated
with resort construction on White-breasted
Thrasher social ecology and reproductive
success. During 2006 I gathered
breeding-season data on group membership,
nest success, predation rates, philopatry,
and survival in areas adjacent to
ongoing resort development, at a
second, comparison site ca. 1.5
km away, and within fragments on
the resort. My approach was to capture,
band, and take blood samples from
thrashers in the three study areas,
and monitor territories and their
associated nests to investigate
the parameters listed above. This
work revealed that cooperatively
breeding groups increased from 34%
of the population in 2002-2004 to
71% in 2006, with group size increasing
from 2.4 to 2.9 birds. 2006 Mayfield
nest success estimates were highest
in the site adjacent to the resort
development, intermediate in fragment
nests on the development site, and
lowest at the comparison site. My
research in 2007 will further examine
the role of indirect mechanisms
in magnifying overall impacts of
habitat loss, as well as the degree
of site fidelity of thrashers living
in fragments on the development
site, and the effects of fragment
size on their tendency to maintain
territories and group stability.
This research advances our understanding
of White-breasted Thrasher status
and threats, and should influence
future decisions about habitat protection
on St. Lucia.
Alejandro Pietrek, University of
Florida - Assessment of factors
that influence distribution of threatened
species in Araucaria forests of
NE Argentina.
Atlantic
Forest of South America, which is
a global biodiversity hot spot,
harbors some of the most threatened
ecosystems and wildlife of the world.
One of the endangered forest types
within the southern part of the
Atlantic Forest is Parana Pine forest,
also known as Araucaria (Araucaria
angustifolia) forest. In northeastern
Argentina, only 2 % of original
Araucaria forests remain in small,
isolated fragments. Loss of this
forest, primarily due to commercial
timber harvest, has led to endangerment
of the Araucaria tree and associated
fauna. Araucaria plantations have
been established, often beyond the
boundary of species range making
biogeographical considerations important,
but these plantations now are being
replaced by pine after harvest.
Factors that determine distribution
and persistence of wildlife in remnant
Araucaria forest patches have not
been identified. Also, the biodiversity
value of Araucaria plantations is
unknown. I will examine factors
that influence the distribution
of four threatened species historically
associated with Araucaria forests.
First, I will use a patch occupancy
approach corrected for detectability
to determine factors that influence
presence of Araucaria Tit Spinetails
(Leptasthenura setaria) at three
scales: patch, landscape and biogeographic
region in Araucaria remnants and
plantations. Also, I will assess
patch occupancy for four other endangered
species that already are exceedingly
scarce: Vinaceus Parrot (Amazona
vinacea), the Azure Jay (Cyanocorax
caeruleus) and the Black capped
Manakin (Piprites pileata). This
research will provide data and habitat
models for identification of habitat
factors and forest patches critical
for species persistence, support
restoration and reforestation programs,
and contribute to planning of reserve
networks to protect this unique
fauna.
Bobby
Huang-Suo Hsu, University of Hawaii
at Hilo. Transfer of maternal antibodies
in Hawaii ‘amakihi.
The
introduction of avian malaria had
a devastating impact on the endemic
avian taxa of Hawaii. Recently,
studies provided evidence for a
comeback of native honeycreepers
at low elevations after nearly a
century of absence. Surveys showed
that many lowland Hawaii ‘amakihi
(Hemignathus virens) are reproducing,
and many of the hatch year birds
have resistance to avian malaria
soon after fledging. Malaria-resistant
females may improve the
survival of their offspring by depositing
maternal antibodies in their eggs
as an added form of protection against
disease in the nestling and early
fledgling stage. If maternal-natal
antibody transfer is beneficial
to reproductive success, we might
expect to observe this phenomenon
in a wild population of Hawaii ‘amakihi
at low elevations where avian malaria
is prevalent (but no antibody transfer
at malaria-free high elevation).
To determine whether transfer of
maternal antibodies occurs in Hawaii
‘amakihi, we will exam 15
to 20 breeding female ‘amakihi
and their eggs at low and high elevation
sites on Hawaii. The blood and egg
samples of ‘amakihi will be
tested using Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent
Assay (ELISA) to determine the presence
of antibodies against avian malaria.
Stephen Agius, University of Maine
– Can Patterns of Energetic
Condition Explain Differences in
the Productivity of Arctic and Common
Terns (Sterna paradiseae & S.
hirundo) at Petit Manan Island?
In
the state of Maine, Arctic Terns
(Sterna paradiseae) are listed as
a threatened species and Common
Terns (S. hirundo) are listed as
a species of concern. For the past
century the two species have responded
differently to conservation efforts
and the basis for these differences
remains unclear. Identifying the
physiological factors that continue
to limit the two species from full
recovery is critical for the conservation
of their populations. To better
understand the basis for different
responses in recovery between the
two species, I am comparing the
physiological condition of the birds
throughout key periods of the breeding
season. I will examine the condition
of the terns when they first arrive
to the island, and throughout the
incubation and chick rearing stages.
The changes in physiological condition
throughout the breeding season will
be examined within and between species
using several measures of energy
use and reproductive state.
An
individual’s ability to meet
their energetic demand is dependent
on their physical condition upon
arrival at the nesting colony, and
will influence their subsequent
breeding success. In an effort to
determine how well an individual
is meeting their energy demands,
I will examine baseline corticosterone
(the major energy-regulating steroid),
plasma metabolites (indicators of
the processes of putting on or using
fat) and breeding hormones (indicators
of reproductive state) and link
these with breeding success. Measurements
of parental effort will be monitored
to better document individual activity
related to clutch productivity.
Based on my preliminary data, Arctic
Terns arrive at their breeding colonies
in a reduced condition and remain
in poorer condition than Common
Terns. The differences in fitness
between the two species may explain
the discrepancy in nesting success
and population recovery.
ABSTRACTS
– LATIN AMERICA CATEGORY
Claudia
Alejandra Lizana Moreno, Universidad
de Costa Rica - The effect of forest
age on the ecology and energy intake
of the ocellated antbird (Phaenostictus
mcleannani), an obligate army-ant-following
bird.
The
lost of biodiversity in tropical
areas has increased in recent years
and it is necessary to generate
evidence-based conservation practices
to mitigate this loss. Insectivorous
understory birds that join mixed-species
flocks are among the most sensitive
birds to forest fragmentation and
disturbance in the neotropics, but
the mechanisms causing their decline
are still unknown. I propose a study
to document and preliminary evaluate
a potential mechanism responsible
for the decline of one of these
birds: the ocellated antbird (Phaenostictus
mcleannani). Based on previous observations,
I hypothesize that forest disturbance
causes reductions in food availability
that are responsible for population
declines in this species. The project
will be conducted at La Selva Biological
Station, Costa Rica, which includes
a mosaic of old-growth forest, and
secondary forests of different ages.
I propose to 1) measure the effect
of those forest types on the distribution
and abundance of this species, and
2) determine the influence of those
forest types on energy intake. My
methods for the first goal include
the use of Geographic Information
Systems to analyze the distribution
of >1500 foraging, roosting and
nesting locations recently recorded
at La Selva, according to forest
type, and the direct quantification
of foraging group sizes in each
forest type. The methods for the
second goal include the direct measurement
of food and energy intake rates
in each forest type, and the theoretical
determination of the minimum field
metabolic rate and food intake rate
required for this species to survive.
The main contribution of this project
is the identification and initial
evaluation of a potential proximate
mechanism that could cause the decline
of ocellated antbirds and similar
species following forest disturbance,
i.e. decrease in energy intake below
required metabolic levels in disturbed
areas.
Nestor
Damian Fariña, Parana Pine
Forest Project-Misiones, Argentina
- Anidación del loro vinoso
(Amazona vinacea), una especie bandera
del bosque Atlántico de Argentina.
El
loro vinoso (Amazona vinacea) es
una especie globalmente vulnerable.
Es endémica del bosque Atlántico
del sudeste de Brasil, este de Paraguay,
y la provincia de Misiones en Argentina.
Hemos estimado que Argentina cuenta
con poco más de 200 individuos.
En Argentina, la gran mayoría
de los loros vinosos (por lo menos
167 individuos en 2005) habitan
la zona rural entre Tobuna y San
Pedro. Y por eso sufre la captura
de sus pichones en sus nidos. El
primer objetivo de este trabajo
es determinar el tamaño de
huecos que utiliza el loro vinoso
para nidificar. El segundo objetivo
es anillar a los pichones en los
nidos, para decidir si es factible
estudiar su dispersión y
supervivencia con este método.
El tercer objetivo es dar a los
lugareños una oportunidad
de ayudar en el estudio de los loros
vinosos, para que disfruten a estas
aves en su estado silvestre. En
2006, con la ayuda de los lugareños
de Tobuna, ubiqué nueve nidos
activos de loro vinoso. Como los
loros suelen re-utilizar sus huecos,
visitaré estos huecos nuevamente
en septiembre de 2007, y seguiré
a parejas de loros para dar con
otros nidos. Cuando encuentro un
nido, si está a menos de
15 m de altura, lo revisaré
con una pequeña cámara
montada en un poste telescópico.
Si el nido está arriba de
los 15 m, y si es seguro para subir
(árbol vivo) subiré
con un sistema de soga y harnés
especiales para escala de árboles.
Con este sistema, tiro la soga sobre
una rama firme, y trepo la soga
usando deslizadores y eslingas.
Este estudio será el primero
en determinar qué tamaño
de huecos usan los loros vinosos
para nidificar, y el porcentaje
de nidos que son exitosos. Al tener
pichones anillados, podremos evaluar
el uso de anillamiento para poder
estudiar la supervivencia y dispersión
de juveniles. Para los lugareños,
participar en el estudio de los
nidos en sus propiedades significaría
un paso hacia la conservación
de los loros en su estado silvestre.
Mieko
Ferreira Kanegae, University of
Sao Paulo, Brazil - Habitat Use
and population size of endemic and
threatened bird of Cerrado at the
Ecologic Station of Itirapina, São
Paulo.
Cerrado
is the second largest ecological
region in South America. Today it
is ranked among the 25 most important
terrestrial hotspots and, in Brazil,
is the second biome in the numbers
of threatened species, especially
to those that are endemic and threatened.
The greatest challenge Brazilian
ornithologists have to face is the
lack of information on the basic
biology of rare species, as well
as the increasing number of threatened
species. However basic information
on many species is meager or nonexistent.
The objectives of this study are:
1) Investigation of habitat use
of Alectrurus tricolor, Culicivora
caudacuta and Melanopareia torquata;
2) Estimation of density and population
size of endemic (Melanopareia torquata,
Saltator atricollis, eothraupis
fasciata, Cypsnagra hirundinacea
and Cyanocorax cristatellus) and
threatened species (Culicivora caucatura,
Alectrurus tricolor and Poystictus
pectoralis. 3) Investigation of
Melanopareia torquata territory
defense by male and female; 4) Conservation
strategies recommendations. Two
spatial scales were established
to analyze the habitat use: microhabitat
and macrohabitat. Independent and
punctual observations of M. torquata,
A. tricolor (vulnerable) and C.
caudacuta (vulnerable) have been
registered to obtain the microhabitat
(IUCN 2004). The vegetation structure
is analyzed around a radius of 10
m from the bird place. The method
utilized to estimate habitat selection
will be based on use-availability.
In this analysis the individual
distribution of the species observed
in each habitat type will be compared
with the expected number of individuals,
considering the availability of
the referred habitat. In order to
obtain the density and population
size, point counts were systematically
placed also known as variable circular
plots. The total of 120 point counts
were disposed at 100 m of distance
to the road and 50 m to backfire.
Each point count has been estimated
during a period of 10 minutes. They
were sampled twice a year on altered
order in the morning and in the
afternoon, from August to January
from 2007 to 2008, when the birds
vocalize more. The population size
will be estimated using the total
area of available habitats multiplied
by estimated density of the species.
This study could be useful as a
support to analyze the threatened
category of Cerrado bird and could
allow the establishment of conservation
strategies.