First description of the micro-habitat selection pattern of the island endemic Juan Fernandez Tit-tyrant/Primera descripción del patrón de selección de micro-hábitat del Cachudito de Juan Fernández

The level of specialization of endemic island birds to their native habitats could contribute importantly to increase their extinction risk. We used abundance obtained from mist-netting and radio telemetry data from one individual to determine the micro-habitat use pattern of Juan Fernandez Tit-tyra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gayana 2013-01, Vol.77 (1), p.1-1
Main Authors: Soto, Gerardo E, Vergara, Pablo M, Hahn, Ingo J, Pérez-Hernández, Christian G, Lizama, Marlene E, Baumeister, Julia, Pizarro, Jaime
Format: Article
Language:eng ; spa
Subjects:
Birds
Forests
Gunnera
Habitats
Native species
Wildlife observation
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Summary:The level of specialization of endemic island birds to their native habitats could contribute importantly to increase their extinction risk. We used abundance obtained from mist-netting and radio telemetry data from one individual to determine the micro-habitat use pattern of Juan Fernandez Tit-tyrants (Anairetes fernandezianus) within native forest. The tracked male tit-tyrant established its home range exclusively in core native forest areas. Regression models of abundance and Resource Utilization Functions showed strong micro-habitat preferences of tit-tyrants. The abundance and utilization probabilities of tit-tyrants declined with distance to exotic shrub and increased with distance to human created gaps. Natural heterogeneity in micro-habitat conditions also affected the micro-habitat selection pattern, with use probabilities and abundance increasing with proximity to the humid sites dominated by Gunnera peltata. These findings demonstrate that tit-tyrants do not use native forest sites at random. Therefore, the conservation and recovery of the declining tit-tyrant population could be improved by incorporating such micro-habitat preferences in habitat management programs. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0717-652X
0717-6538