Distribution and Relative Abundance Patterns of Columbids in Puerto Rico

Rivera-Milán, Frank F.

doi:10.2307/1368811

Cited by 38 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although the territorial vs. group-feeding polymorphism appears to be particular to Barbados, Zenaida Doves are known to show opportunistic shifts in behavior in at least two other areas of the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico, Rivera-Milán and colleagues (Rivera-Milán 1992, 1999, Rivera-Milán and Schaffner 2002, Rivera-Milán and Vazquez 2002 report seasonal hab-itat and foraging shifts from xerophytic forests to agricultural zones, where doves join mixed species aggregations at animal feeding stations. In the neighboring Culebra archipelago, Zenaida Doves switch from arboreal to ground nesting on small islands that lack predators (Burger et al 1989a(Burger et al , b, 1991.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Mechanisms of a Resource Polymorphism in Zenaida Doves of Barbados

Sol¹,

Elie²,

Marcoux³

et al. 2005

Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite the important place of resource polymorphisms in ecological and evolutionary theories, the reason why a group of individuals sharing a common environment should diverge in the use of the resources remains poorly known. Given the existence of distinct open niches and the relaxation of interspecific competition, niche theory suggests two possible mechanisms: resource competition between conspecifics and trade‐offs in resource use efficiency. We investigated the importance of these explanations in a foraging polymorphism recently developed by Zenaida Doves (Zenaida aurita) on the West Indian island of Barbados. In this polymorphism, individuals either aggressively defend feeding territories from conspecifics or feed in large unaggressive groups with conspecifics. Combining field observations and a cage experiment, we found no evidence that the polymorphism is primarily driven by age‐ or sex‐related differences, or that it results from morphological feeding specializations or dietary preferences. Instead, our results support the hypothesis that individual specializations arise from contest competition. In the study area, competition for territories was intense, with very little undefended space left between territories and owners frequently involved in territorial contests. Replacement of territory holders from year to year was low compared to the number of potential recruits, implying that many doves were incapable of securing a territory. Approximately half the doves at territorial sites did not hold a territory but wandered between them as floaters. Compared with territory holders, floaters were smaller and had shorter wings, traits that in this species mediate territory defense. Yet floaters did not differ from group feeding doves on these morphological traits. This suggests that group feeders are floaters that shift to an alternative resource. The new resource appears to be suboptimal, as indicated by the fact that group feeders were in worse body condition than doves from the territorial sites. Taken together, our results suggest that the resource polymorphism in Zenaida Doves is primarily driven by competition for territories, which forces less competitive individuals to use alternative, subobtimal resources.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Mechanisms of a Resource Polymorphism in Zenaida Doves of Barbados

Sol¹,

Elie²,

Marcoux³

et al. 2005

Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…One of the longest bird monitoring programs in the hemisphere was initiated in 1973 at Guánica, Puerto Rico, and the results of this work have contributed to our understanding of the ecology of migrants during the nonbreeding season (Faaborg and Arendt 1989, Faaborg et al 2000, Faaborg 2002, Dugger et al 2004). In addition, lessons learned from this pioneering monitoring effort were critical in developing recommendations for other constant‐effort monitoring programs in the Caribbean and Latin America (Rivera‐Milán 1992, 1995a, b, 1997, Latta et al 2003a, 2005, Faaborg et al 2007). Monitoring programs have also contributed to our understanding of the impacts of stochastic events such as hurricanes (Waide 1991, Askins and Ewert 1991, Wunderle et al 1992, Wiley and Wunderle 1993, Wunderle 2005) and volcanic eruptions (Dalsgaard et al 2007) on avian populations, and more intensive, often species‐specific, monitoring efforts have improved our understanding of the ecology and conservation (Townsend et al 2010), and population trends (Rimmer et al 2011) of threatened species such as Bicknell's Thrushes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian research in the Caribbean: past contributions and current priorities

Latta¹

2012

Journal of Field Ornithology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The islands of the Caribbean contain habitat of critical importance to a large number of endemic and resident birds, as well as many overwintering Neotropical migrants, and they rank as a globally outstanding conservation priority ecoregion and biodiversity hotspot. Considerable research from the region has focused on the ecology of permanent resident species, and these studies have had particular significance for threatened species management, especially parrot biology and conservation, but also for tropical community ecology in general. Work by ornithologists in the Caribbean has been instrumental in improving our understanding of the ecology of overwintering Neotropical migrants and in developing long‐term monitoring programs. Although Caribbean‐based studies of birds have resulted in significant contributions in many important areas of ecological research, there is a great need for additional research. Especially needed are studies with application to the management of resident species, and studies of how bird populations may be affected by pathogens, parasites, plants, and other types of biotic interactions. Studies focusing on how bird species and populations are affected by global climate change, and cumulative, landscape‐level changes in land use are also needed. Along with additional research, scientists have an important role to play in building capacity to prepare the next generation of biologists in the region who will need to address mounting challenges related to biodiversity protection. As with many conservation efforts, funding is a critical need for almost all organizations and agencies involved in research, conservation action, and capacity building in the West Indies.

show abstract

“…Such moist-deciduous forest patches might be acting as local corridors or foraging sites for small scale movement. According to Rivera-Milan (1992), Columbiformes members might easily disperse to neighboring forests in the ecotone of dry and moist zones. Moreover, the species is known to be erratic in terms of distribution and has been known to follow fruiting patterns (Hume & Oates, 1890;Blanford, 1898;Baker et al, 1913;Baker & Inglis, 1930;Somasundaram & Vijayan, 2010;Rasmussen & Anderton 2012), which may have further affected detection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution and Habitat Correlates of Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) in North Western Ghats, India

Koparde¹,

Mhaskar²,

Mhaske³

et al. 2015

TAPROBANICA

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nilgiri wood-pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) was surveyed in two forest types (open and closed) for spatial distribution and habitat correlates using belt transects across 94 localities in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, India, during 2011. Only closed forested localities showed presence of the species with maximum number of individuals sighted in evergreen forests. Poisson multiple regression analysis was conducted on species abundance data from 18 sites and seven variables. The species was found to be associated with high canopy cover and evergreen forests. Suitable habitat of the species was predicted using MaxEnt model. MaxEnt model showed high degree of suitable habitat in west Chandoli National Park and the corridor area of the tiger reserve. This paper provides fine scale distribution data and habitat correlates and discusses potential threats to the species in north Western Ghats and stresses the immediate need for conservation action in this area.

show abstract

Distribution and Relative Abundance Patterns of Columbids in Puerto Rico

Cited by 38 publications

References 14 publications

Ecological Mechanisms of a Resource Polymorphism in Zenaida Doves of Barbados

Ecological Mechanisms of a Resource Polymorphism in Zenaida Doves of Barbados

Avian research in the Caribbean: past contributions and current priorities

Spatial Distribution and Habitat Correlates of Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon (Columba elphinstonii) in North Western Ghats, India

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About