Do beavers improve the habitat quality for Magellanic Woodpeckers?

Abstract

SUMMARYThe effect of the disturbances caused by the American beaver (Castor canadensis), introduced to the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, on species of birds that are forest habitat specialists is poorly understood. Using telemetry data, we determined which attributes of abandoned beaver meadows have a strong impact on habitat selection by the Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus). We detected a positive relationship between the woodpecker habitat use and the fraction of old-growth forest located near these meadows. These results suggest that favorable habitat conditions are generated around small meadows with old-growth forest, because they might increase availability of wood-boring larvae.Key words: American beaver, Campephilus, habitat selection. RESUMENEl efecto que tienen las perturbaciones causadas por el castor norteamericano (Castor canadensis) -introducido en la Reserva de Biosfera Cabo de Hornos-sobre especies de aves especialistas de hábitat forestales es poco conocido. Utilizando datos de telemetría determinamos qué atributos de las castoreras abandonadas tienen una mayor influencia en la selección del hábitat por los carpinteros negros (Campephilus magellanicus). Existe una asociación negativa entre el uso del hábitat por carpinteros y el tamaño de las castoreras, mientras que los carpinteros muestran preferencias por el bosque antiguo ubicado cerca de estas castoreras. Estos resultados sugieren condiciones de hábitat favorables cerca de las castoreras pequeñas y rodeadas de bosque antiguo, probablemente debido a un aumento en la disponibilidad de larvas taladradoras de madera.Palabras clave: Castor norteamericano, Campephilus, selección de hábitat.

Parental care by Black-backed Woodpeckers in burned and unburned habitats of eastern Canada

“…by recent damming activities by beaver, where favorable habitat conditions may have been generated for wood-boring larvae (Soto et al 2002). Nevertheless, times between visits were longer in unburned habitats as prey may be spatially more dispersed.…”

Foraging Behaviour in Magellanic Woodpeckers Is Consistent with a Multi-Scale Assessment of Tree Quality

“…Magellanic woodpeckers are specialized to feed on larvae of wood-boring insects that live and promote decay in the bole or branches of beech trees (i.e., belonging to the Nothofagus genus) [ 31 – 37 ]. Previous studies suggest that Magellanic woodpeckers feed preferentially on standing trees that exhibit an advanced decay stage [ 32 , 34 , 38 , 39 ]. These preferences are consistent with natural and experimental studies that demonstrate the ability of woodpeckers to recognize the type and amount of food (e.g., larvae) present in trees (e.g., [ 40 – 42 ]).…”

Magellanic Woodpeckers in three national parks of central-southern Chile: habitat effects and population variation over the last two decades

“…Large fires could be associated with regional climate change (with drier summers and reduced winter rains) as well as uncontrolled tourism and illegal human activities within and surrounding the national park (González et al 2005, González-Olabarria and Pukkala 2011). Short-and midterm effects of fires, and the extent to which they interact with human activities and volcanic eruptions, should be further explored, especially given that Magellanic Woodpeckers may also take advantage of forest disturbances (e.g., Soto et al 2012). In fact, under certain circumstances, fires might benefit Magellanic Woodpeckers by accelerating tree decay rates, as observed in woodpeckers inhabiting forest of the northern hemisphere (Koivula and Schmiegelow 2007, Hanson and North 2008, Saracco et al 2011, Rota et al 2014.…”

“…The Magellanic Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker species in South America and the main primary cavity excavator of the southern temperate rainforests (Short 1970, Vergara and Schlatter 2004, Ojeda and Chazarreta 2006. Like other large woodpecker species, Magellanic Woodpeckers have relatively long parental care duration (two to three years), large territories (0.2 to 1.3 km²) and low densities (0.1 to 1.8 individuals/km²), which make them highly sensitive to forest loss and degradation caused by logging, wildfires, and natural disasters (Vergara and Schlatter 2004, Chazarreta et al 2011, Soto et al 2012, Ojeda and Chazarreta 2014, Vergara et al 2014; see also Lammertink et al 2009). Specifically, the loss of large, dying, or dead trees reduces availability of foraging, roosting, and nesting sites and, thus, induces population declines across multiple species of woodpeckers (Lammertink 2004, Mikusinski 2006, Bull et al 2007, Pasinelli 2007, Lammertink et al 2009, Kumar et al 2014, Nappi et al 2015.…”