Nesting Ecology of the Northern Beardlesstyrannulet (Camptostoma Imberbe) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, U.S.A.

Abstract

During 2002–2003, we studied the breeding ecology of the Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma imberbe), a poorly known and rare permanent resident in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, United States of America. We found 28 nests in clusters of Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) or ball moss (T. recurvata), 93% of which were in cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) trees. Nest-building, incubation, and nestling periods averaged 7.0, 14.0, and 18.5 days, respectively. Of the 28 nests, 43% were successful, while 38% of the failed nests showed obvious signs of depredation. Nests were located in areas with denser Tillandsia growth and with taller trees than nearby non-used areas. Availability of this habitat may limit the population size of Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

First steps to study the demography of vascular epiphytes in cities

“…T. recurvata can also limit the presence of other epiphytes by producing substances that inhibit the germination of other epiphyte species (Valencia-Díaz et al, 2012). Consequently, we suggest conducting studies for their control without exterminating them; since these same plants are capable of capturing pollutants from the air (Graciano et al, 2003;Castañeda Miranda et al, 2016;Piazzetta et al, 2019); and increasing the biodiversity and functions of urban ecosystems by providing shelter for birds (Brush, 1999;Werner et al, 2015) and arthropods (Frank et al, 2004;Luna-Cozar et al, 2020). As Luna-Cozar et al ( 2020) say "T. recurvata augments the quantity and/or quality of habitat in tropical dry forests that might increase arthropod survival and enhance resilience to disturbances and local extinctions, among other benefits", this could apply for urban ecosystem, especially in cities with strong seasonality like Oaxaca de Juarez.…”