The behavior and diet of the Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis): A territorial high-elevation hummingbird

Céspedes, Laura N.; Pavan, Lucas; Hazlehurst, Jenny; Jankowski, Jill E.

doi:10.1676/18-79

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Tyrian Metaltails ( Metallura tyrianthina ) were common at both locations. All non‐target species were observed intruding into the territories of Shining Sunbeams and feeding on O. grandiflora flowers, but territorial intrusions by conspecifics were more common than intrusions by the non‐target species (Céspedes et al ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used radio telemetry to address this limitation and describe patterns of space use by Shining Sunbeams ( Aglaeactis cupripennis ), a territorial hummingbird found throughout high‐elevation regions in the tropical Andes (Schulenberg et al ). Although not obligate specialist nectarivores (i.e., feeding from few flower species), much of their diet consists of nectar from the flowering tree, Oreocallis grandiflora (Proteaceae) , in regions where their ranges overlap (Céspedes et al ). This system provides a unique opportunity to examine foraging and non‐foraging determinants of territory space use by allowing quantification of resource availability while simultaneously tracking individuals to describe the spatial distribution of behaviors (e.g., foraging, vocalizations, and territorial aggression).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams ( Aglaeactis cupripennis ), tropical montane hummingbirds

2020

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For many territorial hummingbirds, habitat use is influenced primarily by the interaction between resource acquisition and non-foraging behaviors such as territory advertisement and defense. Previous research has highlighted the importance of foraging-associated habitat features like resource density and distribution in determining the space-use patterns of hummingbirds. Less is known, however, about how habitat selection associated with non-foraging behaviors influences space use by territorial species. We used radio telemetry to examine patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams (Aglaeactis cupripennis) in high Andean montane forests near Manu National Park, Peru, and Bosque Comunal "El Carmen" near Chordeleg, Ecuador. We quantified within-territory habitat characteristics related to resource acquisition and non-foraging behaviors such as territory advertisement and defense. We found that Shining Sunbeams showed high use of core areas in territories where foraging effort was relatively low. We found no relationship, however, between the position of core areas and habitat characteristics associated with territory defense, predator avoidance, or other non-foraging behaviors. We also found no relationship between use of non-core areas and habitat use based on resource acquisition. Thus, patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams may be characterized by core areas not determined by foraging behavior. Further studies examining territorial behaviors and the influence of intrusion pressure will help identify the underlying determinants of territory space use by this and other species of Andean hummingbirds.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams ( Aglaeactis cupripennis ), tropical montane hummingbirds

2020

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“…Alternatively, this phylogenetic clustering could be caused by hummingbirds' costly hovering flight at high elevation due to weaker lift caused by the decreasing atmospheric pressure [1,2,84], high foraging specialisation [49] or low dispersal ability, but this last hypothesis remains quite unlikely as the rare studies on this topic have shown that different hummingbird species display a wide variation in their dispersal ability [10,60].…”

Section: Selection For Convergence and Phenotypic Clusteringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution of iridescent colours in hummingbird communities results from the interplay between selection for camouflage and communication

Gruson

Élias

Parra

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Identification errors between closely related, co-occurring, species may lead to misdirected social interactions such as costly interbreeding or misdirected aggression. This selects for divergence in traits involved in species identification among co-occurring species, resulting from character displacement. On the other hand, predation may select for crypsis, potentially leading co-occurring species that share the same environment and predators to have a similar appearance. However, few studies have explored how these antagonistic processes influence colour at the community level. Here, we assess colour clustering and overdispersion in 189 hummingbird communities, tallying 112 species, across Ecuador and suggest possible evolutionary mechanisms at stake by controlling for species phylogenetic relatedness. In hummingbirds, most colours are iridescent structural colours, defined as colours that change with the illumination or observation angle. Because small variations in the underlying structures can have dramatic effects on the resulting colours and because iridescent structures can produce virtually any hue and brightness, we expect iridescent colours to respond finely to selective pressures. Moreover, we predict that hue angular dependence -a specific aspect of iridescent colours -may be used as an additional channel for species recognition. In our hummingbird assemblages in Ecuador, we find support for colour overdispersion in ventral and facial patches at the community level even after controlling for the phylogeny, especially on iridescence-related traits, suggesting character displacement among co-occurring species. We also find colour clustering at the community level on dorsal patches, suspected to be involved in camouflage, suggesting that the same cryptic colours are selected among co-occurring species.

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“…Nectar is a temporally and spatially unpredictable resource with temperature, season, elevation, soil substate, and genetic varieties all influencing the variability and intensity of bloom [ 30 , 31 ]. Reflecting this, tropical nectarivores range from sedentary, territorial species that rely on synchronous smaller nectar resources, to highly nomadic species that track asynchronous, superabundant blooms [ 32 , 33 ]. Altitudinal migration is also common in tropical nectarivores [ 6 , 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Though modern tracking technologies have begun to offer unprecedented insight into the movement ecology of tropical birds [ 32 , 39 ], tracking studies documenting movement behavior are still under-represented in the tropics, especially for small-bodied species [ 27 ]. To address this gap, we used an automated radio telemetry network to quantify the seasonal movement behavior and elevational patterns of two nectarivorous Hawaiian honeycreepers, ʻapapane ( Himatione sanguinea ) and ʻiʻiwi ( Drepanis coccinea ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual and seasonal variation in the movement behavior of two tropical nectarivorous birds

Smetzer

Paxton

2021

Mov Ecol

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Background Movement of animals directly affects individual fitness, yet fine spatial and temporal resolution movement behavior has been studied in relatively few small species, particularly in the tropics. Nectarivorous Hawaiian honeycreepers are believed to be highly mobile throughout the year, but their fine-scale movement patterns remain unknown. The movement behavior of these crucial pollinators has important implications for forest ecology, and for mortality from avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), an introduced disease that does not occur in high-elevation forests where Hawaiian honeycreepers primarily breed. Methods We used an automated radio telemetry network to track the movement of two Hawaiian honeycreeper species, the ʻapapane (Himatione sanguinea) and ʻiʻiwi (Drepanis coccinea). We collected high temporal and spatial resolution data across the annual cycle. We identified movement strategies using a multivariate analysis of movement metrics and assessed seasonal changes in movement behavior. Results Both species exhibited multiple movement strategies including sedentary, central place foraging, commuting, and nomadism , and these movement strategies occurred simultaneously across the population. We observed a high degree of intraspecific variability at the individual and population level. The timing of the movement strategies corresponded well with regional bloom patterns of ‘ōhi‘a (Metrosideros polymorpha) the primary nectar source for the focal species. Birds made long-distance flights, including multi-day forays outside the tracking array, but exhibited a high degree of fidelity to a core use area, even in the non-breeding period. Both species visited elevations where avian malaria can occur but exhibited little seasonal change in elevation (< 150 m) and regularly returned to high-elevation roosts at night. Conclusions This study demonstrates the power of automated telemetry to study complex and fine-scale movement behaviors in rugged tropical environments. Our work reveals a system in which birds can track shifting resources using a diverse set of movement behaviors and can facultatively respond to environmental change. Importantly, fidelity to high-elevation roosting sites minimizes nocturnal exposure to avian malaria for far-ranging individuals and is thus a beneficial behavior that may be under high selection pressure.

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The behavior and diet of the Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis): A territorial high-elevation hummingbird

Cited by 10 publications

References 34 publications

Patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams ( Aglaeactis cupripennis ), tropical montane hummingbirds

Patterns of territorial space use by Shining Sunbeams ( Aglaeactis cupripennis ), tropical montane hummingbirds

Distribution of iridescent colours in hummingbird communities results from the interplay between selection for camouflage and communication

Individual and seasonal variation in the movement behavior of two tropical nectarivorous birds

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