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/lp/springer-journals/the-lack-of-males-due-to-illegal-trapping-is-causing-polygyny-in-the-MXV9Ujwxv2
- Publisher
- Springer Journals
- Copyright
- Copyright © Sociedade Brasileira de Ornitologia 2019
- eISSN
- 2178-7875
- DOI
- 10.1007/bf03544445
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- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(1): 40 0 0–43. ARTICLE March 2019 Th e lack of males due to illegal trapping is causing polygyny in the globally endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata 1,4 2,3 3 3 Luciano N. Segura , Milton Perelló , Néstor H. Gress & Rafael Ontiveros Sección Ornitología, Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fundación Azara, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropológicas, Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. COA Valle de Conesa, General Conesa, Río Negro, Argentina. Corresponding author: luchosegura79@gmail.com Received on 24 October 2018. Accepted on 11 March 2019. ABSTRACT T T: We present breeding data from the southernmost populations of the globally “Endangered” Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata in Argentina, confi rming the presence of current breeding populations in the region. We monitored a family group in a nesting territory composed of one male and three females throughout the breeding season 2017–2018. We found a low nest success and productivity, probably associated with the lower contribution of the male, since it was attending three reproductive females simultaneously. We attribute this uncommon case of polygyny to the lack of males in the area caused by the high intensity of male trapping for illegal trade. K K KE E EY-WORDS: breeding biology, cage birds, Monte ecoregion, Neotropical birds, threatened species. INTR R RODUCTION monogamous because apparently both parents must help to rear the young if the adults are to have much chance Th e Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata a is a Neotropical of leaving any genes to posterity (Bennett & Owens threatened passerine from the southern cone of South 2002). In this contribution we present novel information America (Ridgely & Tudor 2009). It is a territorial about an uncommon case of polygyny in this socially and socially monogamous species, where mated pairs monogamous cardinal. In addition, we present breeding usually stay together for more than one breeding season data from a family group composed of one male and three (Domínguez et alll. 2015a, Beier et alll. 2017). In the past, females throughout the entire breeding season 2017– this species was widely distributed in thorny deciduous 2018. shrubland forests of central Argentina, most of Uruguay and part of southern Brazil (Jaramillo 2019). Due to their colour and song, they have been captured for illegal trade METHODS in wildlife (mainly the males) and, along with habitat loss, were the main causes of the great population decline and Th e study was conducted in a private farm located fragmentation for this species (Domínguez et alll. 2017), northeast of General Conesa, eastern Río Negro province, o o now considered as globally “Endangered” and regionally Argentina (39 55'12.32''S; 64 16'29.14''W; Fig. 1). From “Threatened” (estimated total population: 1500–3000 the National Road 251 (distant 12 km straight line), the individuals; BirdLife International 2018). access to the study site does not present any restrictions, Social polygyny, where one male mates with more which is why the area has been used for illegal trapping than one female while each female mates with only one in recent decades. At present, although the access is still male, is thought to be the fundamental mating system free, the farm-owners chase away the trappers preventing of animals (Bennett & Owens 2002). Under certain captures in this area. Th e study area is representative of circumstances, polygyny among birds may occur when the Monte ecoregion (Brown et alll. 2006), with large areas males hold valuable resources, such as high-quality of native xerophytic vegetation altered by extensive and territories, and then females tend to choose superior low-density cattle grazing. Th is region is characterized males (Orians 1969). But most birds, however, are by warm summers (maximum temperature: 42.3 C) and Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(1): 2019 Illegal trapping and polygyny in Yellow Cardinal Segura et al. was detected near the nest (see Segura & Reboreda cold winters (minimum temperature: -13.5 C), with most 2012). None of the monitored nests was abandoned. As precipitations occurring between November–March. The individuals were unmarked, we identified each breeder b y National Meteorological Survey of Argentina from 1985 to 2015 reports mean annual rainfall as 259 mm and field observations of unique marks on pluma ge (mainly mean annual temperature as 15 C. in females) and also on the dates of start and end of each breeding attempt. Productivity was calculated as Following the comment of a local birdwatcher the mean number of fledglings by successful nests. We during September 2017 (prior to the start of the breeding calculated the apparent nest success as the ratio between season), we detected a family group composed of one male and three females of the threatened cardinal. We the number of successful nests and all monitored nests then carried out observations in that breeding area during (Segura et alll. 2015). We delimited the breeding territory as the maximum area that the male defended, where it the entire breeding season, from October 2017 to January nested and where the family group was observed feeding 2018. The nests were found by systematically searchin g (see Beier et alll. 2017). To locate the territory and nests in in potential nest sites and observing the behaviour of territorial breeders. We georeferenced each nest location a map, we used an image from Google Earth (02 January (Garmin GPS) and we visited nests every 10–15 days 2018). during the nesting cycle. We monitored the nests until nestlings fledged or the nest failed. Close to the fledging RESULTS date, we inspected nests from a distance of 2–4 m to minimize the risk of premature fl edging. At each visit, we avoid manipulating the nest content (eggs or nestlings) During the entire breeding season, we found a nesting territory with three females and only one male. During to avoid disturbances that infl uence reproductive success. visits, while we were moving from one nest to another, We considered a nest successful when at least one the lonely male accompanied us and defended each of nestling left the nest. We considered a nest predated if clutch disappeared between two consecutive visits or the nests from where one of the three females fl ushed. We when the chicks disappeared from their nests before found a total of eight nests (two for one female, two for another and four for another). One nest was found under they were old enough to fl edge and no parental activity Figure 1. Map showing the location of the study site in southern Argentina, with indication of the breeding territory (dashed line) defended by the Yellow Cardinal male and his three females. Geometric figures (diamonds, triangles and circles) indicate the different females, while numbers indicate the order of each female breeding attempt throughout the breeding season 2017–2018. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(1): 2019 Illegal trapping and polygyny in Yellow Cardinal Segura et al. construction and the remaining ones during incubation. Th is contribution adds to the few existing breeding By backdating from hatching dates, the fi rst evidence studies on the species (Domínguez et alll. 2015a & b, de of nest initiation was on 02 October (considering 13 la Peña 2016, Beier et alll. 2017, Beier & Fontana 2019), days of incubation; Domínguez et alll. 2015a, Beier & findin g a new problem for the species caused by the low Fontana 2019) and the latest evidence of nest activity proportion of males (see Pessino & Tittarelli 2006) that was a predated nest on 19 January, thus giving a breeding may force them to incur a polygynous system in which season length of 108 days. Breeding territory size was ~9 they have less reproductive success. These results mean ha (Fig. 1), including movements of the entire family that greater control by government authorities to prevent group. illegal trapping is essential and must be implemented The nest was a semi-spherical cup of ~15 cm external soon. diameter with an external layer of twigs with thorns, and For these latitudes, the only nesting record for the an internal layer of finer branches, horse hair, compacted species dates from 1995 (compiled by de la Peña 2016), grass material grass and seeds (Fig. 2). All nests were built where an active nest with three eggs in November was in Chañar Tree (Geoffroea decorticans s s) and were located in report. Unlike what has been recently published for main branches close to the center of the tree crown, never the species (Beier et alll. 2017, Beier & Fontana 2019), in the periphery. Mean clutch size was 3.12 ± 0.12 eggs we did not observe breeding attempts with helpers (range = 3–4, n = 8 nests). Eggs were ovoid, bluish-green contributing on the nest defence or the nestling/fledgling background colour with black spots more concentrated provisioning. Similarly, although Shiny Cowbirds are on the wider end of the egg. Mean number of hatchlings common in the area (L. Segura, pers. obs.), we did not per nest was 2.75 ± 0.25 (range = 2–3, n = 4 nests) and observe brood parasitism in nests (Domínguez et alll. nest productivity was one fled gling per successful nest (n 2015a, Beier & Fontana 2019). We found that 25% of = 2 nests). We did not detect partial egg loss, but partial the nests were successful, which is similar to that found brood losses were detected in the two nests that reached by Beier & Fontana (2019), but less than the ~40% the fl edging stage (in one nest the reduction was from found by Domínguez et alll. (2015a) or ~50% by Beier three chicks to one, and in the other from two to one). et alll. (2017) for the northern populations of the species. Of the eight monitored nests, two (25%) were successful Nest productivity found (only one fled gling per successful and six (75%) were predated (four during incubation and nest) was also lower than the 1.6 fl edglings per successful two during the nestling stage). We did not observe nest nest reported by Domínguez et alll. (2015a), Beier et alll. helpers, nor Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis s) brood (2017) and Beier & Fontana (2019). In the same sense, parasitism, as well as any agonistic interactions with other partial brood loss detected was higher than reported by conspecifics in the area. Domínguez et alll. (2015a). As we did not manipulate nestlings, we are unable to determine if brood reduction was caused by starvation. Both the low apparent nest DISCUSSION success as well as the low nest productivity (Domínguez et alll. 2015a, Beier et alll. 2017, Beier & Fontana 2019) could We present relevant breeding data from Argentinean be associated with the lower contribution of the male in populations of the Yellow Cardinal, confirmin g the this socially monogamous species (i.e., by reducing the presence of current breeding populations in the southern nest defence or the food delivery to the nestlings; Bennett limit distribution for this globally “Endangered” species. & Owens 2002) since it was attending three active reproductive females simultaneously. As regards the case of polygyny we are reporting, we are confid ent that the origin of this uncommon behaviour (considering that the species is typically socially monogamous) is the lack of males in the area, caused directly by the high intensity of male trapping for illegal trade (Collar et alll. 1992, Pessino & Tittarelli 2006, Bertonatti 2017, SAyDS 2017). Based on farm-owners' comments and local birdwatchers' sightings records (COA Valle de Conesa, unpub. data), captures for illegal trade in the area was severe in the last decades. Then, when females outnumber males, at least shortly in a given breeding Figure 2. Yellow Cardinal nest with three nestlings observed area, it is expected that certain breeding anomalies begin on 11 November 2017 in a private farm located northeast of to appear (Engen et alll. 2003). In addition to our case of General Conesa, eastern Río Negro province, Argentina. Photo polygyny, another phenomenon for southern populations author: M. Perelló. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(1): 2019 Illegal trapping and polygyny in Yellow Cardinal Segura et al. Bertonatti C. & Lopez-Guerra A. 1997. Hibridación entre Cardenal of the cardinal is the presence of hybrids between females Amarillo (Gubernatrix cristata) y Diuca Comun (Diuca diuca Yellow Cardinal and males of the Common Diuca-Finch minor r) en estado silvestre en la Argentina. Hornero 14: 235–242. Diuca diuca a (BirdLife International 2018), which has BirdLife International. 2018. Species factsheet: Gubernatrix cristata. been also associated to the lack of males in the breeding http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/yellow-cardinal- areas (Bertonatti & López-Guerra 1997). In addition to gubernatrix-cristata (Access on 11 September 2018). Brown A., Martinez-Ortiz U., Acerbi M. & Corcuera J. 2006. our findin g, there are some recent records in the area from Situación ambiental argentina. Buenos Aires: Fundación Vida online databases, such as eBird (https://ebird.org/), or the Silvestre Argentina. “Censo Nacional de Cardenal Amarillo” (https://www. Collar N.J., Gonzaga L.P., Krabbe N., Madroño-Nieto A., Naranjo avesargentinas.org.ar)” that evidence that the species is L.G., Parker-III T. A. & Wege D.C. 1992. Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN red data book. Cambridge: International still present in the area and that conservation actions must Council for Bird Preservation. be taken immediately. As the southern populations of the de la Peña M.R. 2016. Aves argentinas: descripción, comportamiento, cardinal are genetically isolated (Domínguez et alll. 2017) reproducción y distribución: Mimidae a Passeridae. Comunicaciones and have very few natural protected areas (Brown et alll. del Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales Florentino Ameghino 21: 1–564. 2006) that ensure adequate nesting habitat for the species, Domínguez M., Reboreda J.C. & Mahler B. 2015a. Impact of Shiny we strongly recommend that government authorities Cowbird and botfl y parasitism on the reproductive success of the take urgent measures to ensure the conservation of these globally endangered Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata. Bird breeding populations. Conservation Internationall 25: 294–305. Domínguez M., Ayarragaray M. & Lapido R. 2015b. Nidos de Cardenal Amarillo (Gubernatrix cristata) en la provincia de San Luis, Argentina. Nuestras Aves s 60: 8–10. ACKNOW W WLEDGEMENTS Domínguez M., Tiedemann R., Reboreda J.C., Segura L., Tittarelli F. & Mahler B. 2017. Genetic structure reveals management We are grateful to B. Mahler for helpful comments to units for the Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata), endangered a previous version of this manuscript, M. Colombo for by habitat loss and illegal trapping. Conservation Genetics s 18: 1131–1140. help with fi gures and Virginia Lynch for help in data Engen S., Lande R. & Sæther B.E. 2003. Demographic stochasticity and collection. Th is work was supported by the “Fondo para Allee effects in populations with two sexes. Ecology y 84: 2378–2386. la Investigación Científi ca y Tecnológica” (FONCyT, Jaramillo A. 2019. Yellow Cardinal. In: del Hoyo J., Elliot A., Sargatal ANPCyT) under grant PICT #2014-3347. L.N.S. is a J., Christie D.A. & de Juana E. (eds.). Handbook of birds of the world alive. Barcelona: Lynx Editions. https://www.hbw.com/ CONICET Research Fellow. node/62098 (Access on 22 April 2019). Orians G.H. 1969. On the evolution of mating systems in birds and mammals. American Naturalist t 103: 589–603. REFERENCES Pessino M. & Tittarelli R.F. 2006. Th e Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata): a diagnosis of its situation in the province of La Pampa, Beier C. & Fontana C.S. 2019. Breeding biology of the endangered Argentina. Gestion Ambientall 12: 69–76. Yellow Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata a in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ridgely R.S. & Tudor G. 2009. Field guide to the songbirds of South Ornitologia a 27: 44–52. America: the passerines. Austin: University of Texas Press. Beier C., Repenning M., Silveira-Pereira M., Pereira A. & Fontana SAyDS [Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación]. C.S. 2017. Cooperative breeding and demography of Yellow 2017. Banco de registros del Cardenal Amarillo. Buenos Aires: Cardinal Gubernatrix cristata a in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Dirección de Fauna Silvestre y Conservación de la Biodiversidad. Ornitologia a 25: 12–19. Segura L.N., Mahler B., Berkunsky I. & Reboreda J.C. 2015. Bennett P.M. & Owens I.P.F. 2002. Evolutionary ecology of birds: life Nesting biology of the Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) histories, mating systems and extinction. Oxford: Oxford University in south temperate forests of central Argentina. Wilson Journal of Press. Ornithology y 127: 249–258. Bertonatti C. 2017. Un muestreo del tráfico de especies en la Argentina Segura L.N. & Reboreda J.C. 2012. Nest survival rates of Red-crested durante el año 2016 6 6. Buenos Aires: Azara Fundación de Historia Cardinals increase with nest age in south-temperate forests of Natural. http://fundacionazara.org.ar/img/otras-publicaciones/ Argentina. Journal of Field Ornithology y 83: 343–350. Bertonatti-2017-Un-muestreo-del-trafico-de-especies-en-la- Argentina-durante-el-2016.pdf (Access on 21 April 2019). Associate Editor: Carla S. Fontana. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 27(1): 2019
Journal
Ornithology Research – Springer Journals
Published: Mar 1, 2019
Keywords: breeding biology; cage birds; Monte ecoregion; Neotropical birds; threatened species