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Nest survival of the threatened Campo Miner Geositta poeciloptera : a tropical cavity‐nesting grassland bird
Author(s) -
Camargos de Meireles Ricardo,
Esteves Lopes Leonardo,
Pichorim Mauro,
de Sousa Silva Machado Tamara Luciane,
Duca Charles,
Solar Ricardo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/aec.13079
Subject(s) - nest (protein structural motif) , threatened species , ecology , grassland , predation , biology , reproductive success , habitat , demography , population , biochemistry , sociology
Nest survival is a key step in the reproductive biology of birds and is essential for understanding the strategies used to improve the chances of nest success. Here we studied the main factors driving nesting success of the Campo Miner Geositta poeciloptera (Scleruridae), a threatened Neotropical grassland bird that nests in cavities, usually along steep soil banks. We calculated the apparent success and modelled daily nest survival rates (DSR) based on 86 nests monitored to investigate the effects of nest‐related covariates on the nest survival. In the DSR modelling, we looked at the effects of reproductive phase (incubation and nestling periods), breeding seasons (years), temporal‐trends (linear and quadratic) rainfall and nest’s individual covariates (height, distance from the top of the cavity to the top of the bank, cavity depth and cavity entrance area). The overall apparent nest success was 58% and estimates based on DSRs were ˜45%. Nest phase, cavity entrance area, nest height and a linear time trend were the main factors influencing DSRs. The survival during incubation was lower (˜54%) than during the nestling period (˜83%), and both phases showed higher values in the beginning of the breeding season. Predation was the main driver of nest failure (23.3%, N = 20), followed by nest abandonment (10.5%, N = 9) and nest usurpation (7%, N = 6). Our results allow us to better understand and conserve this threatened species and also shed light in the reproductive ecology of a whole family endemic to the Neotropics.