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The Citreoline Trogon as an Ecosystem Engineer 1
Author(s) -
ValdiviaHoeflich Talía,
Vega Rivera Jorge H.,
Stoner Kathryn E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2005.00062.x
Subject(s) - arboreal locomotion , tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests , dry forest , ecosystem , nest (protein structural motif) , ecology , geography , tropical forest , tropics , agroforestry , forestry , biology , habitat , biochemistry
The western Mexican endemic Citreoline Trogon ( Trogon citreolus ) builds its nest cavities in arboreal termitaria. We studied the reuse of these holes by other organisms after the trogons abandoned them in the tropical dry forest of western Mexico. Of the 24 cavities examined, 19 were occupied (5 by mammals and 14 by arthropods). We found two western Mexico endemic mammals ( Marmosa canescens and Xenomys nelsoni ) using these spaces. Our results suggest that the T. citreolus provides a critical role in creating necessary cavities for many organisms in tropical dry forests.