Breeding biology and low nest survival in the straight-billed reedhaunter Limnoctites rectirostris, a habitat specialist restricted to subtropical South America

Larre, Gabriel Guimarães; Franz, Ismael; Fontana, Carla Suertegaray

doi:10.1007/s43388-022-00086-1

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 31 publications

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“…However, this scenario has been changing gradually in recent years, with the constant publication of new data (e.g. Beier & Fontana 2019, Floriano et al 2020, Lara et al 2020, Studer & Crozariol 2020, Nunes et al 2020, Martins et al 2020, Cardona-Salazar et al 2021, Larre et al 2022.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding biology of Hooded Gnateater Conopophaga roberti Hellmayr, 1905 (Aves: Conopophagidae)

2022

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The Hooded Gnateater Conopophaga roberti Hellmayr, 1905 is an insectivorous understory passeriform with discrete behavior, whose reproductive attributes are poorly-known. In the present study, we describe the reproductive biology of the species and the growth pattern of the nestlings, based on observations conducted in remnants of the Cerrado savanna in eastern Maranhão state, in Brazil. The nests were identified during active searches conducted between June, 2018 and March, 2021. A total of 22 nests were found over the course of three breeding seasons. The cup-shaped nests were supported by small branches and were constructed at a mean height of 40.6 ± 16.1 cm (N = 21) above the ground. The nests were 23.1 ± 3.9 cm in length and 14.1 ± 1.6 cm in width (N = 21). The eggs were beige in color, with irregular brown mottling only at the rounded end of the egg, which had a mean length of 21.3 ± 0.8 mm, width of 17.2 ± 0.8 mm, and mass of 3.1 ± 0.1 g (N = 23). Hatchlings are completely naked and weigh 3.1 ± 0.2 g (N = 7), and when they abandon the nest, they have yet to reach full adult size, with the total length being 65.4% of that of the adult, the wing, 65.4%, the head, 73.9%, the culmen, 74.2%, the body mass, 73.3%, and the tarsus, 89.0% that of the adult. The growth curves are sigmoidal and all the coefficients of determination are at least 0.96, with the body length having the highest value (R2 = 0.98). During the breeding season, the adult pair emitted alarm calls constantly when observers were in the vicinity of the nest. On a number of occasions, members of the breeding pair were observed moving away from the nest as it was approached by observers, while engaging in broken-wing display. The nest architecture, the color of the eggs, and the behaviors presented by this gnateater were similar to those described for other Conopophaga. With this work we contributed to improve the knowledge on the breeding behavior of this poorly know group of understory insectivorous birds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding biology of Hooded Gnateater Conopophaga roberti Hellmayr, 1905 (Aves: Conopophagidae)

2022

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Nest quality predicts the probability of egg loss in the critically endangered ʻAlalā (Corvus hawaiiensis)

Mason,

Masuda,

Swaisgood

et al. 2024

Zoo Biology

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Conservation breeding programs for endangered species face challenges, notably in the development of husbandry techniques, complicated by the impracticality of conducting controlled experiments. To reduce uncertainty regarding what works in conservation breeding programs, it is essential to capture data. In avian breeding programs, the construction of quality nests and appropriate incubation and handling of eggs by the parents are essential prerequisites to the successful production of offspring. Here, we study factors influencing nest‐building and parental incubation outcomes in ʻalalā (Corvus hawaiiensis), which is extinct in the wild and numbers fewer than 130 individuals in human care. Using parent‐incubated egg data from 2018 to 2021 (171 clutches, 55 pairs), we evaluated the role of husbandry factors in determining the quality of nests constructed by ʻalalā and the likelihood of nest quality and other social and environmental factors to predict egg loss (breaking, cannibalization, or ejection of an egg from the nest). More than half of all eggs laid failed to reach the hatch date. Nest quality was the most influential predictor of egg loss, with eggs in higher quality nests more likely to reach the hatch date. Male age also influenced egg loss, with very young (3 years old) and older males (⪞12 years old) experiencing more egg loss. Furthermore, the two facilities and two aviary types also differed in the quality of nests ʻalalā constructed, indicating that nest‐building behavior can be influenced by husbandry practices. These findings reduce uncertainty and provide insights for recommended management interventions to facilitate successful reproduction in human care.

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Birds of the Campos Sulinos

Bencke,

Dias,

Fontana

2023

South Brazilian Grasslands

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Breeding biology and low nest survival in the straight-billed reedhaunter Limnoctites rectirostris, a habitat specialist restricted to subtropical South America

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Breeding biology of Hooded Gnateater Conopophaga roberti Hellmayr, 1905 (Aves: Conopophagidae)

Breeding biology of Hooded Gnateater Conopophaga roberti Hellmayr, 1905 (Aves: Conopophagidae)

Nest quality predicts the probability of egg loss in the critically endangered ʻAlalā (Corvus hawaiiensis)

Birds of the Campos Sulinos

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