Brown-headed Nuthatch Occupancy in Central Florida and Its Relationship to Forest Type, Forest Structure, and the Presence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

Cox, James A.; Scopel, Lauren C.; Klostermann, Matthew R.

doi:10.1525/cond.2012.110167

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

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“…The Wakulla unit consists primarily of mature pine flatwoods with accompanying hardwood swamps, coastal marshes, and riverine forests. Pine flatwoods support large numbers of nuthatches (Cox et al 2012) and are dominated by slash pine (Pinus elliottii) intermixed with scattered hardwoods such as sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and red maple (Acer rubrum), and a dense understory dominated by saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and gallberry (Ilex glabra).…”

Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in responses to interspecific vocalizations among sister taxa of the Sittidae: imminent extinction of a cryptic species on Grand Bahama Island?

Levy¹,

Cox²

2020

ACE

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We conducted playback-response experiments to assess whether the Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) population found on Grand Bahama Island might be a distinct and critically endangered species. In one experiment, Brown-headed Nuthatch individuals in north Florida were presented with calls from: (1) a male conspecific in North Carolina; (2) a male recorded on Grand Bahama Island; (3) a male Pygmy Nuthatch (S. pygmae), a western congener; and (4) a male House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), which occurs in a different avian family (Troglodytidae). Vocalizations were broadcast at 20 locations, and detection and the proximity with which individuals approached the speaker were quantified. Nuthatches were detected at 0.72 (± 0.02; mean ± standard deviation) of trials where conspecific vocalizations were used, but were only detected half as frequently 0.27-0.30 (± 0.04) when Bahama Nuthatch and Pygmy Nuthatch vocalizations were used. Detections were least likely when House Wren vocalizations were used (0.15 ± 0.11). Nuthatches also approached the playback device more closely when North Carolina vocalizations were used. In a second playback assessment conducted in the Bahamas, males were three times more likely to respond when calls of a Bahama male were used versus calls of males in Florida. We also analyzed spectrograms of the two-syllable call notes produced by Bahama (N = 1) and continental (N = 10) males. The Bahama call has a higher peak frequency (6.1 vs. 4.8 kHz ± 0.6) and a slurred descent that extends over a broader frequency range (4.5 vs. 2.0 kHz). Results suggest that vocalizations of the Bahama population have diverged significantly and may affect interactions if the populations were to come into contact. Other genetic and morphological assessments also point to significant differences and support recognition of the Bahama Nuthatch as an independent species that may now be extinct. Variation des réponses aux vocalisations interspécifiques parmi les taxons parents des Sittidae : disparition imminente d'une espèce cryptique sur l'île de Grand Bahama ?RÉSUMÉ. Nous avons mené des expériences de réponses à des enregistrements de chant pour évaluer si la population de Sittelles à tête brune (Sitta pusilla) présente sur l'île de Grand Bahama pourrait être une espèce distincte et en voie de disparition critique. Comme première expérience, nous avons fait jouer les enregistrements suivants à des individus de Sittelle à tête brune du nord de la Floride :(1) un mâle conspécifique de Caroline du Nord; (2) un mâle enregistré sur l'île de Grand Bahama; (3) une Sittelle pygmée mâle (S. pygmae), un congénère occidental; et (4) un Troglodyte familier mâle (Troglodytes aedon), qui fait partie d'une famille aviaire différente (Troglodytidae). Les enregistrements ont été diffusés à 20 sites, et la détection et la proximité avec laquelle les individus se sont approchés du haut-parleur ont été quantifiées. Les sittelles ont été détectées dans une proportion de 0,72 (± 0,02; moyenne ± écart type) lors d'essais où des enregistrement...

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Section: Study Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in responses to interspecific vocalizations among sister taxa of the Sittidae: imminent extinction of a cryptic species on Grand Bahama Island?

Levy¹,

Cox²

2020

ACE

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Site occupancy of brown-headed nuthatches varies with habitat restoration and range-limit context

2015

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Knowledge about species’ responses to habitat restoration can inform subsequent management and reintroduction planning. We used repeated call‐response surveys to study brown‐headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) patch occupancy at the current limits of its apparently expanding range in an area with active habitat restoration. We fit a probit occupancy model that accounted for spatial autocorrelation using restricted spatial regression. Nuthatch occupancy was related to patch‐level vegetation structure and range‐extension context, i.e., latitude, but not prescribed fire history. Latitude and percent tree stocking had a negative relationship with occupancy (coefficients and 95% credible intervals: −1.07 [CI: −1.63, −0.67] and −0.63 [CI: −0.97, −0.350]). The density of recently killed and well‐decayed snags had positive associations with occupancy (coefficients and 95% credible intervals: 0.57 [CI: 0.17, 1.16] and 0.37 [CI: 0.05, 0.72]). Neither grassy herbaceous cover nor percent of stocking in pine were associated with occupancy. We found that restoration efforts created suitable stand structure for brown‐headed nuthatches, but many restored sites in the range‐extension zone appeared to be vacant. Occupied habitats in the range‐extension zone had fewer snags, less frequent fire, and more shrub cover than occupied sites where the species was established. Release from conspecific competition may have permitted nuthatches in the range‐extension zone to exploit habitats that would otherwise have been marginal. Alternatively, nuthatches may be restricted to such sites although there are more suitable sites tens of kilometers away. Experimental translocations and reintroductions could determine how habitat structure and nuthatch density affect the quality of restored sites in the range‐extension zone and enable those sites to achieve their biodiversity potential. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Wildlife habitat condition in open pine woodlands: Field data to refine management targets

McIntyre

Conner

Jack

et al. 2019

Forest Ecology and Management

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Brown-headed Nuthatch Occupancy in Central Florida and Its Relationship to Forest Type, Forest Structure, and the Presence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

Cited by 8 publications

References 26 publications

Variation in responses to interspecific vocalizations among sister taxa of the Sittidae: imminent extinction of a cryptic species on Grand Bahama Island?

Variation in responses to interspecific vocalizations among sister taxa of the Sittidae: imminent extinction of a cryptic species on Grand Bahama Island?

Site occupancy of brown-headed nuthatches varies with habitat restoration and range-limit context

Wildlife habitat condition in open pine woodlands: Field data to refine management targets

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