Habitat characteristics and seed crops used by Blue Chaffinches<i>Fringilla teydea</i>in winter: implications for conservation management

Garcia‐del‐Rey, Eduardo; Gil, Luís; Nanos, Nikos; López‐de‐Heredia, Unai; Muñoz, Pascual Gil; Fernández‐Palacios, José María

doi:10.1080/00063650902792007

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…2c). These results support some previous findings that report that the highly aggregated distribution of habitat selection by blue chaffinches for the winter months (Garcia-del-Rey et al 2009) is due to differences in the food availability of the habitat; our results further indicate that some breeding territories could be better, in terms of pine seed abundance, than others. Garcia-del-Rey et al (2009) suggested that pine seed abundance and availability (along with perceived predation risk and overall availability of safe foraging options) was responsible for the winter feeding behavior of blue chaffinches.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Spatiotemporal variation of a Pinus seed rain available for an endemic finch in an insular environment

et al. 2010

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A major goal of avian ecological research is to determine how distribution and abundance of preferred resources available influence population dynamics and contribute to understand life-history characteristics. Food is widely considered the ultimate factor influencing these traits. We studied, with seed traps, the spatiotemporal variability of Pinus canariensis seed rain during 2007-2008, as a means to explain why a post-dispersal seed predator of conservation concern, the endemic blue chaffinch Fringilla teydea, can adjust its annual life cycle with this variation in an insular environment. Generalized linear mixed models and geostatistical tools were used. Results highlight that temperature and relative humidity are important predictors of seed release rates. Additionally, a high temporal variation was detected in seed abundance (i.e., peaks of massive seed release during the summer months, intermediate values in the autumn, and minimum release rates in winter and spring). Finally, withinstand spatial variation in seed flux was surprisingly large with the most productive microsites receiving three to four times more seeds than the least productive ones. Pine seeds showed a high protein value and a low germination rate.Based on these findings, we suggest that the fortunes of the blue chaffinch should be intimately related to spatiotemporal annual P. canariensis seed crops, temperature acting as a proximate cue, and food availability as the ultimate factor. For the endangered blue chaffinch population on Gran Canaria, we recommend, until more data are available, improving the seed supply during the winter season, either artificially (feeders) or naturally (planting Myrica faya shrubs).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Spatiotemporal variation of a Pinus seed rain available for an endemic finch in an insular environment

et al. 2010

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“…Most studies on avian seed predation have focused either on pre-dispersal seed predation (in the plant) or, more rarely, on the post-dispersal seed phase (on the ground) (but see Schluter & Repasky 1991 and references therein for ground finches). Although foraging behaviour of seed-eating birds has been extensively studied in multiple ways and from different perspectives, for instance, seed selection (Kear 1962, Getty & Pulliam 1993, Nystrand & Granström 1997, predation risk (Lindström 1990, Krams 2001, Lind & Cresswell 2005, habitat use (Díaz & Tellería 1994, Robinson et al 2004, Garcia-del-Rey et al 2009), foraging strategy (Newton 1967, Coolen et al 2001, Baker et al 2009, Myczko & Benkman 2011) and flock size (Newton 1967, Lindström 1989, Tellería et al 2001, studies have neglected to compare the foraging behaviour of avian seed predators at both dispersal phases (pre and post-dispersal), despite the existence of multiple environmental differences between these phases (e.g., vegetation cover, visibility, seed density, alternative food, etc. ; Janzen 1971).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seed Predation on the Ground or in the Tree? Size-Related Differences in Behavior and Ecology of Granivorous Birds

Perea

Gil

2014

Acta Ornithologica

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“…The Gran Canarian endemic subspecies of blue chaffinch ( Fringilla teydea ssp. polatzeki ) is particularly endangered and is very sensitive to habitat disturbance (García‐del‐Rey et al. , 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Gran Canarian endemic subspecies of blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea ssp. polatzeki) is particularly endangered and is very sensitive to habitat disturbance (García-del-Rey et al, 2009). Although the Canary Island pine forests are included in Annex I of the EU Habitat Directive, there have been few efforts to conserve their genetic resources, particularly in populations distributed outside the standard vegetation belts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High biogeographical and evolutionary value of Canary Island pine populations out of the elevational pine belt: the case of a relict coastal population

Heredia

Venturas

Rodríguez

et al. 2010

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Marginal populations are frequently neglected in static views of vegetation types, particularly when defining conservation reserves. The biogeographical and evolutionary importance of a marginal and endangered population of Pinus canariensis is addressed in this study to ascertain the need for conservation action. Diversity loss between adults and offspring and patterns of seed dispersal and recruitment were examined to provide evidence of recent degradation of marginal P. canariensis pinewoods. The scientific basis for the provision of sound conservation policies was investigated by elucidating the factors responsible for significant population structure.Location An isolated low-density pinewood community confined to the Arguineguin ravine, in south Gran Canaria, Canary Islands.Methods Two cohorts, of centenary trees (those older than 100 years) and young recruits, respectively, were found in a detailed inventory of the pine population in the Arguienguin ravine. Chloroplast and nuclear microsatellites were compared to assess the levels of genetic diversity between adults and recruits. Spatial genetic structure and parentage analysis based on highly polymorphic nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites were examined to test limitations in seed dispersal. The underlying environmental factors that led to a clustering effect in the population were tested using point pattern methodologies.Results Centenary trees retain high levels of genetic diversity and effective population size, suggesting a wider extension of the pinewood forests in the past. A significant loss of genetic diversity was detected between adults and recruits. Pinus canariensis dispersal distances were among the longest ever reported for anemochorous species, suggesting that environmental factors account for recruit clustering. Cluster models showed that recruits tend to aggregate in dry streambeds, where soil and water accumulation favours establishment.Main conclusions Boundary populations of P. canariensis are subjected to fragmentation and reduction in effective population size as a result of human impact. Marginal populations were denser in the past and currently require specific conservation efforts. A severe reduction in genetic diversity compromises the future of present populations. Streambeds appear to play a major role in recruit establishment, but data suggest the absence of limitations to seed dispersal.

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Habitat characteristics and seed crops used by Blue ChaffinchesFringilla teydeain winter: implications for conservation management

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

Spatiotemporal variation of a Pinus seed rain available for an endemic finch in an insular environment

Spatiotemporal variation of a Pinus seed rain available for an endemic finch in an insular environment

Seed Predation on the Ground or in the Tree? Size-Related Differences in Behavior and Ecology of Granivorous Birds

High biogeographical and evolutionary value of Canary Island pine populations out of the elevational pine belt: the case of a relict coastal population

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