DOCSLIB.ORG

Comparative Study of Todies (Todidae): with Emphasis on the Puerto Rican Tody, Todus Mexicanus.--Angela K

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Comparative Study of Todies (Todidae): with Emphasis on the Puerto Rican Tody, Todus Mexicanus.--Angela K REVIEWS EDITED BY WALTER BOCK Comparative study of Todies (Todidae): with emphasis on the Puerto Rican Tody, Todus mexicanus.--Angela K. Kepler. 1977. Cambridge, Nuttall Ornithological Club Publ. No. 16. xiii + 190 pp. $11.75.--With the publication of this monograph, knowledge of another little-known tropical group has advanced a major step forward. Following a brief introductory chapter detailing study areas, methods, and external morphology, 14 chaptersoutline the behavior, ecology,breeding biology, distri- bution, and evolutionof the endemicGreater Antillean family. Most of the monographis concernedwith T. mexicanusin rainforestand scrub forest on Puerto Rico, but data on other speciesprovide interesting comparative insights. Kepler provides much new information and overturns a number of misconceptions about todies. Jamaica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico each have one endemic tody, while two occur in Hispaniola. As is commonin island birds, all speciesoccupy a wide range of habitats. The Jamaican speciesseems to be limited by an island-wide limestone formation which restrictssites for constructionof nest burrows. The two Hispaniolan speciesare broadly sympatricnow but apparently differentiated in isolationwhen the islandwas divided by a deep oceanictrough. They are sympatricover a 1265-maltitudinal rangeon one mountain. Todus angustirostris predominates at higher elevations while subulatus is more abundant in the lowlands. Tody behavior is the central theme of several chapters. Vocalizationsare described(including sono- grams) and their functions are discussed.Todies lack complex vocal repertoiresand thus depend on plumagedisplays and wing-rattling in both courtshipand territorial aggression.Wing-rattling is produced as air passesrapidly over the outer primaries. Among the five speciesintensity of flank display is pro- portionalto the amount of pink colorationin the flank feathers.At the extremes,mexicanus has no pink and no flank displayswhile subulatushas extensivepink flanks that are exaggeratedby puffing up the feathers and lifting the wings. A short chapterdiscusses maintenance behavior such as bathing, preening,scratching, and locomotion. Average flight distance increases(with one exception)with wing chord even in these relatively small short-winged birds. The unusually long wing of T. angustirostrismay be attributable to character di- vergenceas it flies more regularly and sits for shorter periods when sympatricwith subulatus. Todies tend to remain paired and occupy the same home range throughout the year. During the breedingseason, territories are somewhatsmaller than non-breedingseason home ranges.Territory size and population density varies with habitat but territory volume varies less among habitats than does territory area. Todies spend an unusual proportion of their time (up to 14 h/day) foraging. They are exclusively insectivorousand the most common foraging technique involves short flights to pick insectsfrom the undersideof leaves. Feeding rates and foraging efficienciesvary with habitat; both are highestin scrub. When sympatric, the Hispaniolan speciesexhibit character displacementrelative to their foraging in allopatry on the same island. I suspectthat todies are most similar ecologicallyto mainland tyrannids such as spadebills(Platyrinchus) or the somewhatlarger flatbills (Rhynchocyclus). As in most coraciforms,both sexesparticipate in the constructionof nest burrows. On Puerto Rico problemsof burrow constructionand maintenance vary among habitats and climates, apparently limiting occupationof someareas. Although stream banks are usedas nestsites in dry scrubland,they are rarely used in rainforestwhere floodingis more common. Todies lay relatively large eggs(26% of body weight) and spendless than 25% of their time incubating. Attentive periods vary from 2 min early in incubation to 16 min late in incubation (average 13.1 min). Incubation lasts 21 to 22 days. Unlike most birds, feeding rates of nestlingsincrease continually up to fledging. Young are fed insects,which increasein size through the nestlingperiod. Nestling mortality is high in unusuallyrainy periodsbecause foraging by adults is restricted.The introducedmongoose is a major factor in nest losses,especially in rainforest. Breedingis distinctlyseasonal in all habitats and more extendedin rainforestthan in scrubland.Yearly variation in rainfall period causesdisplacement of breedingseasons; drought in 1970 acceleratedbreeding in rainforest and delayed it in scrubland. One of the most interestingchapters deals with nest helpers.Many birds (jays, wrens)that have nest helpers have complex social systems,but this is not true for todies. Although the evidenceis indirect, tody helpersseem unrelated to the nest owners. Generally helpers occurlate in incubation or during the nestling period. Although the number of fledged young per adult is lower in helped neststhan in nests without helpers, both clutch sizes and fledglingsper nest are higher in helped nests. Helpers during incubationhave lesseffect on fledglingsuccess than helpersduring the nestlingperiod. 430 April 1978] Reviews 43 1 The value of studiesof single taxa is clearest in Chapters 14 and 15 on population regulation and evolutionin todies.Kepler integratesher ecologicaland behavioraldata to provide a more completeview of tody biology. Discussionof habitat requirements, weather, and insect densitiesprovides insights into selectionpressures on todies. Kepler concludesthat the most important factorsregulating mexicanus populationsin rainforestseem to be predationand food supply as affected by climate. In scrubland, nestingsites and food supply (interspecificcompetition) are most important. Evidence for the importance of interspecificcompetition is indirect at best. Kepler often interprets her results in the context of recent theoretical advances, but fails to conduct rigoroustests of hypotheses,including statistical analysis of results.Further, tabular material is inade- quate to allow suchtests. Citations to a more detailed dissertationand to manuscriptsin preparationare distracting becausethey are not generally available. Technically there are few typographicalerrors but somemaps are poorlydrawn and/orreproduced. Printing of tablesfrom originaltypescript presumably reducespublication costs without detractingfrom the monograph. This study demonstratesthe value of studiesof singletaxa, especiallywhen they go beyond the more anecdotalefforts of past decades.The contributionsof suchstudies to ornithologicalscience will continue to be substantial,especially when they includeintegration of quantitative data on a variety of aspectsof avian biology.--J^MEs R. K•RR. Ecology and energetics of contrasting social systems in Phainopepla nitens (Aves: Ptil- ogonatidae).--Glenn E. Walsberg. 1977. Berkeley, Calif., University of California Press. 63 pp. $4.50.--This researcheffort comparesthe breedingsocial systems in the Phainopeplabut is an excellent model for the approach of natural history studiesby biologists.The Phainopeplais a relatively easy speciesto observeand study, but there are aspectsof its biologythat are perplexingand difficult. It has been an enigmato avian biologistsin the Southwest.In many parts of Arizona and California the birds appear in the fall and establishterritories over areas containingmistletoe clumps, they breed in early spring, rear their young, and then disappearuntil the next fall. Walsberg, with someluck, hard work, and a broad background, has gatheredand synthesizedinfor- mation on the ecology,ethology, and physiologyof the Phainopeplawhere it breedsin one area in early springand then followedwhat he felt was part of the samepopulation to examineits breedinghabits in the summer.The different typesof territorialdefense (A and B) usedby eachpopulation in eachsituation are compared as well as the reasonsfor the evolutionary differencesresolved by the quantitative descrip- tion of the food resource,time of abundance, and availability. The selectiveadvantage of each social systemis examined by comparing the energy expendituresinvolved with defending these resourcesin each area. Some might argue that the weakest part of Walsberg'sthesis is that the California desertbreeding population is part of, or is the same as, the population that breeds in the coastal areas of southern California. I feel he is correct, and our Phainopeplamovement data in the ColoradoRiver Valley support his contention.Many questionsregarding this populationremain unanswered(do the sameindividuals breed twice per year, etc.), but the evolution of this dual breeding system is logically supported by paleoecologicalknowledge of floral shifts during the Pleistocene.By combining this information, the specificityof the Phainopepla'sfood habits (berries),and the placementand timing of theseresources, Walsberg was able to explain the movementsand the selectiveforces that directed the evolutionof these two different social systems. This work will be an excellent and exciting set of lectures to present to studentsin ornithology or vertebrate natural history. Vertebrate ecologistswill spend many interestinghours discussingand de- bating numerouspoints. Time, and now more directedeffort, will help resolvemany of the still unan- swered questions.--ROBERT D. OHMART. Ontogeny and phylogeny.--Stephen Jay Gould. 1977. Cambridge,Mass., Harvard University Press.xiv + 501 pp. $18.50.--As the title suggests,this bookis a reviewand analysisof the relationship betweenthe processesof ontogenyand phylogeny,a topicin evolutionarybiology
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Bird Checklist Guánica Biosphere Reserve Puerto Rico
    United States Department of Agriculture BirD CheCklist Guánica Biosphere reserve Puerto rico Wayne J. Arendt, John Faaborg, Miguel Canals, and Jerry Bauer Forest Service Research & Development Southern Research Station Research Note SRS-23 The Authors: Wayne J. Arendt, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Sabana Field Research Station, HC 2 Box 6205, Luquillo, PR 00773, USA; John Faaborg, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7400, USA; Miguel Canals, DRNA—Bosque de Guánica, P.O. Box 1185, Guánica, PR 00653-1185, USA; and Jerry Bauer, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Río Piedras, PR 00926, USA. Cover Photos Large cover photograph by Jerry Bauer; small cover photographs by Mike Morel. Product Disclaimer The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service. April 2015 Southern Research Station 200 W.T. Weaver Blvd. Asheville, NC 28804 www.srs.fs.usda.gov BirD CheCklist Guánica Biosphere reserve Puerto rico Wayne J. Arendt, John Faaborg, Miguel Canals, and Jerry Bauer ABSTRACt This research note compiles 43 years of research and monitoring data to produce the first comprehensive checklist of the dry forest avian community found within the Guánica Biosphere Reserve. We provide an overview of the reserve along with sighting locales, a list of 185 birds with their resident status and abundance, and a list of the available bird habitats. Photographs of habitats and some of the bird species are included.
    [Show full text]
  • AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES Published by Number 1066 the AMERICAN MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY May 3, 1940 New York City
    AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES Published by Number 1066 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY May 3, 1940 New York City STUDIES OF PERUVIAN BIRDS. NO. XXXIV1 THE GENERA TODIROSTRUM, EUSCARTHMORNIS, SNETHLAGEA, POECILO- TRICCUS, LOPHOTRICCUS, MYIORNIS, PSEUDOTRICCUS, AND HEMITRICCUS BY JOHN T. ZIMMER Acknowledgments are made to Mr. differ from each other as well as from the W. E. C. Todd of the Carnegie Museum, type of chrysocrotaphum but it is possible Pittsburgh, Mr. Rudyerd Boulton of that all three belong together as represent- Field Museum of Natural History, Chi- ing three extremes of individual variation cago, Mr. Rudolph de Schauensee and in a single form. At any rate, I am not Mr. James Bond of the Academy of prepared to say that the differences have Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and Dr. any other significance. Alexander Wetmore and Dr. Herbert Strickland's illustration of the type, as Friedmann of the U. S. National Museum, well as his description, is relatively accurate Washington, D. C., for comparative ma- with regard to general pattern and par- terial generously lent from the collections ticularly informative with regard to the under their charge. My thanks also are anterior extension of the yellow super- due to Dr. C. E. Hellmayr for compara- ciliary stripe over the eye to meet the white tive notes on certain specimens in Euro- loral spot. Both figure and description pean museums which have been of great fail to take notice of a number of fine assistance in the present study. dusky dots on the sides of the throat and As in previous papers in this series, names breast, very inconspicuous and easily over- of colors are capitalized when direct com- looked although they are relatively larger parison has been made with Ridgway's on the sides of the breast.
    [Show full text]
  • No More Hope for the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Campephilus Principalis
    COTINGA 3 Ivory-billed Woodpecker No more hope for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis Martjan Lammertink In 1986 the re-discovery of the Ivory-billed subspecies of Ivory-billed Woodpecker, C. p. Woodpecker Campephilus principalis, in east­ principalis in the U.S.A. and C. p. bairdii in ern Cuba attracted world-wide attention. In Cuba where it frequented lowland hardwood March that year Cuban biologists found the forests as well as mountain pine forests8. species in a hilly pine forest called Ojito de All over its range habitat was destroyed Agua. At the same site two C. principalis were by logging activities and it is generally as­ seen by an international team in April 1986. sumed that the species has been extinct in the Ojito de Agua immediately became a protected U.S.A. for some time. The last sightings there area. The willingness of the Cuban authori­ are from the 1950s16 or late 1970s3. In Cuba ties to co-operate and the expectation that most lowland forests were cut over by the be­ more birds could be found in other areas raised ginning of the twentieth century, restricting the hope that C. principalis could be saved. C. principalis to the pine forests in the east of However, after two extensive expeditions in the island. In 1948 John V. Dennis and Davis 1991 and 1993, it has become clear that the Crompton discovered a last population in the birds found in 1986 were in dire circumstances Cuchillas de Moa mountain range2 and dur­ and no other suitable areas for C.
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Theecological Systemsof Puerto Rico
    United States Department of Agriculture Guide to the Forest Service Ecological Systems International Institute of Tropical Forestry of Puerto Rico General Technical Report IITF-GTR-35 June 2009 Gary L. Miller and Ariel E. Lugo The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the principle of multiple use management of the Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the States and private forest owners, and management of the National Forests and national grasslands, it strives—as directed by Congress—to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Authors Gary L. Miller is a professor, University of North Carolina, Environmental Studies, One University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804-3299.
    [Show full text]
  • Les Hormones Thyroïdiennes, Leurs Récepteurs Et L'évolution De La
    Les hormones thyroïdiennes, leurs récepteurs et l’évolution de la métamorphose chez les Chordés. Mathilde Paris To cite this version: Mathilde Paris. Les hormones thyroïdiennes, leurs récepteurs et l’évolution de la métamorphose chez les Chordés.. Biochimie [q-bio.BM]. Ecole normale supérieure de lyon - ENS LYON, 2008. Français. tel-00366311 HAL Id: tel-00366311 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00366311 Submitted on 6 Mar 2009 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. THÈSE Présentée devant L’ECOLE NORMALE SUPÉRIEURE DE LYON pour l’obtention du DIPLÔME DE DOCTORAT soutenue le 18 décembre 2008 par MATHILDE PARIS THYROIDHORMONES,THEIRRECEPTORS AND THE EVOLUTION OF METAMORPHOSIS IN CHORDATES Jury: Vincent LAUDET Directeur de thèse Béatrice DESVERGNE Rapportrice Detlev ARENDT Rapporteur Philippe JANVIER Examinateur Nicholas HOLLAND Examinateur Frédéric FLAMANT Examinateur Hector ESCRIVA Membre invité THYROIDHORMONES,THEIRRECEPTORS ANDTHEEVOLUTIONOFMETAMORPHOSIS INCHORDATES mathilde paris Doctorate of Life Science 18 December 2008 ABSTRACT In an attempt to understand how the regulation of development evolves, particular attention has been put on transcription factors, which regulate gene expression during development. Among transcription factors, nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) have a peculiar status linked to their ligand-dependent activity.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstracts of Those Ar- Dana L Moseley Ticles Using Packages Tm and Topicmodels in R to Ex- Graham E Derryberry Tract Common Words and Trends
    ABSTRACT BOOK Listed alphabetically by last name of presenting author Oral Presentations . 2 Lightning Talks . 161 Posters . 166 AOS 2018 Meeting 9-14 April 2018 ORAL PRESENTATIONS Combining citizen science with targeted monitoring we argue how the framework allows for effective large- for Gulf of Mexico tidal marsh birds scale inference and integration of multiple monitoring efforts. Scientists and decision-makers are interested Evan M Adams in a range of outcomes at the regional scale, includ- Mark S Woodrey ing estimates of population size and population trend Scott A Rush to answering questions about how management actions Robert J Cooper or ecological questions influence bird populations. The SDM framework supports these inferences in several In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affected many ways by: (1) monitoring projects with synergistic ac- marsh birds in the Gulf of Mexico; yet, a lack of prior tivities ranging from using approved standardized pro- monitoring data made assessing impacts to these the tocols, flexible data sharing policies, and leveraging population impacts difficult. As a result, the Gulf of multiple project partners; (2) rigorous data collection Mexico Avian Monitoring Network (GoMAMN) was that make it possible to integrate multiple monitoring established, with one of its objectives being to max- projects; and (3) monitoring efforts that cover multiple imize the value of avian monitoring projects across priorities such that projects designed for status assess- the region. However, large scale assessments of these ment can also be useful for learning or describing re- species are often limited, tidal marsh habitat in this re- sponses to management activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Transposable Elements and Stress in Vertebrates: an Overview
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Transposable Elements and Stress in Vertebrates: An Overview Anna Maria Pappalardo 1,*,†, Venera Ferrito 1,†, Maria Assunta Biscotti 2 , Adriana Canapa 2 and Teresa Capriglione 3 1 Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences—Section of Animal Biology “M. La Greca”, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy; [email protected] 2 Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; [email protected] (M.A.B.); [email protected] (A.C.) 3 Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Cinthia 21—Ed7, 80126 Naples, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract: Since their identification as genomic regulatory elements, Transposable Elements (TEs) were considered, at first, molecular parasites and later as an important source of genetic diversity and regulatory innovations. In vertebrates in particular, TEs have been recognized as playing an important role in major evolutionary transitions and biodiversity. Moreover, in the last decade, a significant number of papers has been published highlighting a correlation between TE activity and exposition to environmental stresses and dietary factors. In this review we present an overview of the impact of TEs in vertebrate genomes, report the silencing mechanisms adopted by host genomes to regulate TE activity, and finally we explore the effects of environmental and dietary factor exposures on TE activity in mammals, which is the most studied group among vertebrates. The studies here reported evidence that several factors can induce changes in the epigenetic status of TEs and silencing mechanisms leading to their activation with consequent effects on the host genome.
    [Show full text]
  • RCP Have Been Created, Except Two 'Phase In'
    CORACIIFORMES TAG REGIONAL COLLECTION PLAN Third Edition, December 31, 2008 White-throated Bee-eaters D. Shapiro, copyright Wildlife Conservation Society Prepared by the Coraciiformes Taxon Advisory Group Edited by Christine Sheppard TAG website address: http://www.coraciiformestag.com/ Table of Contents Page Coraciiformes TAG steering committee 3 TAG Advisors 4 Coraciiformes TAG definition and taxonomy 7 Species in the order Coraciiformes 8 Coraciiformes TAG Mission Statement and goals 13 Space issues 14 North American and Global ISIS population data for species in the Coraciiformes 15 Criteria Used in Evaluation of Taxa 20 Program definitions 21 Decision Tree 22 Decision tree diagrammed 24 Program designation assessment details for Coraciiformes taxa 25 Coraciiformes TAG programs and program status 27 Coraciiformes TAG programs, program functions and PMC advisors 28 Program narratives 29 References 36 CORACIIFORMES TAG STEERING COMMITTEE The Coraciiformes TAG has nine members, elected for staggered three year terms (excepting the chair). Chair: Christine Sheppard Curator, Ornithology, Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo 2300 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY 10460 Phone: 718 220-6882 Fax 718 733 7300 email: [email protected] Vice Chair: Lee Schoen, studbookkeeper Great and Rhino Hornbills Curator of Birds Audubon Zoo PO Box 4327 New Orleans, LA 70118 Phone: 504 861 5124 Fax: 504 866 0819 email: [email protected] Secretary: (non-voting) Kevin Graham , PMP coordinator, Blue-crowned Motmot Department of Ornithology Disney's Animal Kingdom PO Box 10000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 Phone: (407) 938-2501 Fax: 407 939 6240 email: [email protected] John Azua Curator, Ornithology, Denver Zoological Gardens 2300 Steele St.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological and Economic Services Provided by Birds on Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farms
    Contributed Paper Ecological and Economic Services Provided by Birds on Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Farms JHERIME L. KELLERMANN,∗‡ MATTHEW D. JOHNSON,∗ AMY M. STERCHO,∗ AND STEVEN C. HACKETT† ∗Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, U.S.A. †Department of Economics, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521, U.S.A. Abstract: Coffee farms can support significant biodiversity, yet intensification of farming practices is de- grading agricultural habitats and compromising ecosystem services such as biological pest control. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the world’s primary coffee pest. Researchers have demonstrated that birds reduce insect abundance on coffee farms but have not documented avian control of the berry borer or quantified avian benefits to crop yield or farm income. We conducted a bird-exclosure experiment on coffee farms in the Blue Mountains, Jamaica, to measure avian pest control of berry borers, identify potential predator species, associate predator abundance and borer reductions with vegetation complexity, and quan- tify resulting increases in coffee yield. Coffee plants excluded from foraging birds had significantly higher borer infestation, more borer broods, and greater berry damage than control plants. We identified 17 poten- tial predator species (73% were wintering Neotropical migrants), and 3 primary species composed 67% of migrant detections. Average relative bird abundance and diversity and relative resident predator abundance increased with greater shade-tree cover. Although migrant predators overall did not respond to vegetation complexity variables, the 3 primary species increased with proximity to noncoffee habitat patches. Lower infes- tation on control plants was correlated with higher total bird abundance, but not with predator abundance or vegetation complexity.
    [Show full text]
  • El Yunque ...In a Nutshell
    “Caring for the Land and Serving People” WHERE ARE WE? EL YUNQUE Located approximately 25 miles east of San Juan, about a 1 hour drive ...IN A from the metropolitan area. Follow Hwy. # 3 east from San Juan to the NUTSHELL town of Palmer. Then follow Hwy. # 191 south to the forest. WHAT ARE WE? El Yunque National Forest is administered by the US Forest Service. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the US The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in National Forest system. With all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, 28,000 acres, it is one of the age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political smallest in the forest system, but is beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases also one of the most ecologically apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, diverse. It is the largest protected audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720- 2600 (voice and TDD). area in the island of Puerto Rico, To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of and is one of the oldest forest Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250- reserves in the western hemisphere. 9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
    [Show full text]
  • Climate-Driven Declines in Arthropod Abundance Restructure a Rainforest Food Web
    Climate-driven declines in arthropod abundance restructure a rainforest food web Bradford C. Listera,1 and Andres Garciab aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic University, Troy, NY 12180; and bEstación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 47152 Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico Edited by Nils Christian Stenseth, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, and approved September 10, 2018 (received for review January 8, 2018) A number of studies indicate that tropical arthropods should be mechanisms (9, 10). While demonstrated impacts of climate change particularly vulnerable to climate warming. If these predictions are on tropical forests include reductions in plant diversity (14), changes realized, climate warming may have a more profound impact on in plant species composition (15), and increases in tree growth, the functioning and diversity of tropical forests than currently mortality, and biomass (16), little is known about the impact of anticipated. Although arthropods comprise over two-thirds of terres- climate warming on rainforest arthropods (17, 18). Here we analyze trial species, information on their abundance and extinction rates long-term data on climate change, arthropod abundance, and in- in tropical habitats is severely limited. Here we analyze data on sectivores within the Luquillo rainforest in northeastern Puerto arthropod and insectivore abundances taken between 1976 and Rico, with the aim of determining if increases in ambient temper- 2012 at two midelevation habitats in Puerto Rico’s Luquillo rainforest. ature may have driven reductions in arthropod numbers and asso- During this time, mean maximum temperatures have risen by 2.0 °C. ciated decreases in consumer abundance. Using the same study area and methods employed by Lister in the 1970s, we discovered that the dry weight biomass of arthropods Results captured in sweep samples had declined 4 to 8 times, and 30 to Climate Trends in the Luquillo Forest.
    [Show full text]
  • A Conservation Action Plan for Bicknell's Thrush
    A Conservation Action Plan for Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) July 2010 International Bicknell’s Thrush Conservation Group A Conservation Action Plan for Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) Editors: John Lloyd, Ecostudies Institute Scott Makepeace, Julie A. Hart New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources Christopher C. Rimmer Kent McFarland, Vermont Center for Ecostudies Randy Dettmers Mark McGarrigle, Rebecca M. Whittam New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources Emily A. McKinnon Emily A. McKinnon, York University Kent P. McFarland David Mehlman, The Nature Conservancy Members of the International Brian Mitchell, U.S. National Park Service Bicknell’s Thrush Conservation Group: Robert Ortiz Alexander, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santo Domingo Hubert Askanas, University of New Brunswick John Ozard, Yves Aubry, Canadian Wildlife Service / New York Department of Environmental Conservation Service Canadien de la Faune Julie Paquet, Canadian Wildlife Service / Philippe Bayard, Société Audubon Haiti Service Canadien de la Faune James Bridgland, Parks Canada / Parcs Canada Leighlan Prout, USDA Forest Service Jorge Brocca, Sociedad Ornitología de la Hispaniola Joe Racette, Frédéric Bussière, Regroupement QuébecOiseaux New York Department of Environmental Conservation Greg Campbell, Bird Studies Canada / Chris Rimmer, Vermont Center for Ecostudies Études d’Oiseaux Canada Frank Rivera, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ted Cheskey, Nature Canada Carla Sbert, Nature Canada Andrew Coughlan, Bird Studies Canada/ Judith Scarl, Vermont Center for Ecostudies Études d’Oiseaux Canada Henning Stabins, Plum Creek Timber Company William DeLuca, University of Massachusetts Jason Townsend, State University of New York College of Randy Dettmers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Science and Forestry Antony W. Diamond, University of New Brunswick Tony Vanbuskirk, Fornebu Lumber Company Andrea Doucette, NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp Rebecca M.
    [Show full text]