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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) Survival and Dispersal in Areas With

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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) Survival and Dispersal in Areas With EASTERN BLUEBIRD (SIALIA SIALIS) SURVIVAL AND DISPERSAL IN AREAS WITH HIGH AND LOW DENSITIES OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS (SOLENOPSIS INVICTA). by JASON DELBERT LANG (Under the Direction of Patricia Adair Gowaty) ABSTRACT Eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) may compete for food, ground arthropods. I describe eastern bluebird survival and dispersal for the 2001 to 2005 breeding seasons at two locations, Athens, Georgia (higher fire ant density) and Clemson, South Carolina (lower fire ant density). Using program MARK to model bluebird survival rates and OpenBUGS to model dispersal distances, I found no evidence that fire ants affected eastern bluebird survival or dispersal for these two populations. Survival: Adult bluebirds had higher survival rates than juveniles; sexes did not differ (confidence intervals: AHYAthens 0.4832 - 0.5560; AHYClemson 0.4867 - 0.5566; HYAthens 0.1417 - 0.1820; HYClemson 0.0996 - 0.1280). Mean survival rates at Clemson varied up to 23% for adults and 10% for juveniles, while only ~1.5% for adults and 1% for juveniles at Athens. At Clemson, survival was negatively correlated to growing-degree days + precipitation. No variables correlated to Athens bluebird survival rates. Breeding dispersal: On average 3.2 ± 1.3 % of breeding adults emigrated each year. Adults dispersed almost twice as far after nest depredation than after other nest failure causes ( predation = 176 ± 288(SD); other = 91 ± 66(SD)). Individuals that changed mates also moved farther (95% credible intervals; changed mates: 80-233 m, ~ 1 to 3 territories; same mate: 33-141 m, ~ 0 to 2 territories). Natal dispersal: About 24% of natal dispersers emigrated. A majority of individuals (91%) stayed within 1500 m of their natal nest (range 0 to ~ 93 km; = 826 m; 95% Credible Interval: 666 – 1024 m). Natal males and females dispersed similar distances. Individuals from spring broods moved almost twice as far as those from summer broods ( spring= 1146 ± 208 m (SD); summer= 620 ± 86 m) and showed a positive correlation to adult survival and an inverse correlation to hatch-year survival. Individuals from summer broods remained closer to their natal nest when they were in better condition (more weight relative to tarsus length). Natal dispersal distance distributions support the resource competition hypothesis and suggest search strategies may differ by sex. INDEX WORDS: breeding dispersal, eastern bluebirds, fire ants, information theoretic, natal dispersal, OpenBUGS, program MARK, resource competition, Sialia sialis, Solenopsis invicta, survival EASTERN BLUEBIRD (SIALIA SIALIS) SURVIVAL AND DISPERSAL IN AREAS WITH HIGH AND LOW DENSITIES OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS (SOLENOPSIS INVICTA). by JASON DELBERT LANG BS, Iowa State University, 1992 MS, University of Georgia, 1998 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2013 © 2013 JASON DELBERT LANG All Rights Reserved EASTERN BLUEBIRD (SIALIA SIALIS) SURVIVAL AND DISPERSAL IN AREAS WITH HIGH AND LOW DENSITIES OF RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS (SOLENOPSIS INVICTA). by JASON DELBERT LANG Major Professor: Patricia Adair Gowaty Committee: Robert J. Cooper Sidney A. Gauthreaux, Jr. Stephen P. Hubbell H. Ronald Pulliam Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia December 2013 DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Phil and Sheryl Lang, for encouraging me to pursue education in a field I enjoy. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to my advisor, Patty Gowaty, and my committee members, Bob Cooper, Sid Gauthreaux Jr., Steve Hubbell, and Ron Pulliam; I have learned something unique from each of you to help shape my understanding of research and academics. I would not have been able to complete my degree without teaching opportunities through the University of Georgia Franklin College Writing Intensive Program, Division of Biological Sciences, and Odum School of Ecology. I greatly appreciate teaching support and mentorship provided by Michelle Ballif, Kris Miller, Jim Richardson, Mark Bradford, and Gary Barrett. Thanks also to my wife, Carrie Straight, for being there to lean on every step of the way. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ....................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW .....................................................1 References................................................................................................................6 2 EASTRN BLUEBIRD, SIALIA SIALIS, SURVIVAL RATES DEPEND ON AGE AND POPULATION-LEVEL VARIABLES .............................................................11 Abstract..................................................................................................................12 Introduction............................................................................................................13 Methods..................................................................................................................17 Results....................................................................................................................26 Introduction # Discussion..............................................................................................................28 References..............................................................................................................36 3 EASTERN BLUEBIRD BETWEEN-SEASON BREEDING DISPERSAL PATTERNS: PREDATION AND CHANGING MATES INCREASE DISPERSAL DISTANCE..................................................................................................................47 Abstract..................................................................................................................48 Introduction............................................................................................................49 vi Methods..................................................................................................................52 Results....................................................................................................................59 Introduction # Discussion..............................................................................................................61 References..............................................................................................................68 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRD NATAL DISPERSAL DISTANCES CORRESPOND TO THE NEGATIVE BINOMIAL DISTRIBUTION AND THEORETICAL MODELS FOR MULTIPLE DISPERSERS.................................................................................82 Abstract..................................................................................................................83 Introduction............................................................................................................84 Methods..................................................................................................................86 Results....................................................................................................................93 Introduction # Discussion..............................................................................................................97 References............................................................................................................108 5 HATCHING IN SPRING OR SUMMER, CONSPECIFIC SURVIVAL, AND NESTLING CONDITION AFFECT NATAL DISPERSAL DISTANCE OF A CAVITY NESTING PASSERINE ............................................................................130 Abstract................................................................................................................131 Introduction..........................................................................................................131 Methods................................................................................................................133 Results..................................................................................................................141 Introduction # Discussion............................................................................................................143 References............................................................................................................151 6 CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................................163 vii References............................................................................................................167 APPENDICES 2.1: Latitude and longitude of eight field sites near Athens, Georgia and Clemson, South Carolina used to study eastern bluebirds, Sialia sialis, during the 2001 to 2005 breeding seasons ..........................................................................................................46 3.1: Proportion of breeding male and female eastern bluebirds that emigrated from sites near Athens, Georgia (sites 1-4) and Clemson, South Carolina (sites 5-8) during the 2001 to 2005 breeding seasons ....................................................................................81
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