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Juvenile and Adult Survival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus Socius)

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Juvenile and Adult Survival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus Socius) University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications in the Biological Sciences Papers in the Biological Sciences 2004 Juvenile and Adult Survival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus Socius), a Southern-Temperate Colonial Cooperative Breeder in Africa Rita Covas University of Cape Town, [email protected] Charles R. Brown University of Tulsa, [email protected] Mark D. Anderson Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation Mary Bomberger Brown University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscifacpub Part of the Biology Commons, and the Ornithology Commons Covas, Rita; Brown, Charles R.; Anderson, Mark D.; and Brown, Mary Bomberger, "Juvenile and Adult Survival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus Socius), a Southern-Temperate Colonial Cooperative Breeder in Africa" (2004). Faculty Publications in the Biological Sciences. 467. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscifacpub/467 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications in the Biological Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. JUVENILE AND ADULT SURVIVAL IN THE SOCIABLE WEAVER (PHILETAIRUS SOCIUS), A SOUTHERN-TEMPERATE COLONIAL COOPERATIVE BREEDER IN AFRICA Author(s): Rita Covas, Charles R. Brown, Mark D. Anderson, and Mary Bomberger Brown Source: The Auk, 121(4):1199-1207. Published By: The American Ornithologists' Union DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121[1199:JAASIT]2.0.CO;2 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1642/0004-8038%282004%29121%5B1199%3AJAASIT %5D2.0.CO%3B2 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. The Auk 121(4):1199–1207, 2004 JUVENILE AND ADULT SURVIVAL IN THE SOCIABLE WEAVER (PHILETAIRUS SOCIUS), A SOUTHERN-TEMPERATE COLONIAL COOPERATIVE BREEDER IN AFRICA R C,1,4 Cmq R. B|s,2 Mp D. Ass,3 s M Bgl B|s2 1Percy Fitzpatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104, USA; and 3Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, Private Bag X5018, Kimberley 8300, Northern Cape, South Africa Agh.―We used capture–recapture analyses to describe juvenile and adult survival from 1993 to 2001 in a population of Sociable Weavers (Philetairus socius), a colonial, cooperatively breeding passerine of southern Africa. We examined temporal variation in survival and the role that the breeding season’s length and environmental factors play in determining survival pa erns in the population. Annual survival probability (mean ± SE) was 0.66 ± 0.02. In contrast to most passerines, juveniles and adults had similar survival probabilities; survival rates did not vary signifi cantly between years. We found no relationship among temperature, rainfall, and survival. Relatively high survival rates in Sociable Weavers probably result from a benign climate and easy access to food in winter. Juvenile survival may also be enhanced by prolonged parental care and delayed dispersal. Received 1 April 2003, accepted 24 June 2004. Rs.—Utilizamos análisis de captura y recaptura para describir la supervivencia de juveniles y adultos entre 1993 y 2001 en una población de Philetairus socius, una especie de ave paserina colonial con cría cooperativa del sur de África. Examinamos la variación temporal en la supervivencia, y la importancia de la longitud del período de apareamiento y de los factores ambientales para la supervivencia de los individuos de la población. La probabilidad de supervivencia anual (media ± EE) fue de 0.66 ± 0.02. En contraste con la mayoría de los Passeriformes, los individuos juveniles y adultos mostraron probabilidades de supervivencia similares, y las tasas de supervivencia no variaron signifi cativamente entre años. No encontramos relación alguna entre la temperatura, la cantidad de lluvia y la supervivencia. La relativamente alta probabilidad de supervivencia observada se encuentra probablemente relacionada con un clima benigno y fácil acceso al alimento durante el invierno. La supervivencia de los juveniles puede además estar infl uenciada positivamente por un período de cuidado parental prolongado y por la dispersión retardada de las crías. Cfwf life-history evolution their northern-temperate counterparts (Rowley requires knowing how survival varies with age and Russell 1991, Martin 1996, Ghalambor and and environmental conditions (Stearns 1992, Martin 2001), parents may invest more energy Charlesworth 1994). Studying survival, how- in fewer young (Williams 1966, Martin 1996, ever, is o en diffi cult, because individuals must Russell 2000). As a result, juvenile (i.e. post- be marked and monitored for multiple years. In fl edging) survival may be higher at southern birds, we know especially li le about annual latitudes than in more temperate locations survival rates of populations in the tropics and (Martin 1996, Martin et al. 2000, Russell 2000). the Southern Hemisphere, where relatively Recent work has shown that adult survival in few long-term population studies have been some southern populations is higher than in sim- conducted. Because birds in southern regions ilar taxa in northern-temperate regions (Johnston generally have smaller clutches, longer develop- et al. 1997, Ghalambor and Martin 2001, Peach et mental periods, and higher adult survival than al. 2001). How survival at southern latitudes var- ies between years and how it may be aff ected by environmental factors is largely unknown. 4Present address: ICAPB, University of Edinburgh, Passerine survival can be aff ected by food avail- King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 ability (Jansson et al. 1981, Newton 1998) and 3JT, United Kingdom. E-mail: [email protected] winter severity (McNamara and Houston 1990, 1199 1200 C q. [Auk, Vol. 121 Cuthill and Houston 1997). However, most tropi- typically high, with hot days and cool–warm nights cal and southern-temperate regions experience from October to March (approximately 8–40°C) mild winters—which probably support relatively and mild days and very cold nights from May to high food levels (Oatley 1982, Rowley and Russell September (approximately –8 to 25°C) Study species.—The Sociable Weaver is endemic 1991)—and less extreme weather conditions than to southern Africa, with its distribution centered more northerly areas. Knowing how survival of in the Northern Cape and Namibia in strong asso- southern-temperate species is aff ected by food ciation with southern Kalahari vegetation (Maclean availability and weather conditions would help 1973a; Mendelsohn and Anderson 1997). Sociable in understanding the mechanisms that regulate Weavers weigh between 26 and 32 g, and sexes are survival at southern latitudes. indistinguishable in the fi eld. Sociable Weavers feed Here, we investigate juvenile and adult sur- predominantly on insects, but also on seeds and other vival in the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius), plant products (Maclean 1973d). Colonial cooperative a colonial cooperative passerine endemic to breeders, they show great variation in colony size the semi-arid savannas of southern Africa. The (2–500 individuals per colony; Maclean 1973b) and in number of helpers a ending a brood (up to nine latitudinal trend in avian life histories predicts helpers per brood; Maclean 1973c). Sociable Weavers higher adult survival in Sociable Weavers build a huge nest (1–4 m wide) with separate cham- than in most northern-temperate passerines. bers in which a pair (with their off spring or other High juvenile survival should also occur birds) roost and breed. The nest is built on a variety because—besides benefi ting from factors that of sturdy structures, from Acacia trees to telephone might increase adult survival—young in this poles (Maclean 1973b, Mendelsohn and Anderson sedentary species receive extended parental 1997). At Benfontein, nests are constructed on Acacia care and remain in the natal colony for at erioloba trees or, occasionally, on A. tortilis. The colony least four months (Covas 2002, R. Covas and can remain active for several decades, being occupied C. Doutrelant unpubl. data). Sociable Weavers by successive generations of birds, which continually add to the structure (Maclean 1973b). are suitable for study of environmental factors Sociable Weavers breed aseasonally in response to and survival because they inhabit a highly rainfall (Maclean 1973c). Rainfall is also a major deter- fl uctuating environment, where
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