ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 23: 125–130, 2012 © The Neotropical Ornithological Society CRITICAL PARAMETERS FOR PSITTACINE CONSERVATION: A SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW Donald J. Brightsmith1 & Thomas H. White, Jr.2 1Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M Uni- versity, TAMU 4467, College Station, TX 77843-4467 USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program, Box 1600, Rio Grande, 00745 Puerto Rico. E-mail: [email protected] Resumen. – Parámetros críticos para la conservación de psitácidos. – En la última década ha habido un incremento substancial en investigaciones sobre psitácidos Neotropicales. A pesar de esto ha sido difícil generar informacion sobre los parámetros críticos para conservación de psitácidos silvestres porque varias teorías y técnicas tradicionales no se aplican a este grupo de aves. Este simposio junta biólogos que estu- dian psitácidos que han desarrollado técnicas nuevas y exitosas para estudiar estas aves. Proveemos una síntesis de la última información disponible sobre algunos de las temas de conservación e investigación más relevantes en la conservación de psitácidos incluyendo los siguientes: uso de modelos de viabilidad poblacional (VORTEX) para identificar los parámetros más importantes para sobrevivencia y recuperación de poblaciones de psitácidos, métodos para estimar éxito reproductivo, métodos para estimar densidad poblacional, efectos de cambio climático sobre la dinámica de poblaciones, y como maximizar el éxito de proyectos de liberación y reintroducción de psitácidos. El incremento en nuestro nivel de conocimiento de ecología de psitácidos sumado a un mejor entendimiento de procesos climáticos, técnicas analíticas, y estrategias de conservación como reintroducción nos provee mejores oportunidades y retos para mejorar la conservación de esta familia que esta altamente amenazada. Abstract. – Over the past decade there has been a substantial increase in research conducted on Neotropi- cal psittacines, nevertheless, knowledge of the key parameters necessary for parrot conservation remains elusive as traditional ornithological theory and techniques do not always transfer to this family. This sympo- sium brings together psittacine biologists who have developed novel and successful techniques for study- ing these birds. We provide a pragmatic synthesis of the latest available information on some of the most relevant research and conservation issues in psittacine conservation, including the use of population viability models to identify the key life history parameters for survival and recovery of wild psittacine populations, methods to estimate reproductive success and population density, effects of global climate change on popu- lation dynamics, and how to maximize the success of psittacine captive release and reintroduction projects. The growth in knowledge not only of psittacine ecology, but also climatic phenomenon, analytical techniques, and conservation strategies such as reintroductions, provides us with increasing opportunities – and chal- lenges – for improving conservation efforts for this increasingly threatened family. Keywords: Psittacidae, population viability analysis, reintroduction, climate, abundance, reproduction. INTRODUCTION ternational 2012), making this one of the most endangered bird families in the region. Over Birdlife International currently classifies 49 of the past decade there has been a substantial in- the 155 known species of Neotropical psitta- crease in research conducted on Neotropical cines as threatened with extinction (Birdlife In- psittacines, as evidenced by numerous recent 125 BRIGHTSMITH1 & WHITE, JR. publications (e.g., Myers & Vaughan 2004, climate change on population dynamics, and Renton 2004, Brightsmith et al. 2005, White how to maximize the success of psittacine et al. 2005, Rodríguez-Castillo & Eberhard captive release and reintroduction projects. 2006, Sanz & Rodríguez-Ferraro 2006, White et al. 2006, Koenig et al. 2007, Nunes & Galetti RESULTS 2007, Matuzak et al. 2008, Monterubio-Rico et al. 2009, De Labra et al. 2010, Vigo et al. 2011, T he symposium took place 11 November 2011 Carneiro et al. 2012, and many others) as well at the Centro de Convenciones in Cusco, Peru, as presentations at the recent International Or- and consisted of the following 5 presentations nithological Congress in Brazil. and associated speakers/institutions, including Nevertheless, specific knowledge of the a brief summary of each: key parameters necessary to promote success- 1. ¿Cuáles son las variables que real- ful parrot conservation remains elusive. As a mente importan?: lecciones del mod- group, psittacines are generally non-territorial, elaje de Ara macao y Ara ambiguus flocking, canopy dwelling species that present con Vortex.—Juan Cornejo/Texas unique challenges to researchers and manag- A&M University, USA ers. Consequently, traditional ornithological theory and techniques do not always transfer Summary: Vortex es un programa de simu- or readily apply to members of this avian tax- lación estocástico para el análisis de viabilidad on. Therefore, we organized a symposium to de poblaciones, con el que se modelan las in- bring together psittacine biologists who have teracciones entre parámetros poblacionales developed novel and successful techniques y biológicos de la especie elegida. El modelo for studying these birds. The information permite probar los efectos de diferentes esce- presented should also be useful for biologists narios en la tasa de crecimiento o en el riesgo de working on a wide array of ornithological taxa. extinción de una población en un determinado Because of the inherent difficulties and as- periodo de tiempo, y de esta manera comparar sociated expense of psittacine research, such y determinar las mejores opciones de manejo. information should help improve both the fo- Mediante un análisis de sensibilidad podemos cus and efficacy of current and future work, explorar el efecto relativo de los diferentes pará- thereby facilitating the efficient acquisition metros en el comportamiento del modelo, iden- of reliable knowledge. This point is particu- tificando los más críticos, y así poder determinar larly relevant in times of economic difficul- las prioridades de investigación de aquellos en ties and uncertainties, as presently faced by los que existan incertidumbres. Los análisis real- many – if not most – Neotropical ornithologi- izados de la viabilidad de la población de la gua- cal researchers. Accordingly, this symposium camaya roja (Ara macao cyanoptera) en Guatemala, consisted of presentations that provided a y de la guacamaya verde (Ara ambiguus) en Costa pragmatic synthesis of the latest available in- Rica, identificaron que los factores biológicos formation on some of the most relevant re- con mayor impacto sobre su sobrevivencia son search and conservation issues in psittacine la tasa de mortalidad de adultos (en especial de conservation, such as the use of population las hembras), y el porcentaje de hembras que re- viability models to identify the key life his- producen exitosamente cada año. Como otros tory parameters for survival and recovery of psitácidos con ciclos de vida caracterizados por wild psittacine populations, the most effec- la baja fecundidad, la alta sobrevivencia anual tive methods to estimate reproductive success de adultos y la alta longevidad, estas especies se and population density, the effects of global verán beneficiados por acciones de manejo en- 126 CRITICAL PARAMETERS FOR PSITTACINE CONSERVATION: A SYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW focadas a que haya suficientes nidos y estén pro- nesting success, percent of females nesting, and tegidos, así como a evitar la cacería de adultos percent of young in the local population, and y controlar las especies invasoras. El modelaje for rapidly detecting cases of complete or near- de poblaciones de psitácidos mediante Vortex complete nesting failures. ofrece la posibilidad de entender mejor la rel- 3. The importance of inter-annual vari- ación entre los diferentes parámetros intrínse- ability due to climatic factors on cos y extrínsecos que las gobiernan, así como breeding success: the case of the determinar las acciones más adecuadas para su Burrowing Parrots of Patagonia and recuperación y sobrevivencia. the El Niño Southern Oscillation.— 2. Estimating reproductive success in Juan Masello/Max Planck Institute large parrots: advantages and dis- of Ornithology, Germany advantages of direct versus indirect Summary: The El Niño Southern Oscilla- methods.—Donald Brightsmith/ tion is an irregular and recurrent climatic and Texas A&M University, USA meteorological phenomenon that has diverse Summary: Reproductive success is a funda- and profound effects on both global and local mental parameter for any animal population, weather patterns. In this study, the effects of this especially those with inherently low reproduc- phenomenon on breeding success of Burrowing tive rates, such as “large” parrots (e.g., Ara spp.). Parrots (Cyanoliseus patagonus) in the Argentin- Changes in reproductive success may portend ean Patagonia were examined. El Niño events significant changes in population trajectory and resulted in substantial increases in precipitation species ecology, yet are notoriously difficult to and primary productivity during the parrot nest- accurately assess for large parrots. Direct meth- ing season (Oct–Feb), with concomitant and ods such as active nest-checks are commonly significant shifts