RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Habitat characteristics and seed crops used by Blue Chaffinches Fringilla teydea in winter: implications for conservation management
A1 García del Rey, Eduardo
A1 Gil, Luis
A1 Nanos, Nikos
A1 López de Heredia, Unai
A1 Gil Muñoz, Pascual
A1 Fernández-Palacios, José María
K1 Fringilla teydea
K1 conservation management
K1 Pinus forest
K1 gestión de la conservación
K1 pinar
AB Tree cover and seeds on the ground influence the occurrence of Blue Chaffinches during thenon-breeding period.To study the feeding habitat selection of the common Tenerife Blue Chaffinch race during the nonbreedingperiod as a desperate measure to conserve the endangered Gran Canaria race, whose criticalarea was burnt in the summer of 2007.Basic statistics were used to test for differences between occupied sites (n = 35) and availablerepresentative sites (n = 35). Univariate classification tree models were applied to explore the relationshipbetween a single response variable (presence–absence) and multiple explanatory variables and the relativeimportance of these. Pine seed availability was quantified on the trees (n = 70) and on the ground (n = 140;1 × 1 m plots).We found a non-random feeding habitat selection by Blue Chaffinches on Tenerife. During thenon-breeding period Blue Chaffinches selected those areas for feeding on pine seeds where the treecover was higher than 38% (mature areas with tall and thick trees with good crops). When the tree coverwas lower than 38%, the mean number of seeds on the ground influenced the presence of this finch(> 0.05 seeds per m2).This study highlights that Blue Chaffinches primarily select sheltered sites for feedingduring the non-breeding period. The selection of less sheltered sites seems to be mediated by pine seedavailability. Therefore, in this endemic forest system, perceived predation risk, food abundance andavailability, and overall availability of safe foraging options are all possibly determining the winterfeeding habitat selection. We recommend selective cuts in high-density pine stands to recreate thoseconditions that allow the pine trees to set seed and management aimed at creating a structure ofdispersed small-area compartments with mature trees that provide food and shelter. The installation ofartificial feeders seems to be a post-fire priority action for the conservation of the Gran Canariarace.
PB Taylor & Francis
YR 2009
FD 2009
LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18435
UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18435
LA en
NO Excmo. Cabildo Insular de Tenerife
DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
RD 01-jun-2024