Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert
Knowledge gaps about the basic demography of a species facing population declines impede conservation efforts. For many passerine species, the survival rate of the post-fledging stage is unknown but may directly contribute to population trajectories. Bendire’s Thrasher ( Toxostoma bendirei ) exhibit...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Resilience Alliance
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Avian Conservation and Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ace-eco.org/vol18/iss2/art2 |
| _version_ | 1797372313788743680 |
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| author | Allison Salas Fitsum Abadi Martha J Desmond |
| author_facet | Allison Salas Fitsum Abadi Martha J Desmond |
| author_sort | Allison Salas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Knowledge gaps about the basic demography of a species facing population declines impede conservation efforts. For many passerine species, the survival rate of the post-fledging stage is unknown but may directly contribute to population trajectories. Bendire’s Thrasher ( Toxostoma bendirei ) exhibits steep population declines in the southwestern United States, yet little is known about the basic breeding biology of this species. We examined juvenile Bendire’s Thrasher survival during the post-fledging period and movement patterns from the nest site. We attached transmitters to 25 nestlings and tracked 19 fledglings using radio-telemetry. Using the known fate survival method, we modeled fledgling weekly survival in relation to age, time, and body condition, as well as habitat characteristics recorded at tracking locations. The top ranked model indicated that weekly survival increased with age since fledging (β = 0.225, 95% CI: 0.109, 0.340), and survival was low (< 50%) during the first 10 days post-fledging. Predation pressure on fledglings was strong because they were not capable of flight for the first several days after leaving the nest. Distances moved from the nest increased with fledgling age, and in general, fledglings remained with family units (siblings and adults) on or near the breeding territory until the family unit dispersed. Further investigation into the post-fledging stage, in combination with other life cycle stages, will be critical for future conservation and population growth of Bendire’s Thrashers within the Chihuahuan Desert. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:33:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b195c6dcd33a40feb6a78d853837b433 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1712-6568 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:33:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Resilience Alliance |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Avian Conservation and Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b195c6dcd33a40feb6a78d853837b4332023-12-29T17:00:10ZengResilience AllianceAvian Conservation and Ecology1712-65682023-12-01182210.5751/ACE-02477-1802022477Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan DesertAllison Salas0Fitsum Abadi1Martha J Desmond2Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USADepartment of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USADepartment of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USAKnowledge gaps about the basic demography of a species facing population declines impede conservation efforts. For many passerine species, the survival rate of the post-fledging stage is unknown but may directly contribute to population trajectories. Bendire’s Thrasher ( Toxostoma bendirei ) exhibits steep population declines in the southwestern United States, yet little is known about the basic breeding biology of this species. We examined juvenile Bendire’s Thrasher survival during the post-fledging period and movement patterns from the nest site. We attached transmitters to 25 nestlings and tracked 19 fledglings using radio-telemetry. Using the known fate survival method, we modeled fledgling weekly survival in relation to age, time, and body condition, as well as habitat characteristics recorded at tracking locations. The top ranked model indicated that weekly survival increased with age since fledging (β = 0.225, 95% CI: 0.109, 0.340), and survival was low (< 50%) during the first 10 days post-fledging. Predation pressure on fledglings was strong because they were not capable of flight for the first several days after leaving the nest. Distances moved from the nest increased with fledgling age, and in general, fledglings remained with family units (siblings and adults) on or near the breeding territory until the family unit dispersed. Further investigation into the post-fledging stage, in combination with other life cycle stages, will be critical for future conservation and population growth of Bendire’s Thrashers within the Chihuahuan Desert.https://www.ace-eco.org/vol18/iss2/art2habitat associationsjuvenileknown fate modelsmovementparental carepasserinermark |
| spellingShingle | Allison Salas Fitsum Abadi Martha J Desmond Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert Avian Conservation and Ecology habitat associations juvenile known fate models movement parental care passerine rmark |
| title | Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert |
| title_full | Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert |
| title_fullStr | Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert |
| title_short | Post-fledging survival, movement patterns, and habitat associations of Bendire's Thrashers ( Toxostoma bendirei ) in the Chihuahuan Desert |
| title_sort | post fledging survival movement patterns and habitat associations of bendire s thrashers toxostoma bendirei in the chihuahuan desert |
| topic | habitat associations juvenile known fate models movement parental care passerine rmark |
| url | https://www.ace-eco.org/vol18/iss2/art2 |
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