Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile
Monk Parakeets are considered one of the most invasive bird species given its unique capacity among psittacines to build their own communal nests. Originally introduced as pets in houses from where they escaped or were released, they are currently considered invasive in more than 20 countries worldw...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Birds |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/4/23 |
| _version_ | 1797461179246837760 |
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| author | Cristóbal Briceño Matilde Larraechea Sergio Alvarado |
| author_facet | Cristóbal Briceño Matilde Larraechea Sergio Alvarado |
| author_sort | Cristóbal Briceño |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Monk Parakeets are considered one of the most invasive bird species given its unique capacity among psittacines to build their own communal nests. Originally introduced as pets in houses from where they escaped or were released, they are currently considered invasive in more than 20 countries worldwide. This is the case in Chile, where Monk Parakeets were introduced during the 1970s. Between 2016 and 2019 we searched Monk Parakeets’ nests structures in the Santiago metropolis region. We identified 1458 Monk Parakeets’ communal nests on 546 trees belonging to 34 tree species. Ninety-one percent of the occupied trees were also introduced. Paraná pine and cedar of Lebanon were the tree species with highest abundance of nests, averaging more than four nests/tree/species, with 23 and 18 maximum number of nests, respectively. Tasmanian blue gum and black locust were selected by parakeets more often than expected, based on availability. From all trees, 24.6% denoted health problems and 47.3% were pruned. The average nest height was 14.2 m and nests were observed mainly in secondary branches (59.3%). The occupancy rate was 89.7% and was associated to nest height and type of branch. During two reproductive seasons we quantified eggs and nestlings in chambers averaging 4.5 and 4.2, respectively. We provide a rough population size estimate and the characteristics of Monk Parakeets nest and tree selectivity, aiming to characterize several decades of a neglected urban invasion to warrant strategies for improved management measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:16:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddc19f8f5c19458b8c7653cb01a48b35 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6004 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:16:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Birds |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddc19f8f5c19458b8c7653cb01a48b352023-11-24T13:38:17ZengMDPI AGBirds2673-60042022-10-013434135810.3390/birds3040023Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, ChileCristóbal Briceño0Matilde Larraechea1Sergio Alvarado2ConserLab, Animal Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8820808, CP, ChileConserLab, Animal Preventive Medicine Department, Faculty of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago 8820808, CP, ChileSchool of Public Health, University of Chile, Santiago 8380000, CP, ChileMonk Parakeets are considered one of the most invasive bird species given its unique capacity among psittacines to build their own communal nests. Originally introduced as pets in houses from where they escaped or were released, they are currently considered invasive in more than 20 countries worldwide. This is the case in Chile, where Monk Parakeets were introduced during the 1970s. Between 2016 and 2019 we searched Monk Parakeets’ nests structures in the Santiago metropolis region. We identified 1458 Monk Parakeets’ communal nests on 546 trees belonging to 34 tree species. Ninety-one percent of the occupied trees were also introduced. Paraná pine and cedar of Lebanon were the tree species with highest abundance of nests, averaging more than four nests/tree/species, with 23 and 18 maximum number of nests, respectively. Tasmanian blue gum and black locust were selected by parakeets more often than expected, based on availability. From all trees, 24.6% denoted health problems and 47.3% were pruned. The average nest height was 14.2 m and nests were observed mainly in secondary branches (59.3%). The occupancy rate was 89.7% and was associated to nest height and type of branch. During two reproductive seasons we quantified eggs and nestlings in chambers averaging 4.5 and 4.2, respectively. We provide a rough population size estimate and the characteristics of Monk Parakeets nest and tree selectivity, aiming to characterize several decades of a neglected urban invasion to warrant strategies for improved management measures.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/4/23ecological invasionsecosystem engineersinvasional meltdowninvasive psittacineinvasive speciesreproductive parameters |
| spellingShingle | Cristóbal Briceño Matilde Larraechea Sergio Alvarado Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile Birds ecological invasions ecosystem engineers invasional meltdown invasive psittacine invasive species reproductive parameters |
| title | Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile |
| title_full | Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile |
| title_fullStr | Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile |
| title_short | Monk Parakeet’s (<i>Myiopsitta monachus</i>) Ecological Parameters after Five Decades of Invasion in Santiago Metropolis, Chile |
| title_sort | monk parakeet s i myiopsitta monachus i ecological parameters after five decades of invasion in santiago metropolis chile |
| topic | ecological invasions ecosystem engineers invasional meltdown invasive psittacine invasive species reproductive parameters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/3/4/23 |
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