Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)

Emberizoides herbicola (Wedge-tailed Grass-finch), Emberizidae, Passeriformes, lives in various types of grasslands in South America. Its life history is poorly known and here we provide novel information on several aspects of its breeding biology, including territoriality and habitat use. We invest...

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Main Authors: Miguel Marini, Mariana Mira Vanconcellos, Yonara Lobo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia 2014-02-01
Series:Bioscience Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://seer.ufu.br/index.php/biosciencejournal/article/view/19516
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author Miguel Marini
Mariana Mira Vanconcellos
Yonara Lobo
author_facet Miguel Marini
Mariana Mira Vanconcellos
Yonara Lobo
author_sort Miguel Marini
collection DOAJ
description Emberizoides herbicola (Wedge-tailed Grass-finch), Emberizidae, Passeriformes, lives in various types of grasslands in South America. Its life history is poorly known and here we provide novel information on several aspects of its breeding biology, including territoriality and habitat use. We investigated it at Águas Emendadas Ecological Station, Federal District, Brazil, between 2002 and 2009. Banded E. herbicola had an average territory size of 3.9 ha (n = 6). Twenty nests were monitored every 2-4 days, of which 18 were active. The reproductive period occurred from October to March, but eggs were laid from early October to mid-November, with a peak in late October. Nests were built close to the ground and (mean height = 14.8 ± 9.0 cm, n = 17) clutch size was invariably two but ranged from one to three eggs (mean = 2 ± 0.4, n = 15). Incubation period was 14.8 ± 0.8 days (n = 2) and nestling period was 11 ± 0.6 days (n = 4). Most nests (n = 12) were built in open cerrado vegetation. Among the 18 active nests, 44.4% were successful, 38.9% were depredated and 16.7% were abandoned. Predation rate during the nestling period (85.7%) was significantly higher than during the incubation period (14.3%). Mayfield nest success rate was 42%, with a much higher survival rate during the egg period (0.881 ± 0.112) than during the nestling period (0.476 ± 0.147). Most nests (n = 12) were built in open cerrado vegetation, which may be considered the most important habitat for the species both for territory defense and nesting.
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spelling doaj.art-e7530b433df149c0b6e856278c5a54352022-12-21T20:12:21ZengUniversidade Federal de UberlândiaBioscience Journal1981-31632014-02-01303Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)Miguel Marini0Mariana Mira Vanconcellos1Yonara Lobo2Universidade de BrasíliaUniversity of Texas at AustinUniversidade de BrasíliaEmberizoides herbicola (Wedge-tailed Grass-finch), Emberizidae, Passeriformes, lives in various types of grasslands in South America. Its life history is poorly known and here we provide novel information on several aspects of its breeding biology, including territoriality and habitat use. We investigated it at Águas Emendadas Ecological Station, Federal District, Brazil, between 2002 and 2009. Banded E. herbicola had an average territory size of 3.9 ha (n = 6). Twenty nests were monitored every 2-4 days, of which 18 were active. The reproductive period occurred from October to March, but eggs were laid from early October to mid-November, with a peak in late October. Nests were built close to the ground and (mean height = 14.8 ± 9.0 cm, n = 17) clutch size was invariably two but ranged from one to three eggs (mean = 2 ± 0.4, n = 15). Incubation period was 14.8 ± 0.8 days (n = 2) and nestling period was 11 ± 0.6 days (n = 4). Most nests (n = 12) were built in open cerrado vegetation. Among the 18 active nests, 44.4% were successful, 38.9% were depredated and 16.7% were abandoned. Predation rate during the nestling period (85.7%) was significantly higher than during the incubation period (14.3%). Mayfield nest success rate was 42%, with a much higher survival rate during the egg period (0.881 ± 0.112) than during the nestling period (0.476 ± 0.147). Most nests (n = 12) were built in open cerrado vegetation, which may be considered the most important habitat for the species both for territory defense and nesting.https://seer.ufu.br/index.php/biosciencejournal/article/view/19516Breeding biology. Cerrado. Life history. Home range. Neotropical savanna.
spellingShingle Miguel Marini
Mariana Mira Vanconcellos
Yonara Lobo
Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)
Bioscience Journal
Breeding biology. Cerrado. Life history. Home range. Neotropical savanna.
title Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)
title_full Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)
title_fullStr Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)
title_full_unstemmed Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)
title_short Reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge-tailed grass-finch (Emberizoides herbicola) (Aves: Passeriformes)
title_sort reproductive biology and territoriality of the wedge tailed grass finch emberizoides herbicola aves passeriformes
topic Breeding biology. Cerrado. Life history. Home range. Neotropical savanna.
url https://seer.ufu.br/index.php/biosciencejournal/article/view/19516
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AT marianamiravanconcellos reproductivebiologyandterritorialityofthewedgetailedgrassfinchemberizoidesherbicolaavespasseriformes
AT yonaralobo reproductivebiologyandterritorialityofthewedgetailedgrassfinchemberizoidesherbicolaavespasseriformes