Several species of North American migratory songbirds reportedly experience seasonal diet shifts involving a shift from an insect diet during the breeding season to one incorporating fruits during migration and non-breeding periods but the extent to which dietary plasticity occurs in migratory songbirds is poorly quantified. Thus, I used stable carbon (ä13C) and nitrogen (ä15N) isotope analyses to evaluate the timing and extent of frugivory throughout the annual life cycle of 16 species of migratory songbirds, representing wide ranges in body size and reported diets. Birds were sampled during spring and fall migration at the Delta Marsh Bird Observatory in 2003. To investigate dietary patterns, I sampled multiple tissues (muscle, liver, whole blood, claws, bone collagen, feathers) as these represent different periods of diet integration due to varying elemental turnover rates.<p>Assuming that relatively low ä15N values represent a fruit diet and relatively high ä15N values represent an insect diet, I expected tissues representing fall migration (liver, blood, and muscle from fall-captured birds) and winter (greater coverts and claws from spring-captured birds) to have lower ä15N values than tissues representing spring migration (liver, blood, and muscle from spring-captured birds) and summer (tail feathers and claws from fall-captured birds) when fruits are presumed to be less common in songbird diets. Based on blood and claw ä15N values, there was no isotopic segregation of species I classified a priori as insectivores or omnivores. For most species, tissue ä15N values showed either no seasonal change or a shift opposite to my prediction (e.g., ä15N values higher in fall birds compared to spring birds). Boreal fruit ä15N values were lower than those for insects; however, ä15N values of agricultural fruits overlapped both boreal fruit and insect values suggesting that food web baselines did not conform to a simple (single) linear trophic-enrichment model. In Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata), within-tissue seasonal comparisons for liver, muscle and blood indicated a fruit diet during fall and winter and an insect diet during spring and summer; claws and feathers of birds captured in spring (representing winter diet) had unexpectedly high ä15N values. Diet-tissue isotopic discrimination factors associated with both a fruit diet and insect diet were taken from the literature and used to correct stable isotope values of tissues to putative diet because, currently, little is known about the nature of factors influencing discrimination factors to be used in simple linear dietary mixing models. There were differences in tissue ä13C and ä15N values depending on which discrimination factor was used. Based on mixing model results for tissue ä15N values, a higher proportion of insects vs. fruits was detected in the diet of Yellow-rumped Warblers for all tissues except muscle and claws. <p>My interpretations are contingent on the fact that the available natural history information, on which guild classifications were based, was correct and that elemental turnover rates and discrimination factors used were accurate. However, much uncertainty remains about the appropriate diet-tissue isotopic discrimination factors corresponding to fruit and insect diets. Due to extensive natural variability of stable nitrogen isotope values in food sources, possible anthropogenic influences and a lack of knowledge of the metabolic processes that can potentially affect stable isotope values, I caution against using stable isotope analysis alone to track frugivory in temperate North American migratory songbirds. Future research should focus on captive studies aimed at determining and validating discrimination factors of various tissues, particularly claws and feathers, for birds feeding on varying proportions of fruits and insects. Additionally, more information on the dietary habits of these migratory songbirds is needed, as previous estimates of insectivory and frugivory in songbirds may not be accurate.

Several species of North American migratory songbirds reportedly experience seasonal diet shifts involving a shift from an insect diet during the breeding season to one incorporating fruits during migration and non-breeding periods but the extent to which dietary plasticity occurs in migratory songbirds is poorly quantified. Thus, I used stable carbon (ä13C) and nitrogen (ä15N) isotope analyses to evaluate the timing and extent of frugivory throughout the annual life cycle of 16 species of migratory songbirds, representing wide ranges in body size and reported diets. Birds were sampled during spring and fall migration at the Delta Marsh Bird Observatory in 2003. To investigate dietary patterns, I sampled multiple tissues (muscle, liver, whole blood, claws, bone collagen, feathers) as these represent different periods of diet integration due to varying elemental turnover rates.<p>Assuming that relatively low ä15N values represent a fruit diet and relatively high ä15N values represent an insect diet, I expected tissues representing fall migration (liver, blood, and muscle from fall-captured birds) and winter (greater coverts and claws from spring-captured birds) to have lower ä15N values than tissues representing spring migration (liver, blood, and muscle from spring-captured birds) and summer (tail feathers and claws from fall-captured birds) when fruits are presumed to be less common in songbird diets. Based on blood and claw ä15N values, there was no isotopic segregation of species I classified a priori as insectivores or omnivores. For most species, tissue ä15N values showed either no seasonal change or a shift opposite to my prediction (e.g., ä15N values higher in fall birds compared to spring birds). Boreal fruit ä15N values were lower than those for insects; however, ä15N values of agricultural fruits overlapped both boreal fruit and insect values suggesting that food web baselines did not conform to a simple (single) linear trophic-enrichment model. In Yellow-rumped Warblers (Dendroica coronata), within-tissue seasonal comparisons for liver, muscle and blood indicated a fruit diet during fall and winter and an insect diet during spring and summer; claws and feathers of birds captured in spring (representing winter diet) had unexpectedly high ä15N values. Diet-tissue isotopic discrimination factors associated with both a fruit diet and insect diet were taken from the literature and used to correct stable isotope values of tissues to putative diet because, currently, little is known about the nature of factors influencing discrimination factors to be used in simple linear dietary mixing models. There were differences in tissue ä13C and ä15N values depending on which discrimination factor was used. Based on mixing model results for tissue ä15N values, a higher proportion of insects vs. fruits was detected in the diet of Yellow-rumped Warblers for all tissues except muscle and claws. <p>My interpretations are contingent on the fact that the available natural history information, on which guild classifications were based, was correct and that elemental turnover rates and discrimination factors used were accurate. However, much uncertainty remains about the appropriate diet-tissue isotopic discrimination factors corresponding to fruit and insect diets. Due to extensive natural variability of stable nitrogen isotope values in food sources, possible anthropogenic influences and a lack of knowledge of the metabolic processes that can potentially affect stable isotope values, I caution against using stable isotope analysis alone to track frugivory in temperate North American migratory songbirds. Future research should focus on captive studies aimed at determining and validating discrimination factors of various tissues, particularly claws and feathers, for birds feeding on varying proportions of fruits and insects. Additionally, more information on the dietary habits of these migratory songbirds is needed, as previous estimates of insectivory and frugivory in songbirds may not be accurate.

No description available.

Os estudos sobre a relação habitat-espécie são importantes para a conservação, pois geram conhecimento sobre características de habitat essenciais para uma população. A incorporação destas informações em planos de conservação permite um manejo mais inteligente tanto da fauna como das áreas a serem preservadas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar o uso e a seleção de habitat de Saltator atricollis e Cypsnagra hirundinacea na Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, região central do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Ambas espécies são aves endêmicas do Cerrado e ameaçadas de extinção no Estado de São Paulo. O estudo foi desenvolvido entre setembro e dezembro de 2007 e setembro de 2008. O habitat foi analisado em duas escalas: o macro-habitat e o micro-habitat. Para analisar o habitat foram dispostos sistematicamente 84 pontos de amostragem na área de estudo. Na análise do macro-habitat foram utilizadas informações sobre o uso-disponibilidade das diferentes fisionomias sendo comparadas por meio do intervalo de confiança de Bailey. No estudo de micro-habitat foram medidas 11 características estruturais da vegetação ao redor de cada ponto de contato com S. atricollis, com C. hirundinacea e nos 84 pontos de amostragem. Para analisar as associações entre as características estruturais e as aves foi utilizado modelos de regressão logística selecionados pelo Critério de Informações de Akaike (AIC). Saltator atricollis selecionou áreas de campo cerrado, utilizou na mesma proporção que o esperado as áreas campestres e utilizou menos que o esperado o cerrado sensu stricto. Cypsnagra hirundinacea utilizou na mesma proporção que o esperado as áreas campestres e o campo cerrado enquanto o cerrado sensu stricto foi utilizado menos que o esperado. Quanto ao micro-habitat os melhores modelos para explicar a presença de S. atricollis incluíram maior densidade de árvores maiores que 2 m de altura e menor densidade de Syagrus petrea e de arbustos com até 1 m de altura. A presença de árvores é importante para a espécie, pois são utilizadas como poleiros durante o comportamento de sentinela. As altas densidades de Syagrus petrea e arbustos baixos (< 1m) podem diminuir a quantidade de moitas de gramíneas (utilizadas para a construção de ninhos) já que ambos ocupam o mesmo estrato. Assim, indiretamente, a presença de Syagrus petrea e arbustos baixos (< 1m) podem diminuir a disponibilidade de sítios reprodutivos. Além disso, podem atrapalhar o forrageamento por dificultar a utilização do estrato herbáceo. Os modelos que explicaram melhor a presença de C. hirundinacea foram representados por uma maior densidade de arbustos e árvores intermediárias e altas (entre 1 e 2 m, entre 2 e 4 m e maiores que 4 m de altura), maior densidade de braquiária e menor densidade de Attalea geraensis e de solo exposto. A presença de árvores é importante, pois a espécie as usa para forragear, construir ninhos e vigiar contra predadores. A relação positiva com a braquiária pode estar relacionada ao fato da espécie não utilizar o estrato herbáceo e ao mesmo tempo a invasão dessa gramínea, possivelmente, ainda não deve ter alterado a estrutura da vegetação lenhosa. Já a relação inversa entre a presença de C. hirundinacea e a densidade de solo exposto e de A. geraensis deve ocorrer, pois em ambientes com alta densidade dessas variáveis provavelmente há um baixo número de árvores o que diminui a disponibilidade de sítios de forrageamento e reprodutivos. Portanto para a manutenção dessas espécies é importante preservar as fisionomias abertas do Cerrado, as quais estão desaparecendo no estado de São Paulo, além disso recomenda-se manter nessas fisionomias a presença de algumas árvores e evitar a dominância de palmeiras rasteiras. / Studies about habitat-species relationships are important for conservation, because they generate knowledge about the essential characteristics of a habitat for a population. Incorporation of such information in conservation plans allows for a more intelligent management of both fauna and habitats that should be preserved. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitat use and selection by Saltator atricollis and Cypsnagra hirundinacea at Estação Ecológica de Itirapina in central State of São Paulo, Brazil. Both species are endemic birds of the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) and they are considered threatened with extinction in the State of São Paulo. The study was developed from September to December of 2007 and in September 2008. Habitat was analyzed in two scales: macrohabitat and microhabitat. To analyze the habitat 84 sampling points had been distributed at the study area. Macrohabitat selection was analyzed based on use-availability data of physiognomy and performing Baileys confidence interval. To investigate the use of the microhabitat there were estimated eleven structural characteristics of vegetation. These characteristics were described in each exact point that S. atricollis and C. hirundinacea had seen and in the 84 sampling points. The associations between the structural characteristics and the birds were identified by logistic regression models selected by Akaike Information Criteria (AIC). Saltator atricollis selected campo cerrado physiognomies (grassland savannah), it use campos (grasslands) at the expected proportion and cerrado sensu stricto (woodland savannah) less than expected proportion. Cypsnagra hirundinacea used both campos and campo cerrado areas at expected proportions while cerrado sensu stricto was used less than expected proportion. At the microhabitats level, the best models to explain the presence of S. atricollis included greater density of trees higher than 2 meters, lesser density of Syagrus petrea, and lesser density of bushes of to up to 1 meter height. The presence of trees is important to this specie, because the trees are used as perches during sentinel behavior. The high density of Syagrus petrea should diminish the amount of grassy because they use the same space on the habitat. Birds use the grassy to make its nest and the presence of Syagrus petrea and short bushes (< 1m) should indirectly reduce places for reproductive sites and might make foraging more difficult. The best models to explain the presence of C. hirundinacea were the one represented by a greater density of bushes and, trees of intermediate to greater height (between 1 and 2 meters, between 2 and 4 meters, and higher than 4 meters), greater density of Brachiaria grasses and lesser density of Attalea geraensis and exposed ground. The presence of trees is important because the species use them to forage, build nests and watch against predators. The positive relation with Brachiaria grasses might be occurs because C. hirundinacea dont use the herb layer. Possibly, the invasion of the Brachiaria grasses not having changed the structure of the vegetation yet. The inverse relation between the bird specie and the presence of exposed ground and A. geraensis, should occur because in habitats with high density of exposed ground and A. geraensis there are few places to feed and to reproduction. Therefore, to the maintenance of these birds species it is important preserving the open physiognomies of the Cerrado, which are disappearing from the State of São Paulo. Its also necessary to keep in theses physiognomies the presence of a few bushes and trees and also avoid the dominance of A. geraensis and Syagrus petrea.

Os estudos sobre a relação habitat-espécie são importantes para a conservação, pois geram conhecimento sobre características de habitat essenciais para uma população. A incorporação destas informações em planos de conservação permite um manejo mais inteligente tanto da fauna como das áreas a serem preservadas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar o uso e a seleção de habitat de Saltator atricollis e Cypsnagra hirundinacea na Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, região central do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Ambas espécies são aves endêmicas do Cerrado e ameaçadas de extinção no Estado de São Paulo. O estudo foi desenvolvido entre setembro e dezembro de 2007 e setembro de 2008. O habitat foi analisado em duas escalas: o macro-habitat e o micro-habitat. Para analisar o habitat foram dispostos sistematicamente 84 pontos de amostragem na área de estudo. Na análise do macro-habitat foram utilizadas informações sobre o uso-disponibilidade das diferentes fisionomias sendo comparadas por meio do intervalo de confiança de Bailey. No estudo de micro-habitat foram medidas 11 características estruturais da vegetação ao redor de cada ponto de contato com S. atricollis, com C. hirundinacea e nos 84 pontos de amostragem. Para analisar as associações entre as características estruturais e as aves foi utilizado modelos de regressão logística selecionados pelo Critério de Informações de Akaike (AIC). Saltator atricollis selecionou áreas de campo cerrado, utilizou na mesma proporção que o esperado as áreas campestres e utilizou menos que o esperado o cerrado sensu stricto. Cypsnagra hirundinacea utilizou na mesma proporção que o esperado as áreas campestres e o campo cerrado enquanto o cerrado sensu stricto foi utilizado menos que o esperado. Quanto ao micro-habitat os melhores modelos para explicar a presença de S. atricollis incluíram maior densidade de árvores maiores que 2 m de altura e menor densidade de Syagrus petrea e de arbustos com até 1 m de altura. A presença de árvores é importante para a espécie, pois são utilizadas como poleiros durante o comportamento de sentinela. As altas densidades de Syagrus petrea e arbustos baixos (< 1m) podem diminuir a quantidade de moitas de gramíneas (utilizadas para a construção de ninhos) já que ambos ocupam o mesmo estrato. Assim, indiretamente, a presença de Syagrus petrea e arbustos baixos (< 1m) podem diminuir a disponibilidade de sítios reprodutivos. Além disso, podem atrapalhar o forrageamento por dificultar a utilização do estrato herbáceo. Os modelos que explicaram melhor a presença de C. hirundinacea foram representados por uma maior densidade de arbustos e árvores intermediárias e altas (entre 1 e 2 m, entre 2 e 4 m e maiores que 4 m de altura), maior densidade de braquiária e menor densidade de Attalea geraensis e de solo exposto. A presença de árvores é importante, pois a espécie as usa para forragear, construir ninhos e vigiar contra predadores. A relação positiva com a braquiária pode estar relacionada ao fato da espécie não utilizar o estrato herbáceo e ao mesmo tempo a invasão dessa gramínea, possivelmente, ainda não deve ter alterado a estrutura da vegetação lenhosa. Já a relação inversa entre a presença de C. hirundinacea e a densidade de solo exposto e de A. geraensis deve ocorrer, pois em ambientes com alta densidade dessas variáveis provavelmente há um baixo número de árvores o que diminui a disponibilidade de sítios de forrageamento e reprodutivos. Portanto para a manutenção dessas espécies é importante preservar as fisionomias abertas do Cerrado, as quais estão desaparecendo no estado de São Paulo, além disso recomenda-se manter nessas fisionomias a presença de algumas árvores e evitar a dominância de palmeiras rasteiras. / Studies about habitat-species relationships are important for conservation, because they generate knowledge about the essential characteristics of a habitat for a population. Incorporation of such information in conservation plans allows for a more intelligent management of both fauna and habitats that should be preserved. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitat use and selection by Saltator atricollis and Cypsnagra hirundinacea at Estação Ecológica de Itirapina in central State of São Paulo, Brazil. Both species are endemic birds of the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) and they are considered threatened with extinction in the State of São Paulo. The study was developed from September to December of 2007 and in September 2008. Habitat was analyzed in two scales: macrohabitat and microhabitat. To analyze the habitat 84 sampling points had been distributed at the study area. Macrohabitat selection was analyzed based on use-availability data of physiognomy and performing Baileys confidence interval. To investigate the use of the microhabitat there were estimated eleven structural characteristics of vegetation. These characteristics were described in each exact point that S. atricollis and C. hirundinacea had seen and in the 84 sampling points. The associations between the structural characteristics and the birds were identified by logistic regression models selected by Akaike Information Criteria (AIC). Saltator atricollis selected campo cerrado physiognomies (grassland savannah), it use campos (grasslands) at the expected proportion and cerrado sensu stricto (woodland savannah) less than expected proportion. Cypsnagra hirundinacea used both campos and campo cerrado areas at expected proportions while cerrado sensu stricto was used less than expected proportion. At the microhabitats level, the best models to explain the presence of S. atricollis included greater density of trees higher than 2 meters, lesser density of Syagrus petrea, and lesser density of bushes of to up to 1 meter height. The presence of trees is important to this specie, because the trees are used as perches during sentinel behavior. The high density of Syagrus petrea should diminish the amount of grassy because they use the same space on the habitat. Birds use the grassy to make its nest and the presence of Syagrus petrea and short bushes (< 1m) should indirectly reduce places for reproductive sites and might make foraging more difficult. The best models to explain the presence of C. hirundinacea were the one represented by a greater density of bushes and, trees of intermediate to greater height (between 1 and 2 meters, between 2 and 4 meters, and higher than 4 meters), greater density of Brachiaria grasses and lesser density of Attalea geraensis and exposed ground. The presence of trees is important because the species use them to forage, build nests and watch against predators. The positive relation with Brachiaria grasses might be occurs because C. hirundinacea dont use the herb layer. Possibly, the invasion of the Brachiaria grasses not having changed the structure of the vegetation yet. The inverse relation between the bird specie and the presence of exposed ground and A. geraensis, should occur because in habitats with high density of exposed ground and A. geraensis there are few places to feed and to reproduction. Therefore, to the maintenance of these birds species it is important preserving the open physiognomies of the Cerrado, which are disappearing from the State of São Paulo. Its also necessary to keep in theses physiognomies the presence of a few bushes and trees and also avoid the dominance of A. geraensis and Syagrus petrea.