NEST STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF Troglodytes aedon IN THE SEMIARID REGION OF SAN LUIS, ARGENTINA

VETTORAZZI, L.; NUÑEZ, M. B.; CID, F. D.

San Juan

Congreso; XXXIV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2016

SBC

The nest structure of each specie is relatively uniform. One function of the nests is the protection against predators and unfavorable climatic factors, maximizing reproductive efficiency. The analysis of the composition of the nests is a good indicator of habitat use and requirements related to the functions of thermal insulation against the wind and cold, which favor the eggs incubation. The Troglodytes aedon nests are built by males and females, each one have a specific function. For this study, 8 nests collected from nest boxes located 30 km from the city of San Luis were analyzed. The area has characteristics of the Monte phytogeographical province. The nests were placed in individual bags, labeled and taken to the laboratory, where the length and weight was measured and its composition was analyzed. Thin rods labeled with letters (A, B, C, D and E) and numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) were placed vertically and horizontally at specific points of the nest in order to optimize the study. The length and weight of those materials (stems, branches, sticks) that were touching the union of two rods was measured. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the measured weights and lengths of materials between the points of intersection of all nests (F = 1.45, p = 0.19; F = 0.62, p = 0.77 respectively). Comparing the total material examined between nests, a significant difference is observed with respect to lengths (F = 13.44, p