Tree use, niche breadth and overlap for excavation by woodpeckers in subtropical piedmont forests of northwestern Argentina

SCHAAF ALEJANDRO; RUGGERA ROMAN; VIVANCO CONSTANZA; TALLEI EVER; BENAVIDEZ, ANALIA; ALBANESI, SEBASTIÁN; RIVERA LUIS; POLITI NATALIA

ACTA ORNITHOLOGICA

MUSEUM & INST ZOOLOGY

Lugar: Warszawa, POLAND; Año: 2020

0001-6454

Studiesdealing with the selection of tree species and characteristics forcavity-nesting birds are important to evaluate the abundance and quality ofavailable resources in the environment. The aim of this study is tocharacterize the use of trees by woodpecker species in the subtropical piedmontforests of northwestern Argentina by using theanalysis of niche selection, breadth and overlap in a total of five woodpeckerspecies of different body size found in these subtropical forests: White-barredPiculet Picumnus cirratus (small woodpeckers), Golden-olive Woodpecker Colaptesrubiginosus, Golden-green Woodpecker Piculus chrysochloros,Dot-fronted Woodpecker Veniliornis frontalis (medium-sized woodpeckers),and Cream-backed Woodpecker Campephilus leucopogon (largestwoodpeckers). From a total of 54 tree species, only 15 were used by thesewoodpecker species. Primary excavator species were moderate specialists in treeuse (Levin?s index), and they showed selection and use according to theiravailability (Ivlev?s index) of four of the fifteen tree species (Calycophyllummultiflorum, Amburana cearensis, Cedrela balansae, Astroniumurundeuva) and snags. There was a high overlap (Morisita?s overlap index)in the use of tree species between Picumnus cirratus and mediumsizedwoodpeckers, while less overlap was found between Campephilus leucopogon andother woodpecker species. Both living trees and snags were used by thewoodpeckers, although snags were more important for small and mediumsizedwoodpeckers, whereas living trees were more important for Campephilusleucopogon. Both snags and living trees had a large diameter at breastheight (DBH) (> 50 cm). Results show the existence of differentcavity-excavation niches for woodpecker species in subtropical forests of Argentinaand, they allow us to identify the important relationships between these birdsand the available tree species. Thus, the results of this work may be useful todevelop sustainable forest management guidelines for this group of birds