Effects of research activity on hatching success in a colony of South American Terns (Sterna hirundinacea)

BLANCO, G.; YORIO, P.; BERTELLOTTI, M.

WATERBIRDS (DE LEON SPRINGS, FLA.)

WATERBIRD SOC

Año: 1999 vol. 22 p. 148 - 150

1524-4695

 Determination of breeding success of birds requires a variable amount of disturbance by human ob-servers. The effects of human disturbance during research activities were assessed in a colony of South American Terns (Sterna hirundinacea) by comparing hatching success between visited and unvisited nests during incubation. Predation by a mustelid, probably the Little Grison (Galictis cuja), was the main cause of nest failure during incuba-tion. Hatching success and daily nest survival rates during incubation did not differ between visited and unvisited nests