INVESTIGADORES
OJEDA valeria Susana
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Forest characteristics and home range size of Magellanic woodpeckers Campephilus magellanicus in northwerten Patagonia, Argentina
Autor/es:
CHAZARRETA, L. Y V. OJEDA
Lugar:
Bariloche
Reunión:
Congreso; VI Southern Connection Congress; 2010
Institución organizadora:
Southern Connection
Resumen:
The study of the use of space by animals and its relationships with characteristics of the habitats allows understanding the requirements and ecology of different species. The Magellanic woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus, Aves Picidae) is the largest picid of the Austral Temperate Forest and inhabits exclusively the mature, pure or mixed Nothofagus forests present in southern Chile and Argentina. It is territorial and lives in stable family groups. We studied habitat characteristics and home-range size variation in a population of Magellanic woodpeckers from Northwestern Patagonia. We determined the home-range size of 8 woodpecker families in order to relate home-range size with habitat characteristics. We used a 95% fixed kernel estimator to measure the home-range size. Range sizes along with characteristics of the used habitats were variable among woodpecker families. Smaller home ranges were characterized by big trees (larger DBH and heights). Tree density at each home-range was also different among families: areas that were characterized by high tree density also had smaller trees, and at areas with big trees had lower tree densities. Due to the dependency of this woodpecker on certain key elements of the habitat it lives, it is important to generate information about the extension and characteristics of the forest used by this species in different conditions. Given there is variation in size and characteristics of the home ranges, we recommend those habitat elements be considered when designing conservation strategies.