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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 109(3)

Low and variable reproductive success of a neotropical tyrant-flycatcher, Chapada Flycatcher (Suiriri islerorum)

Leonardo Fernandes França A C and Miguel Ângelo Marini B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil.

B Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil.

C Corresponding author. Present address: SQN 37 Casa 09 Apto 02, Taguatinga – DF, Brazil, Postal code 72110-370. Email: franca_lf@yahoo.com

Emu 109(3) 265-269 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU09052
Submitted: 15 June 2009  Accepted: 29 July 2009   Published: 8 September 2009

Abstract

The decline of several bird populations has been related to reduced reproductive success. Here we used the logistic-exposure method to model the temporal (age, daily, annual) variation in reproductive success of a neotropical tyrant-flycatcher, the Chapada Flycatcher (Suiriri islerorum), which has been described only recently (2001). We monitored 56 nests, in a reserve in central Brazil, over four seasons from 2003 to 2006. Predation affected 66% of the monitored nests, but varied greatly across years. The probability of daily survival decreased 7% day–1 with the age of the nest and the reproductive success varied greatly between years (16.8, 75.4, 6.7 and 21.4%, 2003–06 respectively). Mean reproductive success (using three analytical methods) ranged from 21 to 25%, but from only 13 to 16% when results from 2004 were excluded. Such low and variable reproductive success is atypical for a neotropical bird. In combination with the small population size and known decline of this population, our findings raise conservation concerns for this isolated population.

Additional keywords: Brazil, Cerrado, nests, Passeriformes, population decline, predation.


Acknowledgements

This study was partly funded by a research grant from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and fellowships granted by CNPq and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).


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