scholarly journals The Geographic Distribution of a Tropical Montane Bird Is Limited by a Tree: Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) and Colombian Oaks (Quercus humboldtii) in the Northern Andes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. e0128675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin G. Freeman ◽  
Nicholas A. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Northern Andes ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers ◽  
Quercus Humboldtii

scholarly journals Late Summer and Fall Nesting in the Acorn Woodpecker and Other North American Terrestrial Birds

The Condor ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-350
Author(s):  
Walter D. Koenig ◽  
Justyn T. Stahl
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
North American ◽  
Breeding Success ◽  
Population Studies ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Substantial Fraction ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Total Productivity ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers

Abstract Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) at Hastings Reservation in central coastal California exhibit a bimodal peak in annual breeding activity. One peak occurs in spring during which the majority of breeding takes place, while a second is centered in late August as the new acorn crop matures. These latter nests are mostly initiated in late summer but often do not fledge until at least late September and are thus referred to here as ‘fall’ nests. Fall nests occur in about one-third of all years, taking place when the acorn crop is large and summer temperatures are relatively high. Fledglings from fall nests constitute 4.3% of the population's total productivity and survive and recruit to the population at levels comparable to spring fledglings. Fall nesting is less likely in groups in which either the male or female breeding adults have undergone a change from the prior year, but groups are otherwise indistinguishable. Ecologically, fall nesting is closely tied to the acorn crop and thus to breeding success in the following, rather than the prior, spring. Among North American terrestrial birds in general, fall breeding has been reported in 16% of all species and is significantly more common among residents and colonially nesting species, in which the frequency exceeds 25%. Furthermore, fall nesting is likely to have been underreported in the literature. Thus, this phenomenon is at least an irregular part of the breeding biology of a substantial fraction of North American birds and should be considered a possibility in population studies of temperate-zone species. This is especially true given that fall nesting is likely to increase as global warming takes place.

Experimental evidence that acorn woodpeckers recognize relationships among third parties no longer living together

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1257-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A Pardo ◽  
Eric L Walters ◽  
Walter D Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Third Parties ◽  
Social Species ◽  
Living Together ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Group Members ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers ◽  
Group Relationships

Abstract Triadic awareness, or knowledge of the relationships between others, is essential to navigating many complex social interactions. While some animals maintain relationships with former group members post-dispersal, recognizing cross-group relationships between others may be more cognitively challenging than simply recognizing relationships between members of a single group because there is typically much less opportunity to observe interactions between individuals that do not live together. We presented acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus), a highly social species, with playback stimuli consisting of a simulated chorus between two different individuals, a behavior that only occurs naturally between social affiliates. Subjects were expected to respond less rapidly if they perceived the callers as having an affiliative relationship. Females responded more rapidly to a pair of callers that never co-occurred in the same social group, and responded less rapidly to callers that were members of the same social group at the time of the experiment and to callers that last lived in the same group before the subject had hatched. This suggests that female acorn woodpeckers can infer the existence of relationships between conspecifics that live in separate groups by observing them interact after the conspecifics in question no longer live in the same group as each other. This study provides experimental evidence that nonhuman animals may recognize relationships between third parties that no longer live together and emphasizes the potential importance of social knowledge about distant social affiliates.

scholarly journals Is the distribution of the Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus flavigula) associated with oaks and granaries? A local study in an urban area in northern South America

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hana Londoño Oikawa ◽  
Paulo C. Pulgarín-R
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Food Storage ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Local Study ◽  
Resource Requirements ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Northern South America ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

ABSTRACTAbiotic and biotic factors are known to be key in limiting the geographical distribution of species. However, our understanding on the influence of habitat heterogeneity on ecological interactions and behavior in tropical animals is limited. We studied groups of Acorn Woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus flavigula) in urban and rural areas in northern South America to understand how habitat and resource requirements (food storage structures) influences patterns of distribution across the Aburrá Valley, in the northern area of the Central Andes of Colombia. Using focal observations of 10 different groups over nearly a two-year period, we estimated territory size, habitat use, and described the use and presence of granaries. We found that territory size, tree diversity, and the use of granaries varied among groups. Accordingly, Acorn Woodpeckers use a wide variety of tree species to make cavities, to feed and to build granaries for social interactions. Our study supports the hypothesis that Acorn Woodpeckers do not rely on the Colombian Oak (Quercus humboldtiiBonpl.) for feeding, nesting or foraging in the Aburrá Valley, and that the construction of granaries to store food is present in urban populations, despite the lack of strong seasonal changes in tropical areas. We suggest that the distribution of the Acorn Woodpecker in our study area is strongly associated with one particular species of tree,Albizia carbonariaBritton, and the behavior of granaries construction might be hardwired in this species for the maintenance and cohesion of family groups.

scholarly journals COMMENT on Zorilla-Azcué, S., Gonzalez-Rodríguez, A., Oyama, K., González, M.A. & Rodríguez-Correa, H., The DNA history of a lonely oak: Quercus humboldtii phylogeography in the Colombian Andes. Ecology and Evolution 2021, doi:10.100-2/ece3.7529.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Hooghiemstra ◽  
Antoine Cleef ◽  
Suzette Flantua
Keyword(s):  
Montane Forest ◽  
Present Level ◽  
Northern Andes ◽  
Colombian Andes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
Published Paper ◽  
Quercus Forest ◽  
Quercus Humboldtii

We praise the authors for their work, and for the lyric title of their paper. We give a concise sketch of the present level of understanding of Quercus forest in Colombia. We identify the shortcomings in this published paper. We improve the relevance of this paper about Quercus as well as for future phylogenetic investigations other montane forest taxa to be framed in the rapidly improving palaeoecological understanding of the Northern Andes.

Genetic monogamy in single-male groups of acorn woodpeckers, Melanerpes formicivorus

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 765-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. DICKINSON ◽  
J. HAYDOCK ◽  
W. KOENIG ◽  
M. STANBACK ◽  
F. PITELKA
Keyword(s):  
Single Male ◽  
Genetic Monogamy ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers

scholarly journals Foraging patterns of acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) on valley oak (Quercus lobata Née) in two California oak savanna-woodlands

Oecologia ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 166 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Scofield ◽  
Victor Ryan Alfaro ◽  
Victoria L. Sork ◽  
Delphine Grivet ◽  
Edith Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oak Savanna ◽  
Foraging Patterns ◽  
Quercus Lobata ◽  
Valley Oak ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers

scholarly journals Wild acorn woodpeckers recognize associations between individuals in other groups

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1882) ◽  
pp. 20181017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Pardo ◽  
Emilee A. Sparks ◽  
Tejal S. Kuray ◽  
Natasha D. Hagemeyer ◽  
Eric L. Walters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Social Intelligence ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Social Intelligence Hypothesis ◽  
The Social ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers

According to the social intelligence hypothesis, understanding the cognitive demands of the social environment is key to understanding the evolution of intelligence. Many important socio-cognitive abilities, however, have primarily been studied in a narrow subset of the social environment—within-group social interactions—despite the fact that between-group social interactions often have a substantial effect on fitness. In particular, triadic awareness (knowledge about the relationships and associations between others) is critical for navigating many types of complex social interactions, yet no existing study has investigated whether wild animals can track associations between members of other social groups. We investigated inter-group triadic awareness in wild acorn woodpeckers ( Melanerpes formicivorus ), a socially complex group-living bird. We presented woodpeckers with socially incongruous playbacks that simulated two outsiders from different groups calling together, and socially congruous playbacks that simulated two outsiders from the same group calling together. Subjects responded more quickly to the incongruous playbacks, suggesting that they were aware that the callers belonged to two different groups. This study provides the first demonstration that animals can recognize associations between members of other groups under natural circumstances, and highlights the importance of considering how inter-group social selection pressures may influence the evolution of cognition.

Tree community shifts and Acorn Woodpecker population increases over three decades in a Californian oak woodland

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1113-1120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devin E. McMahon ◽  
Ian S. Pearse ◽  
Walter D. Koenig ◽  
Eric L. Walters
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Valley Oak ◽  
Potential Habitat ◽  
Tree Community ◽  
Live Oak ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Community Shifts ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers ◽  
Black Oak

Forest communities change in response to shifting climate, changing land use, and species introductions, as well as the interactions of established species. We surveyed the oak (Quercus L. spp.) community and Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus (Swainson, 1827)) population within 230 ha of oak forest and savanna in central coastal California in 1979 and 2013 to assess demographic changes over a timescale relevant to mature oaks. Overall, percent canopy cover increased, particularly where coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Née) and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii Newberry) were most abundant. The density of stems of Q. agrifolia increased, whereas the density of stems and basal area of valley oak (Quercus lobata Née), a species favored by Acorn Woodpeckers, decreased. The number of Acorn Woodpeckers and woodpecker territories increased over the study period, coincident with the increase in percent canopy cover; however, these increases were not related spatially. Instead, increased acorn production associated with broad-scale canopy growth likely more than compensated for the loss of Q. lobata. Our findings suggest that forests in this area are becoming denser and savanna is becoming more open, which so far has supported an increase in the Acorn Woodpecker population, despite potential habitat loss if Q. lobata continues to decline.

scholarly journals Lifetime reproductive benefits of cooperative polygamy vary for males and females in the acorn woodpecker ( Melanerpes formicivorus )

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1957) ◽  
pp. 20210579
Author(s):  
Sahas Barve ◽  
Christina Riehl ◽  
Eric L. Walters ◽  
Joseph Haydock ◽  
Hannah L. Dugdale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Lifetime Reproductive Success ◽  
Cooperative Strategies ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Direct Fitness ◽  
Melanerpes Formicivorus ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Fitness Benefits ◽  
Acorn Woodpeckers ◽  
Longitudinal Dataset

Cooperative breeding strategies lead to short-term direct fitness losses when individuals forfeit or share reproduction. The direct fitness benefits of cooperative strategies are often delayed and difficult to quantify, requiring data on lifetime reproduction. Here, we use a longitudinal dataset to examine the lifetime reproductive success of cooperative polygamy in acorn woodpeckers ( Melanerpes formicivorus ), which nest as lone pairs or share reproduction with same-sex cobreeders. We found that males and females produced fewer young per successful nesting attempt when sharing reproduction. However, males nesting in duos and trios had longer reproductive lifespans, more lifetime nesting attempts and higher lifetime reproductive success than those breeding alone. For females, cobreeding in duos increased reproductive lifespan so the lifetime reproductive success of females nesting in duos was comparable to those nesting alone and higher than those nesting in trios. These results suggest that for male duos and trios, reproductive success alone may provide sufficient fitness benefits to explain the presence of cooperative polygamy, and the benefits of cobreeding as a duo in females are higher than previously assumed. Lifetime individual fitness data are crucial to reveal the full costs and benefits of cooperative polygamy.

scholarly journals New circumscriptions add two northern Andean species to Kohleria (Gesneriaceae)

PhytoKeys ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 99-110
Author(s):  
John L. Clark ◽  
Lou Jost
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Northern Andes

Recent studies of type specimens and exploratory research expeditions in the northern Andes have resulted in an updated circumscription and recognition for two species of Kohleria (Gesneriaceae) in Ecuador and Colombia. A change in the rank from a variety to species is recognized for Kohleria anisophylla (Fritsch) Wiehler. The combination Kohleria andina (Fritsch) J.L. Clark & Jost, comb. nov. is provided here and a lectotype is designated. The updated circumscriptions of these two species are supported by morphology and geographic distribution. The presence of an epiphytic habit for Kohleria is discussed. Field images based on recent expeditions are provided to support the circumscriptions presented here.

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