bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OBSERVATIONS ON NESTING BEHAVIOR OF THE RUSTY‐WINGED BARBTAIL (PREMNORNIS GUTTULIGER)
Authors: Johnson Anne , Port Jeff , Greeney Harold
Published: February 2023

Abstract ∙ Little is known of the nesting and parental care behaviors of the Rusty‐winged Barbtail (Premnornis guttuliger) and its congeners. A single Rusty‐winged Barbtail nest with two nestlings located in tropical montane forest was filmed for 230 hours near the Yanayacu Biological Station in Ecuador. Recording began 14 November and continued through 8 December 2009 before nestlings fledged. We report the first observations of incubation and feeding behavior by individual parents. Colored leg bands and molecular sexing of one parent allowed for identification of individuals and the sex of the attending adults. Average visit duration, average number of visits per hour per nestling, and fecal sac removal rate were quantified by video analysis. Adults visited the nest an average of 3.97 ± 0.657 (SE) times per hour per nestling for an average 3.88 ± 0.41 min across the nestling period. Both parents visited the nest with male visits being more frequent but no difference in average visit duration. An average of 1.77 ± 0.120 fecal sacs per hour were removed from the nest by parents. Behavior at the nest was similar to previous studies and did not indicate additional similarity between Premnornis and members of the Margarornis clade. Resumen ∙ Observaciones sobre comportamiento de nidificación del Subepalo Alirrojizo (Premnornis guttuliger) Los comportamientos de nidificación y cuidado parental del Subepalo Alirrojizo (Premnornis guttuliger) y sus congéneres son poco conocidos. Un nido del Subepalo Alirrojizo con dos pichones fue filmado durante 230 horas en un bosque nublado cerca de la estación biológica Yanayacu en Ecuador. La grabación se realizó entre el 14 de noviembre y el 8 de diciembre de 2009 antes de que los polluelos abandonaran el nido. Estas son las primeras observaciones de incubación y alimentación de los padres marcados de manera individual. Anillamos un individuo que fue sexado en base a análisis genéticos y nos permitió separar la contribución de cada sexo en el cuidado de los polluelos. La duración promedio de las visitas al nido y el número de visitas por hora por polluelo, y la tasa de remoción de sacos fecales fueron cuantificados por análisis de video. Los adultos visitaron el nido una media de 3,97 ± 0.657 (EE) veces por hora/polluelo y cada visita duró un promedio de 3,88 ± 0,41 min. Tanto el macho como la hembra visitaron el nido. No encontramos diferencias significativas entre macho y hembra en la duración de las visitas, pero el macho visitó el nido más frecuentemente. Un promedio de 1,77 ± 0.120 sacos fecales por hora fueron retirados del nido por los padres. El comportamiento de nidificación concuerda con estudios previos y no indica semejanzas adicionales entre Premnornis y miembros del grupo Margarornis.
TERRITORIALITY AND HOME RANGE OF THE RED‐LEGGED SERIEMA (CARIAMA CRISTATA)
Authors: De Souza Daniele Cipriano , Donizetti Vieira  Lucas , Castro Andre Luis da Silva
Published: February 2023

Abstract ∙ Little is known about the ecology and biology of the Red‐legged Seriema (Cariama cristata), a large territorial South American bird. This study aimed to describe aspects of the home range and territoriality of C. cristata in an anthropized region of the Cerrado in the western central Brazil. Based on georeferenced observations, the Minimum Convex Polygon 100% (MCP) and Kernel density (95% and 50%) methods were used to construct home‐range maps for five family groups of C. cristata. The mean (± SD) home‐range sizes were estimated as 24.34 ± 13.31 ha (100% MCP), 20.13 ± 6.69 ha (fixed Kernel 95%) and 18.98 ± 7.64 ha (fixed Kernel 50%). There was little overlap among the home ranges of the different groups. Territorial defense observed included duetting vocalizations and agonistic encounters. We conclude that the home ranges of C. cristata have little overlap, and that the entire home range is treated as a territory and defended against intruders.Resumo ∙ Territorialidade e área de vida de Seriemas (Cariama cristata) Pouco é conhecido sobre a biologia e ecologia da Seriema (Cariama cristata), uma ave territorial da América do Sul e de grande porte. O presente estudo descreve aspectos da área de vida e territorialidade de C. cristata em uma região antropizada de Cerrado no Centro‐Oeste do Brasil. Baseado em observações georreferenciadas, os métodos do Mínimo Polígono Convexo (100% MPC) e Densidade de Kernel (95% e 50%) foram utilizados para construir os mapas de área de vida de cinco grupos familiares de C. cristata. O tamanho médio (± desvio padrão) das áreas de vida foram estimados em 24,34 ± 13,31 ha (100% MPC), 20,13 ± 6,69 ha (Kernel 95%) e 18,98 ± 7,64 ha (Kernel 50%). Houve pouca sobreposição das áreas de vida dos diferentes grupos. As defesas territoriais observadas incluíram vocalizações em dueto e encontros agonísticos. Concluímos que a área de vida de C. cristata tem pouca sobreposição e que toda a área de vida é defendida como território contra intrusos.
ON THE ADAPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF BIRD FLOCKS: SMALL BIRDS FORM MIXED FLOCKS
Authors: Sainz-Borgo Cristina , Kofler Sheina , Jaffe Klaus
Published: February 2023

Abstract · Mixed bird flocks are very diverse in size, number of species, habitats, and interactions between members, however there are few reports about which morphological characteristics of species lead to flocking behavior. We conducted a literature search in order to test the effect of body weight on flocking behavior, and performed an ordinal regression with flocking category as the dependent variable. Data from 1289 species belonging to 116 families from 17 orders were evaluated. A strong correlation was found between species’ total length and body mass with the types of flocks that they form: species forming mixed flocks tended to be smaller than species that foraged solitarily, in pairs or in monospecific flocks. The best predictors for flocking behavior were mass and habitat, we found no significant effect of region or migratory behavior. This result is congruent with an adaptive role of flocks balancing inter-specific competition and anti-predator protection. These findings add to reports on similarities in foraging behavior and in alarm calls among birds in a flock, suggesting co-evolutionary dynamics acting on species of mixed flocks.Resumen · El valor adaptativo de las bandadas mixtas: aves pequeñas se agrupan en bandadas mixtas Las bandadas mixtas son muy diversas en tamaño, número de especies, hábitats e interacciones entre los miembros, sin embargo, existen pocos reportes de correlaciones morfológicas entre los mismos. Se realizó una búsqueda en la literatura para determinar el efecto de la masa corporal en el comportamiento de formación de bandadas, realizándose con dichos datos una regresión ordinal con la categoría bandada como variable dependiente. Se recolectó información de 1289 especies, pertenecientes a 116 familias y 17 órdenes. Se encontró una fuerte correlación entre la masa corporal de las especies dependiendo del tipo de bandada que conformaban; las especies que realizaban bandadas mixtas tendían a pesar menos que las especies que forrajeaban solas, en pareja o en bandadas monoespecíficas. El mejor predictor para el comportamiento de bandada fue la masa y el hábitat, mientras que no se encontró efecto de la región, hábitos migratorios o acuáticos. Este resultado es congruente con el rol adaptativo de las bandadas, donde se encuentran involucrados la competencia interespecífica y las ventajas antidepredadoras. Estos resultados junto con registros similares en hábitos de forrajeo y llamadas de alarma entre los miembros de una bandada, sugieren una dinámica coevolutiva que actúa sobre las especies que conforman bandadas mixtas.
BREEDING OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN TERN (STERNA HIRUNDINACEA) ON ANCHORED BOATS IN COQUIMBO, NORTHERN CHILE
Authors: Portflitt-Toro Matias , Miranda-Urbina Diego , Fernández Claudia , Luna Nicolas , Serratosa Juan , Thiel Martin , Luna-Jorquera Guillermo
Published: February 2023

Abstract · We report the breeding attempt of South American Terns (Sterna hirundinacea) on three boats in Coquimbo, northern Chile. The first breeding attempt was reported in winter 2011 where at least one chick fledged. From April to June 2015, all nests on the boats were monitored. We recorded eggs and chicks during May and early June. However, towards the end of June, no eggs or chicks were recorded in the nests, and a Chimango Caracara (Phalcoboenus chimango) was observed preying on chicks in one nest. In April and May 2017, breeding attempts on boats were also monitored and nests with eggs and one chick were recorded. However, at the end of May all nests were empty. This unusual nesting site for South American Terns is apparently regularly used in the area despite its virtually null breeding success. Resumen · Reproducción del Gaviotín Sudamericano (Sterna hirundinacea) en botes anclados en Coquimbo, norte de Chile Reportamos el intento de reproducción del Gaviotín Sudamericano (Sterna hirundinacea) sobre tres botes en Coquimbo, norte de Chile. Un primer intento de reproducción para esta zona se registró en invierno de 2011, donde al menos un pollo dejó un nido como volantón. Entre Abril y Junio de 2015 monitoreamos los nidos en los botes de manera más intensiva. Registramos huevos y pollos durante Mayo y principios de Junio. Sin embargo, a finales de Junio, no registramos huevos en los nidos y observamos un Tiuque (Phalcoboenus chimango) depredar sobre los pollos. En Abril y Mayo de 2017, monitoreamos otros intentos de reproducción y registramos un pollo y nidos con huevos. Sin embargo, a finales de Mayo, esos nidos estaban vacíos. Este inusual sitio de nidificación parece ser utilizado de forma recurrente por el Gaviotín Sudamericano, a pesar del aparente casi nulo éxito reproductivo.
MASSIVE CONSUMPTION OF UNRIPE SLASH PINE (PINUS ELLIOTTII) SEEDS BY BLUE-AND YELLOW MACAWS (ARA ARARAUNA)
Authors: Silva Paulo Antonio
Published: February 2023

Abstract · This study reports the first case of wild Blue-and-yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna) feeding on a gymnosperm, specifically seed consumption in a slash pine (Pinus elliottii) stand in an urban area in Brazil. Flocks of up to 25 macaws spent long periods feeding on the pine cones and damaged up to 14% of the cones per plant. This massive granivory event lasted for at least a month, even in the presence of other food plants abundantly blooming and fruiting nearby. Seemingly, this foraging activity is a response of macaws to a concentrated food source. Slash pine unripe seeds appear to be valuable food sources for the wild Blue-and-yellow Macaws inhabiting this anthropogenic area. Moreover, seed consumption by macaws could potentially reduce the spreading of this invasive conifer.Resumo · Consumo maciço de sementes imaturas em cones do pinho-americano (Pinus elliottii) pela Arara Canindé (Ara ararauna) Este estudo relata o primeiro caso de Araras Canindé (Ara ararauna) selvagens se alimentando de uma gimnosperma, especificamente o consumo de sementes em uma plantação de Pinus elliottii em uma área urbana do Brasil. Bandos de até 25 araras passaram longos períodos se alimentando de sementes de pinhas e destruiram até 14% dos cones por planta. Este maciço evento de granivoria durou pelo menos um mês, mesmo na presença de outras plantas alimentícias abundantemente florescendo e frutificando. Aparentemente, esta atividade de forrageamento é uma resposta das araras a uma fonte concentrada de alimento. As sementes imaturas do pinho-americano parecem ser fontes alimentares valiosas para as Araras Canindé selvagens que habitam a área antropogênica. Além disso, o consumo de sementes pelas araras poderia potencialmente reduzir a disseminação desta conífera invasora.
ENSAMBLES DE AVES DE LOS BOSQUES ENDEMICOS DE POLYLEPIS PACENSIS EN BOLIVIA
Authors: Gomez Isabel , Calbimonte Rodrigo , Domic Alejandra I. , Palabral-Aguilera Arely N. , Hurtado Rosember , Liberman Máximo
Published: February 2023

Resumen ∙ Los bosques de Polylepis pacensis son endémicos de Bolivia y se distribuyen en los departamentos de La Paz (inmediaciones al nevado Illimani, Quime e Inquisivi) y Cochabamba (Cotacajes). En este estudio, se evaluó el ensamble de aves en cuatro fragmentos de bosque de P. pacensis ubicados en las faldas del nevado Illimani, La Paz, Bolivia. En estos fragmentos de bosque se observaron 31 especies de aves, incluyendo dos especies endémicas de Bolivia, Colibrí Negrito (Aglaeactis pamela) y Pinchaflor Carbonero (Diglossa carbonaria), y dos especies fuertemente especializadas a bosques de Polylepis, Tijeral de Yánac (Leptasthenura yanacensis) y Conirrostro Gigante (Conirostrum binghami). Los bosques de Polylepis pacensis están altamente amenazados por actividades humanas como quema, extracción de leña y agricultura; las cuales podrían estar causando la deforestación y degradación de este importante hábitat para las aves. Es crucial implementar programas de conservación que incluyan la participación activa de la población local.Abstract ∙ Bird assemblages in endemic Polylepis pacensis woodlands in Bolivia Polylepis pacensis woodlands are endemic to Bolivia, distributed in La Paz (near Illimani, Quime, and Inquisivi) and Cochabamba (Cotacajes) departments. In this study, we evaluated the bird assemblages of four fragments of P. pacensis woodlands located in the foothills of nevado Illimani, La Paz, Bolivia. In these woodlands, we recorded 31 bird species, including two endemic species of Bolivia, Black-hooded Sunbeam (Aglaeactis pamela) and Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer (Diglossa carbonaria), and two species strongly specialized to Polylepis woodlands, Tawny Tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura yanacensis) and Giant Conebill (Conirostrum binghami). Polylepis pacensis woodlands are highly threatened by human activities, such as burning, logging and agriculture; which may be causing of deforestation and degradation of this important habitat for bird species. It is crucial to implement conservation programs involving the active participation of local people.
HUMMINGBIRDS (TROCHILIDAE) AS FRUGIVORES: A REVIEW AND THE FIRST RECORDS FROM ARGENTINA
Authors: Palacio Facundo Xavier
Published: February 2023

Abstract · Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are characterized by their specialized nectar-feeding behavior. However, fruit consumption by hummingbirds has been reported as an occasional behavior. I present a review on hummingbird frugivory in the Americas, along with the first records from Argentina. There have been 23 reports on fruit-hummingbird interactions belonging to 15 hummingbird species and 10 plant species, with records ranging from Chile to the United States. Two Gilded Hummingbirds (Hylocharis chrysura) and one Glittering-bellied Emerald (Chlorostilbon lucidus) foraging on blue passionflower (Passiflora caerulea) fruits were observed in northeastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Far from being rare events, hummingbirds accounted for a 23% of total bird-fruit interactions at my study area. My results suggest that fruit consumption by hummingbirds has a broad geographic range and may be more common than previously thought, at least in certain plant families, such as Cactaceae.Resumen · Colibríes (Trochilidae) como frugívoros: una revisión y primeros registros para Argentina Los colibríes (Trochilidae) se caracterizan por su comportamiento especializado en el consumo de néctar. Sin embargo, se ha reportado el consumo de frutos como un comportamiento ocasional. Presento una revisión de frugivoría por colibríes en las Américas, junto con los primeros registros para Argentina. Registré 23 interacciones fruto-colibrí para 15 especies de colibríes y 10 especies de plantas, con reportes desde Chile hasta Estados Unidos. Observé dos Picaflores Bronceados (Hylocharis chrysura) y un Picaflor Común (Chlorostilbon lucidus) alimentándose de frutos de Pasionaria (Passiflora caerulea) en el noreste de provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lejos de ser eventos raros, los colibríes representaron un 23% del total de interacciones planta-ave en el noreste de Buenos Aires. Mis resultados sugieren que el consumo de frutos por colibríes tiene un amplio rango geográfico y podría ser más común de lo que se piensa, al menos en ciertas familias de plantas, como cactáceas.
FLOWER EATING BY THE TOCO TOUCAN (RAMPHASTOS TOCO) IN AN ANTHROPOGENIC LANDSCAPE DURING THE DRY SEASON
Authors: Silva Paulo Antonio
Published: February 2023

Abstract · Toucans rarely feed on plant parts other than ripe fleshy fruits. Here, I report observations of flower exploitation by Toco Toucans (Ramphastos toco), in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. This toucan fed on the buds, floral tissues, whole flowers and nectar of seven plant species. I made the observations in a highly anthropogenic landscape, mostly at the height of the dry season, when the availability of ripe fleshy fruits declines in the area. The exploitation of flowers reported here is consistent with an opportunistic foraging habit in which toucans resort to eating flowers to obtain nutrients, energy, and water when ripe fleshy fruits are scarce. Resumo · Consumo de flores pelo Tucano Toco (Ramphastos toco) em uma paisagem antropogênica durante a estação seca Os tucanos raramente se alimentam de partes de plantas que não sejam frutos carnosos maduros. Aqui, eu reporto observações de exploração de flor pelo Tucano Toco (Ramphastos toco) no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Essa espécie de tucano se alimentou de botões, tecidos florais, flores inteiras e néctar de sete espécies de plantas. Eu fiz as observações em uma paisagem altamente antropogênica, principalmente no auge da estação seca, quando a disponibilidade de frutos carnosos maduros declina na área. A exploração de flores reportada aqui é consistente com um hábito alimentar oportunista em que os tucanos recorrem ao consumo de flores para obter nutrientes, energia e água quando frutos carnosos maduros são escassos.
COMPOSICIÓN DE LA DIETA DE LAS AVES DE LOS BOSQUES DE QUEÑUA (POLYLEPIS RUGULOSA) EN AREQUIPA, SUROESTE DEL PERÚ
Authors: Soto Huaira Solansh Mayori , Gamarra-Toledo Víctor , Medina César , López Evaristo
Published: February 2023

El estudio de la dieta y las relaciones tróficas constituye un aspecto importante en la comprensión de la ecología e historia de vida de muchos organismos y ecosistemas. A lo largo de los Andes, los bosques dominados por el género Polylepis (Rosaceae) poseen una alta diversidad de aves especialistas y amenazadas que dependen de ellos, además de una variedad de especies asociadas. Sin embargo, la composición y la variación estacional de la dieta de la mayoría de estas especies son desconocidas. En este estudio, describimos ambos pa- trones para tres especies de aves especialistas de bosques de Polylepis: el picocono gigante (Conirostrum binghami), el picocono de los ta- marugales (Conirostrum tamarugense) y el jilguero de pico grueso (Spinus crassirostris), y para otras tres comúnmente asociadas a ellos: la bandurrita de pecho anteado (Upucerthia validirostris), el canastero de pecho cremoso (Asthenes dorbignyi) y el fringilo de capucha negra (Phrygilus atriceps), en el departamento de Arequipa, al suroeste del Perú. Tras analizar el contenido estomacal de estas especies durante la época húmeda y seca de 2017, encontramos que la dieta de las aves especialistas estuvo compuesta principalmente por artrópodos para las especies C. binghami y C. tamarugense, y por semillas para S. crassirostris. Dentro de los artrópodos, los insectos (coleópteros, hemípteros e himenópteros) representaron casi el total de la dieta, mientras que los arácnidos representaron una pequeña proporción. La dieta de las aves asociadas también estuvo compuesta principalmente por artrópodos (insectos, arañas y escorpiones), en el caso de U. validirostris y A. dorbignyi, mientras que P. atriceps consumió principalmente semillas.
DIVERSITY AND SEASONALITY OF BIRDS IN PERMANENT WATERHOLES IN THE PERUVIAN NORTHWEST
Authors: Davila Deborah C. , Sanchez Isai , Vallejos Jose , Vallejos Javier , Appleton Robyn D. , Piana Renzo P.
Published: February 2023

In arid environments, the presence of water sources is key for biological communities as they provide a vital element that is scarce. In this study, we evaluated the diversity and the relative abundance of bird species in seven permanent waterholes, located along an elevational gradient in mountain dry forests in northwestern Peru. From January to December 2016, we analyzed 114,438 photos (22,888 photo events) obtained through camera traps, and counted bird species and individuals photographed at these waterholes. We measured how bird diversity and abundance varied between waterholes during the humid (January to May) and dry (June to December) seasons. In total, we made 4,137 detections of 35 bird species. Among these, 10 species were endemic to the Tumbesian area, including one that is glob- ally endangered (the White-Winged Guan, Penelope albipennis). 95% of detections in all waterholes corresponded to four species of pigeons/ doves (Columbidae). We also recorded two migratory species, including one that is uncommon in northwestern Peru (the Slaty Thrush, Tur- dus nigriceps). The number of bird detections during the dry season was almost two times higher than that during the humid season. We did not find any correlations between relative abundance/diversity at waterholes and elevation or distance to agricultural areas. We postulate that permanent waterholes are a key to bird species in the northwestern Peruvian dry forests and should be protected, since they provide a scarce resource to several range-restricted species, including one that is globally threatened.
PHILOPATRY OF TWO WARBLERS IN JAMAICAN MANGROVES: COMPARING BANDING DATA OF A MIGRANT AND A RESIDENT SPECIES
Authors: Haynes-Sutton Ann , Hay Brandon , Brager Stefan
Published: February 2023

Between September 1999 and January 2002, banding was carried out at standardized mist net locations in extensive coastal mangroves at Two Sisters near Mitchell Town in the Portland Bight Protected Area, south-central Jamaica on 25 days as part of a base-line assessment of the avifauna. Captures included 427 birds of 31 species. There were 183 local recaptures and no international recaptures. Two Parulidae warbler species dominated, the Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), a North American migrant that overwinters in Jamaica with 183 individuals banded of which 45 individuals (25%) were recaptured 71 times (mean = 1.6 times), and the resident subspecies of the Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) with 45 individuals banded of which 21 individuals (47%) were recaptured 64 times (mean = 3.0 times). The data on phenology and philopatry within and between years were compared for the two species, and the differences between resident and migrant species are discussed.
EVALUACIÓN DEL IMPACTO DE LA CONTAMINACIÓN LUMÍNICA SOBRE LAS AVES MARINAS EN CHILE: DIAGNÓSTICO Y PROPUESTAS
Authors: Silva Rodrigo , Medrano Fernando , Tejeda Ivo , Terán Daniel , Peredo Ronny , Barros Rodrigo , Colodro Valentina , González Paola , González Verónica , Guerra-Correa Carlos , Hodum Peter , Keitt Brad , Luna-Jorquera Guillermo , Malinarich Vinko , Mallea Gabriela , Manríquez Pablo , Nevins Hannah , Olmedo Bárbara , Páez-Godoy Jorge , De Rodt Guillermo , Rojas Flora , Sanhueza Pedro , Suazo Cristián G. , Toro Frederick , Toro-Barros Bárbara
Published: February 2023

La contaminación lumínica afecta a las aves marinas por la atracción hacia fuentes de luz y su posterior caída (fallout) en todo el mundo, siendo los petreles y fardelas las especies más afectadas. La contaminación lumínica está aumentando globalmente y probablemen- te sus efectos sobre estas aves se incrementen en los próximos años. Pese a que existe una evaluación global de esta materia, no existe in- formación detallada para Sudamérica; por esto, el objetivo de este artículo es elaborar un diagnóstico de la situación en Chile, a fin de sugerir un enfoque técnico y político para el país y promover la discusión y acciones al respecto para la región sudamericana. Para ello, se elaboró un diagnóstico de las especies de aves marinas y territorios afectados a través de la consulta directa a investigadores, la revisión sistemática y búsqueda en bases de datos de acceso libre. En Chile, 17 especies de aves marinas son afectadas por la contaminación lumínica, incluyendo seis especies no identificadas previamente en la literatura. El impacto se distribuye principalmente en islas y localidades costeras, con algu- nos casos de localidades a más de 100 km al interior desde la costa. La mayor parte del manejo de este fenómeno en Chile consiste en el rescate y liberación de aves, aunque no hay evidencia del éxito de este enfoque a largo plazo. Medidas como el apagado o recambio de luces son escasas y sólo se han adoptado a pequeña escala y con resultados desconocidos a la fecha. Por ello, una actualización de la política de contaminación lumínica es requerida en Chile y debe considerar la biodiversidad como objeto de protección, el alcance geográfico nacional más allá de las áreas de interés astronómico y debe incluir nuevas tecnologías de iluminación, como luces LED. Finalmente, será de especial importancia la generación de regulaciones más estrictas sobre actividades humanas, incluyendo la iluminación en las cercanías a puntos sensibles, como colonias reproductivas de aves marinas.
MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN THE TIT-LIKE DACNIS (XENODACNIS PARINA): A CALL TO REVISE THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF ECUADOR’S POPULATION
Authors: Aguilar Juan Manuel
Published: February 2023

Xenodacnis is a specialized high Andean bird genus of which males are larger and show different feather coloration from females. However, sexual dimorphism has not been analyzed in detail yet. Distributed in Ecuador and Peru, Xenodacnis have long been considered as a single species genus, with three subspecies. Discovered in the 1980`s, the population in Ecuador has not been given a taxonomic identity so far. Thus, this study gathers morphological data from Xenodacnis throughout its distribution, and confirmed the morphological differences between sexes: males are significantly larger and heavier than females; but without consistent differences in bill size. Between populations, the research shows smaller individuals in the south, with size increasing towards the northernmost Ecuadorian populations. These results suggest that the taxonomy of the genus Xenodacnis should be revised and the population from Ecuador should have a proper taxonomic identity different from all previously described members of the genus
CONTRIBUTION OF INFORMAL GREENSPACE TO BIRD CONSERVATION IN CITIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE DIVERSITY OF BIRD COMMUNITIES IN VACANT LANDS, URBAN PARKS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS
Authors: Villaseñor Nelida R. , Chiang Luna A. , Hernández Héctor Jaime , Escobar Martín A. H.
Published: February 2023

Vacant lands are part of the informal greenspace and could maintain native fauna in urban ecosystems. To provide scientific evidence that promotes bird conservation in cities, we compared different bird community attributes among vacant lands, urban parks, and residential areas in the city of Santiago de Chile. For this, we estimated taxonomic diversity in the three land uses, investigated the species richness and abundance (total and native, including three trophic guilds: granivores, insectivores and omnivores) among land-use types, and evaluated the influence of habitat variables on bird species richness and abundance recorded at sites. We found that vacant lands supported a diverse, with low species dominance, species rich and abundant bird community, comprised mainly by native granivorous and insectivorous birds. In contrast, birds with generalist diet (omnivores) reached high abundances in urban parks and residential areas. While parks and residential areas were dominated by a single omnivore species (Turdus falcklandii and the exotic Passer domesticus, respectively), in vacant lands a set of native species reached high abundances. They included granivorous birds (Sicalis luteola, Zenaida auriculata y Zonotrichia capensis) and insectivorous birds (Tachycineta meyeni y Anthus correndera). Sites with larger cover of herbaceous plants exhibited greater richness and abundance of native birds. In addition, sites with larger proportion of their area covered by bare ground exhibited greater abundance of native birds. Our results demonstrate that vacant lands maintain high bird diversity, as well as a high species richness and abundance of native birds with specialized diets (granivores and insectivores), offering new opportunities to conserve biodiversity in cities.
DESCRIPCIÓN DEL NIDO Y HUEVOS DEL PICOGUADAÑA PIQUIPARDO (CAMPYLORHAMPHUS PUSILLUS) EN LA CORDILLERA DEL CÓNDOR, SURESTE DE ECUADOR
Authors: Ordóñez-Delgado Leonardo , González-Sánchez Diego , Pardo-González Allison
Published: February 2023

La información sobre la ecología reproductiva del género Campylorhamphus es incompleta. En esta nota proporcionamos información detallada del nido y huevos del Picoguadaña Piquipardo (Campylorhamphus pusillus). Esta pequeña paseriforme se considera poco común en su área de distribución; y, la información sobre su reproducción era hasta el momento desconocida. Dos nidos de la especie fueron encontrados en la Cordillera del Cóndor, sureste de Ecuador. Ambos se registraron dentro de bosques montanos densos, en orificios de árboles muertos, la entrada a los nidos se ubicó a aproximadamente 2 m del suelo; y, en su interior se observó una base de hojas secas, similares a los pocos nidos del género Campylorhamphus conocidos. En ambos nidos se observaron dos huevos blancos, lisos, de forma ovalada y de aproximadamente 2,5 x 2 cm. La información aquí descrita, proporciona datos que fortalecen el conocimiento sobre la reproducción de este picoguadaña.
BIOLOGY OF TUMBESIAN TERRESTRIAL BIRDS, WITH COMMENTS ON REGIONAL AVIAN CONSERVATION
Authors: Brooks Daniel , Hurtado Cindy
Published: February 2023

The Tumbesian region of Peru and Ecuador, located within a global biodiversity hotspot, is home to a large number of endemic and little-known species. Endemic terrestrial birds (tinamous, cracids, and doves) are at increased risk of extinction due to restricted distribu-tion and exposure to habitat conversion. In this study, we used 24 camera traps in Cerros de Amotape National Park (northwestern Peru) to record terrestrial birds at three sites, each representing a different forest type: dry, evergreen, and transitional forests. After 4318 camera-days of results, we obtained 334 independent events of 23 species. We describe habitat association and daily and seasonal activity patterns for Crypturellus transfasciatus, Penelope purpurascens, and four dove species (Claravis pretiosa, Leptotila pallida, L. verreauxi, and L. ochraceiventris), with opportunistic anecdotes of breeding biology and behavior. We also provide a bird conservation assessment for the region. Our results are discussed and compared with the current knowledge of Tumbesian birds.
CHARACTERIZATION OF MOLECULAR GENETIC MARKERS IN SPHENISCUS BANDED PENGUINS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF A STRANDED JUVENILE INDIVIDUAL IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Authors: Ross Gillian M. , Schumacher Katelyn I. , Canas-Valle Gustavo , Hasbun Carlos R. , Bouzat Juan L.
Published: February 2023

Abstract. – In this study, the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase 1 gene, three nuclear microsatellite markers, and the MHC class II DRβ1 exon 2 were assessed for species-specific differences that would allow diagnostic identification of Spheniscus mendiculus, S. humboldti, and S. magellanicus specimens. Analyses of reference samples for these species revealed that genetic variation at these markers showed species-specific haplotypes and alleles that can provide positive evidence for species identification. Bayesian cluster analyses demonstrated high probability of assignment (>99%) for individual samples to their corresponding species. The set of nuclear and mitochondrial markers studied proved useful for the identification of a juvenile penguin stranded on the Pacific Ocean shores of El Salvador as a Magellanic penguin. The negative consequences of accidental captures of Magellanic penguins by fishermen and the relocation of wildlife through human intervention are discussed.
DIET AND FOOD RESOURCE PARTITIONING AMONG SIX IBIS SPECIES IN THE VENEZUELAN LLANOS
Authors: Aguilera Eduardo , Busto Benjamín , Ramo Cristina
Published: February 2023

This work is the first one to provide simultaneous information on the diet of all six ibis species inhabiting the Venezuelan Llanos. For this we analyzed gizzard contents of birds collected in 1979-1982 (between 59 and 11 per species). The seasonality of the rainfall has a great influence on the prey eaten by the ibises (diet overlap between dry and wet season varied between 0.07 and 0.45 depending on the species). Main prey (in percent of prey number) for Scarlet/White ibis (Eudocimus ruber) were: Coleoptera (73%), Diptera (12%) and Heteroptera (6%) in the dry season, and Coleoptera (82%) and Odonata (9%) in the wet season. For Barefaced Ibis (Phimosus infuscatus): Coleoptera (72%) and Ephemeroptera (20%) in the dry season, and Oligochaeta (65%), Ephemeroptera (19%) and Coleoptera (14%) in the wet season. For Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus): Spinicaudata (79%), Coleoptera (18%) and plant material (18% of the total volume of food items) in the dry season, and Coleoptera (51%), Decapoda (28%), Odonata 10%) and Heteroptera (8%) in the wet season. For Sharptailed Ibis (Cercibis oxycerca): Pisces (30%), Lepidoptera (28%), Coleoptera (27%) and Orthoptera (6%) in the dry season, and Coleoptera (35%), Orthoptera (33%) and Oligochaeta (29%) in the wet season. For Buffnecked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus): Coleoptera (43%), Orthoptera (42%), Arachnida (7%) and Lepidoptera (6%) in the dry season, and Coleoptera (56%) and Orthoptera (35%) in the wet season. For Green Ibis (Messimbrinibis cayennensis): Coleoptera (75%), Gastropoda (7%) and Orthoptera (6%) in the dry season, without data in the wet season. The diet overlap between pairs of species showed low to medium values (0.13-0.44 in dry season, 0.03-0.60 in wet season). These data support the idea that the coexistence of these species is largely facilitated by food resource partitioning.
NOTES ON THE DIET OF THE STRAIGHT-BILLED EARTHCREEPER (OCHETORHYNCHUS RUFICAUDUS) AND THE USE OF CITIZEN SCIENCE IMAGE REPOSITORIES
Authors: Sandvig Erik M , Cerpa Patrich
Published: February 2023

Here we report on novel information regarding the diet for the Straight-billed Earthcreeper (Ochetorynchus ruficaudus), an uncommon furnarid of arid environments of the Andes. We describe an event of food consumption in northern Chile, and complement our finding by searching freely-available citizen science repositories for photographic evidence of food items. Novel food items belonging to Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were identified. These findings contribute to our understanding of the natural history of an uncommon species, making use of opportunistic photography and freely-available and ever-increasing citizen science data.
VARIACIÓN DE LA ESTRUCTURA DEL CANTO DEL GORRIÓN DE COLLAR RUFO (ZONOTRICHIA CAPENSIS) A LO LARGO DE UN GRADIENTE URBANO EN EL SUROESTE DEL PERÚ
Authors: Montes-Rivas Rafael , Gamarra-Toledo Víctor , López Evaristo , Araya-Salas Marcelo
Published: February 2023

El canto cumple un importante rol en la ecología y comportamiento de las aves. Entender los procesos que alteran la producción y transmisión del canto es fundamental para dilucidar su respuesta a cambios en el ambiente. En este contexto, los ambientes urbanos representan sistemas de estudio útiles para entender esta adaptación. Examinamos la estructura del canto del Gorrión de Collar Rufo (Zonotrichia capensis) a lo largo de un gradiente urbano en la ciudad de Arequipa, en el suroeste del Perú. Obtuvimos 240 cantos en total de 80 individuos distribuidos en áreas urbanas, suburbanas, rurales y silvestres, y analizamos la frecuencia máxima, frecuencia mínima y duración de la introducción y del trino. Encontramos diferencias significativas en la estructura espectral (frecuencia mínima), a lo largo del gradiente urbano. Las frecuencias mínimas de la introducción y trino fueron más altas en áreas más urbanizadas. Mientras que las frecuencias máximas y duraciones de ambas partes del canto no variaron. Efectos del ruido antropogénico o de las estructuras verticales de concreto de áreas muy urbanizadas, podrían explicar la variación en el canto de esta especie común de la ciudad de Arequipa. Así mismo, este estudio muestra que la frecuencia mínima en esta especie es el parámetro más susceptible de presentar variación en ambientes con distintos grados de urbanización.
Native American Banks: Overview and Recent Performance
Authors: Lepley William , Nagy Robert
Published: February 2023

While minority-owned commercial banks have received some attention in the finance literature, little attention has been directed at a particular sub-category: Native American commercial banks. Our paper attempts to fill that void. After covering some background information on Native American banks, we contrast this category’s financial performance with peer group institutions—focusing on the period 2005-10. Profitability, as measured by return on assets (ROA), has been a problem for Native American banks. Looking behind ROA, the Native American category has done reasonably well in maintaining net interest margin, while encountering difficulties in controlling overhead expenses and loan losses.
Impact of International and Industrial Diversification Strategies on Firms’ Overinvestment of Free Cash Flow
Authors: Teclezion Mussie
Published: February 2023

We examine the quarterly data of Compustat’s all active and research firms from the first quarter of 1999 to the fourth quarter of 2005. Using a dataset that includes more than 79,000 firm quarters, we look at the impact of diversification on the firms' tendency to over-invest their free cash flow. Our fixed-effects regressions show positive and significant effect of the interaction between industrial diversification and free cash flow on the degree of over-investment. That is, firms tend to over-invest their free cash flow as they become more industrially diversified.
Why Do Managers Use IRR in Investment Analysis?
Authors: Bhattacharyya Nalinaksha
Published: February 2023

Finance textbooks recommend the use of Net Present Value (NPV) as the evaluation tool for Capital Budgeting. Yet surveys of managers have consistently shown that managers prefer Internal rate of Return (IRR) to NPV. This article rigorously establishes the interpretation of IRR as the return earned on funds that remains internally invested in the project. Using this interpretation IRR can be viewed as a tool to evaluate the riskiness of the capital budgeting proposal.
Portfolio Construction Using Key Fundamental Ratios and the DJIA Stocks
Authors: Krueger Thomas , Wrolstad Mark
Published: February 2023

Index funds have attracted investors over the years by promising to lower fees, turnover, taxes, and other expenses while outperforming the average actively-managed fund. Portfolio indexation has historically focused on three main methods of portfolio weighting: price-weighting, market capitalization-weighting, and occasionally equal-weighting. More recently, attention has been focused on “fundamental weighting” using financial statement items like sales, total assets, EBIT, and dividends to weight stock portfolios. This research focuses on portfolios of the 30 Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) stocks that areconstructed using 15 different metrics. Two of the methods of indexation are the traditional approaches of price and market capitalization and the other 13 methods of indexation are ratios based upon the DuPont equation, price relatives, and operating cash flows. After the decade studied, the portfolio with the highest terminal value for the $1000 originally invested was the $1198 of the Operating Cash Flow (OCF) / Current Liabilities indexed portfolio and the lowestterminal value was the $670 for the Price/Sales indexed portfolio. The OCF / Current Liabilities, OCF / Total Debt, and OCF / Net Income-based portfolios all show significantly better performance at the 2% to 5% level when compared to the market value-weighted portfolio. None of these ratios had an abnormal level of skewness or kurtosis, which would have minimized the implications of these findings. Across the financial statements, the cash flow statement appears to provide the most fertile ground for above average rates of return to the passive, long-term investor.
Connection Between CEO Characteristics and Board Meetings: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Hu Aidong
Published: February 2023

I examine how firm characteristics and CEO characteristics affect the frequency of annual board meetings. The data sample covers the post Sarbanes-Oxley Act era between 2002 and 2006. Using a Tobit qualitative response model with a data set of 1,273 corporations from ExecuComp, I find evidence that seasoned CEOs with high level of stock ownership and cash compensation are less likely to hold frequent board meetings as predicted by the hypothesis of corporate governance under managerial entrenchment. The propensity to hold board meetings is significantly and positively associated with the size of the firm and is significantly and negatively associated with Return on Equity (ROE). However, the existence of executive stock options and CEO long-term incentive plan may increase the frequency of board meetings. My results extend and refine the growing literature on the relation of executive compensation, board activities and corporate governance.
Social Security Retirement Income Program: Reform vs. Privatize
Authors: Johnston Charles
Published: February 2023

This paper compares recommended reforms to improve the Social Security retirement income program to the expected benefits of privatizing it. The research method is primarily theoretical, applying fundamental principles of finance and economics to analyze and evaluate each alternative. However, enough empirical data is also provided to test the author’s arguments and conclusions. The most important conclusion is that partial privatization would be better than the other recommended reforms, but a fully-funded and totally privatized program would be best, financially and economically for society. However, given government policymakers’ lack of political will to privatize the program, it’s most likely that they will continue to reform it in ways to make it more financially sustainable. The paper primarily adds to the existing literature by providing a strong theoretical and empirical argument for privatizing the Social Security retirement income program, rather than continuing to reform it.
Price Dependencies and Investors’ Choice
Authors: Lee Jeong
Published: February 2023

Under the efficient market hypothesis, where many investors resort to “buy and hold” strategies with maximum diversifications, “capitalization-weighted indexation” may offer investors the best risk-return combination. But the existence of non-linear dependences shows that prices of securities may be subject to temporary shocks that obscure their true value. In this case, “fundamental indexation” may achieve returns superior to the capitalization-weighted indexation.
Stock Portfolio Returns, Autocorrelations, and Nonsynchronous Trading
Authors: Bharati Rakesh , Crain Susan , Gupta Manu
Published: February 2023

Short-horizon portfolio return autocorrelation is often attributed to nonsynchronous trading. Nonsynchronous trading arises as last trades of most stocks occur randomly before the market close. However, prominent studies cast doubt on whether it can entirely explain the observed magnitude of index autocorrelation. We study if there is a market wide component to nonsynchronous trading, as it is often viewed as idiosyncratic to a stock. The results indicate that there is a significant market-wide factor and all stocks are sensitive to this factor. Further, higher size decile stocks are far more sensitive to the market-wide factor than lower size deciles. Theoretical models also imply that portfolio return autocorrelation should increase in lagged dispersion in last trade time; but we find no such sensitivity for equally and value weighted portfolios. Similar to the known relationship between stock price changes and volume, we find reliable evidence that longer trading days garner positive returns while shorter trading days yield negative or zero returns.
Mergers and Value Creation in a Post-Liberalized Environment: The Case of India
Authors: Meisami Alex , Misra Lalatendu
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this paper is to examine domestic merger and acquisitions in the Indian market following the economic liberalizations in 1995. We find that in in Indian mergers both parties gain with acquirers showing higher abnormal returns and targets showing lower abnormal returns relative to their counterparts in the U.S. Contrary to our expectation that the takeover market in India has become more competitive since 1995, we find little evidence that acquirers’ abnormal returns have declined or target abnormal returns have increased over time. In addition, we find evidence that large group affiliated firms have higher announcement returns, and this directly translates into lower target returns. Further, targets belonging to groups can exploit their affiliation and achieve higher abnormal returns.
Surplus Sensitivity and Immunization of Property and Liability Insurers
Authors: Park Jin , Choi Paul , Song Dohan , Lee Sukho
Published: February 2023

The P/L insurers were exposed to a great amount of risk from changes in interest or inflation rates because the over 83 percent of insurers assets are invested in bonds and stocks, of which values are inflation or interest rate sensitive. In addition, the insurer’s liability is not free from interest rate risk, too. This study is designed to examine IRR exposures of P/L insurers and to identity how surplus immunization strategy should be designed given the IRR exposures. Using insurers predominantly underwriting private passenger auto lines of business, this study finds that sample insurers were not actively practice surplus immunization management. For P/L insurers investigated in this study, surplus immunization was not only sub-optimal, but also infeasible.
How Long is Too Long? Volatility-Based Holding Strategies for Leveraged Bull and Bear ETFs
Authors: Holzhauer Hunter , Lu Xing , McLeod Robert , Mehran Jamshid
Published: February 2023

Since their favorable introduction in the U.S. in 2006, leveraged bull and bear exchangetraded funds (ETFs) have provided short-term investors with the opportunity to express their directional views regarding a wide variety of indexes. However, unlike traditional unleveraged ETFs, leveraged ETFs are not intended to be used as long-term trading instruments. Instead, leveraged ETFs are designed to return a multiple of their benchmark index on a daily basis. Leveraged ETFs are structured only for short-term investors because these funds must be rebalanced each day to prevent leverage from becoming too excessive. This daily rebalancing complicates predicting long-term returns for leveraged ETFs due to both compounding and volatility. Using Morningstar return data and Chicago Board Options Exchange volatility index data, we investigate the effects of compounding and expected market volatility on specific longterm holding strategies for leveraged bull and bear ETF returns. We show that compounded leveraged returns over these holding periods are comparable to compounding the respective multiple of their underlying benchmark return with tracking error increasing over time and with leverage. Our results also show that expected market volatility has a significant effect on tracking error, after adjusting for expenses, and that this effect increases over time and with leverage. These results suggest that volatility indexes may be used by sophisticated investors to devise trading rules for long-term holding strategies for leveraged bull and bear ETFs.