Human activity levels and weekend effect on broad-tailed hummingbirds-Carlos Lara

Published: 15 December 2022| Version 1 | DOI: 10.17632/vbf57xs9r9.1
Contributor:
Carlos Lara

Description

Supplementary file 1 (human activity levels): Human activities recorded (from June to August 2016) on weekdays and weekends at La Malinche National Park, which include: (1) number of pedestrians plus cyclists, (2) number of dogs plus farm animals and (3) number of vehicles. Activities were sampling over four continuous hours (from 0800-1200 h) and occur within or as close as 5m to a hummingbird territory. Supplementary file 2 (Territorial hummingbird behaviors): Behaviors recorded in territorial hummingbirds for a period of four continuous hours (from 8:00 to 12:00 h). Each territory had the same sampling effort on weekdays and weekends from June to August, 2016. We recorded: (1) the number of times the territory owners chased an intruder, and (2) the number of intruders that were not chased and were able to forage in the territory. Additionally, (3) we recorded the number of flowers visited by the owners inside their territories during the entire observation period.

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Human activities In the study site, from June to August, agricultural activities are carried out that include the preparation of land for plowing and cultivation of maize, as well as the use of non-arable land for grazing. Farmers are usually accompanied by domestic dogs, and the main modes of transportation are walking, vehicles (e.g., tractors or cars), and bicycles. Thus, we recorded the levels of human activity in the study areas in order to support our classification into activity levels on weekends and weekdays. At the same time as the behavior of hummingbirds in a territory was recorded, we quantified the levels of human activity by counting: (1) number of pedestrians plus cyclists, (2) number of dogs plus farm animals and (3) number of vehicles. Thus, this sampling was carried out over the same four continuous hours and at the same days where each territory was monitored. All these activities had to occur within or as close as 5m to a territory to be considered. Territorial and foraging behaviors We used the following criteria to determine that a floral patch of Bouvardia ternifolia was an actively defended feeding territory: (1) the territory owner always returned to the same perch near the patch, (2) foraged within the patch, and (3) actively defended the patch through chases. A chase implies persecutions and aggressions towards an intruder to try to force it away from the territory. In our field observations, we did not tag hummingbirds because the tiny size of the permanent bands commonly used to tag hummingbirds makes it impossible to identify them individually. Instead, during the behavioral recording, each territory owner was recognized based on the fact that chases started from a certain perch and that the same perch was frequented. Other hummingbird species were categorized as non-territorial. Twenty-one territories of adult male Broad-tailed hummingbird were monitored in an area of about 50 hectares and covering an altitudinal gradient from 2200 to 2300 m.a.s.l. In each territory, the territory owner’s behavior was observed and recorded for a period of four continuous hours (from 8:00 to 12:00 h), when hummingbirds are more active foraging and nectar production is high in this plant species. Each territory had the same sampling effort on weekdays and weekends from June to August. Due to the size of the territories (see below), the observations were carried out using binoculars (10  42), standing from different points 10 m away from each territory. We detected no apparent approach or avoidance behaviors by birds in response to the observers. We recorded: (1) the number of times the territory owners chased an intruder, and (2) the number of intruders that were not chased and were able to forage in the territory. Additionally, (3) we recorded the number of flowers visited by the owners inside their territories during the entire observation period.

Institutions

Universidad Autonoma de Tlaxcala

Categories

Behavioral Ecology

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