Increasing survival of wild macaw chicks using foster parents

Transcription

1 Gbriel Vigo Truco,b,c nd Donld J. Brightsmithbb,c Deprtment of Wildlife nd Fisheries, Texs A&M University,b Schubot Exotic Bird Helth Center, Texs A&M University, c Tmbopt Mcw Project, Mdre de Dios, Perú Figure 1. Study Species: The Scrlet Mcw (Ar mco mco) Scrlet mcw is endngered in Centrl Americ nd declining in South Americ About 22% of ll htched chicks die of strvtion Strvtion is the most common cuse of chick deth Chick strvtion is relted to htching order younger chicks in the brood died by strvtion more. Few studies hve shown how to ccomplish this successfully 1,2,3,4 Chick strvtion is driven by ge difference greter ge difference higher risk of strvtion for younger chicks. ALL 3rd & 4th chicks strve to deth. Study Site Technique with gret potentil to id in the recovery of highly endngered species. Tmbopt Reserch Center (TRC), southestern Peru Between Tmbopt Ntionl Reserve (275,000 h) nd Bhuj-Sonene Ntionl Prk (537,000 h). Tropicl moist forest, rinfll ~3200 mm/yer Objectives Peru, South Americ Breeding Biology in Tmbopt: Brood Size = 1 to 4 chicks Fledge = 1.3 chicks /nest To develop nd test new techniques to increse survivl of Scrlet Mcw chicks in the wild by reducing chick strvtion using foster prents. Plcing chicks t risk of strvtion in nests with only one chick t the sme ge/developmentl stge will reduce their risk of deth by strvtion. Click here on ny slide to return to the title slide INTRODUCTION

2 1 Deprtment of Wildlife nd Fisheries, Texs A&M University, b Schubot Exotic Bird Helth Center, Texs A&M University, c Tmbopt Mcw Project, Mdre de Dios, Perú Figure 2. Third chick tht ws removed from its nest nd plced in new nest 1. Mcw chicks with high probbility of deth by strvtion were removed from their originl nests t htching. 2 Criteri for chick removl: Chicks >3 dys younger thn 1 st Chick were pulled out of their nests Tble 1. Criteri for chick removl from originl nest. Age difference between 1st chick nd 2nd chick (dys) Probbility of deth by Strvtion 0 to 2 6% 3 to 4 24% % 3. Individul chicks were plced in receiver nests with only one chick tht ws in the sme developmentl stge but not necessrily the sme ge. Figure 5. Trnslocted chick (left) nd resident chick (right) 3 Picture showing grphic explntion of two chicks t the sme developmentl stge. Chicks re five dys prt but they look similr. Both hve eyes open, up right position, blck pin fethers under skin nd tiny pins of primry fethers Figure 3. Chicks were syringe fed commercil mcw chick formul (Zupreem Embrce) 2. Chicks were hnd rised in reserch sttion until they opened their eyes (~ge 20 dys) Figure 4. Chicks were kept in brooder (wooden box with het source) 4. Receiver nest ws intensively monitored during 10 dys fter foster chick ws plced. Receiver nest ws monitored using video security cmers 12 hours per dy nd feedings/chick per dy were counted b. Foster chick ws checked twice per dy (5m & 5pm) c. Weight of resident nd foster chick were tken once per dy. d. Supplementl food ws provided when foster chick crop ws found hlf empty once or twice per dy. Acceptnce Anlysis # 1 : To monitor cceptnce process, we use the chick feeding rtios Foster & resident chick feedings/dy were counted for ech studied nest using 6 to 12 hour long observtions METHODS Acceptnce Anlysis #2: To document foster chick qulity nd cceptnce we use Chick Rtes Foster chicks growth rtes were compred with wild chicks from previous sesons (N=83 chicks, 17 sesons) Click here to return to the title slide

3 Deprtment of Wildlife nd Fisheries, Texs A&M University, b Schubot Exotic Bird Helth Center, Texs A&M University, c Tmbopt Mcw Project, Mdre de Dios, Perú Figure 6. Foster chicks were initilly fed less thn Tble 2: of foster chicks is similr to wild chicks. Both rech similr size ( ) nd grow t similr rte ( ) resident chicks, but feeding rtio slowly incresed until feedings were similr for both chicks. Chick Type # Individuls Mximun Rte Age t Mximun A B C Men Men Men Trnslocted Foster Chicks Chicks Wild Chicks Figure 8. Foster chick (left) seen t cly lick, six months fter fledging (Sep 2018). Note two bnds, one on ech leg Figure 7. Foster chick (low right) seen round foster nest with the rest of foster fmily, seven months fter fledging (Oct 2017) Tble 3. Influence of chick reloction on breeding success: o More chicks fledge ( ) o More nests with fledglings ( ) o Less chicks died of strvtion ( ) model : Logistic. t test "A : p > 0.05 / t test "B" : p > / t test "C": p= Foster chicks reched mx. growth t younger ge ** ** Consequence of the hnd rised technique used. In the nursery, chicks re fed big portions nd often in order to get them extr ft nd redy for the dpttion process in their new nests. Trnslocted Foster chicks = 15 Breeding sesons = 2 Breeding Sesons without chick trnsloction foster prents project project Averge (n=16 yers) Breeding Seson with chick trnsloction foster prents project project Averge (n=2 yers) Chicks tht Fledge Avilble nest with chick tht fledge Chicks tht died by strvtion 48% 17% 19% 70% 25% 4% Click here on ny slide to return to the title slide RESULTS

4 Deprtment of Wildlife nd Fisheries, Texs A&M University, b Schubot Exotic Bird Helth Center, Texs A&M University, c Tmbopt Mcw Project, Mdre de Dios, Perú 100% of trnslocted chicks were successfully ccepted by wild foster prents & 93% fledge successfully (N=15 chicks, 2 breeding sesons) Previous studies showed higher foster chick rejection thn wht we found: WHY? We mtched ges/developmentl stges between foster siblings We wited until risk of deth by strvtion pssed (chick ges over 20 dys old) This reserch ws inspired by Scrlet Mcws conservtion prctitioners from Guteml (WCS Guteml, Rony Grci) tht re using this technique on the ground for mny yers. We provided supplementl food to foster chick during first 10 dys fter reloction Our mesure of cceptnce/rejection considered tht foster chick cceptnce is SLOW process We integrted knowledge from prrot ecology, vin veterinry nd viculture techniques. Picture 10. Our Supplementl feeding progrm for Foster chicks ws n instrumentl prt of the success of the whole foster prents project. 1. Plce mcw foster chick in receiver nest when ge rnges from 20 dys to 75 dys old 2.Use mcw foster prents WITH previous breeding experience 3.Clibrte foster brood size using optiml brood size of the species in the re nd brood size of current breeding seson 4.Mtch foster siblings in sme developmentl stge 5.Provide supplementl food fter reloction of foster chick, once per dy for t lest one week 6.Monitor heth sttus of foster chick to void disese exposure to foster chicks/prents Click here to return to the title slide DISCUSSION

5 Gbriel Vigo Truco,b,c nd Donld J. Brightsmith b,c Deprtment of Wildlife nd Fisheries, Texs A&M University, b Schubot Exotic Bird Helth Center, Texs A&M University, c Tmbopt Mcw Project, Mdre de Dios, Perú Min discovery: 100% of trnslocted chicks were successfully ccepted by wild foster prents & 93% fledge successfully (N=15 chicks, 2 breeding sesons) 1. All foster chicks were ccepted by new prents NO chick rejection 2. Foster chicks were fed t rtes similr to resident chicks 3. Foster chicks growth ws similr to wild chicks growth 4. Over 90% foster chicks fledged Picture 9. Above: Second chick from double brood with ge difference of 6 dys tht would hve strved without our intervention. Right: sme second chick with its foster sibling, both lmost redy to fledge. Thnks to Mrk Moore, Dr. Mri Belen Aguirre, Dr. Shrmn Hoppes, Liz Villnuev Pipy, Gustvo Mrtinez, Shnnn Courteny nd the whole BS 2017 & BS 2018 gucmyeros tem t TRC. To Rony Grci, WCS Guteml. Specil thnks to Mndy Lu Brightsmith. Dedicted to CEIBA. The mngement technique of using wild mcws s foster prents ws ctegoriclly successful for four resons: In the wild, mcw chicks tht strve re wsted from conservtion perspective. This reserch shows tht it is possible to use these chicks to increse overll reproductive success. References 1.Krebs, E Begging nd food distribution in Crimson Rosell (Pltycercus elegns) broods: why dont hungry chicks beg more? Behviorl Evology Sociobiologyt 50:10. 2.Rowley, I Prent-offspring Recognition in Cocktoo, the Glh Cctu roseicpill. Austrlin Journl of Zoology 28:9. 3.Snz, V., nd F. Rojs-Suárez Los nidos nodriz como técnic pr incrementr el reclutmiento de l cotorr cbecimrill (Amzon brbdensis, Aves: Psittcide). Vid Silvestre Neotropicl 6: Snyder, N., J. Wiley, nd C. Kepler The Cptive Progrm.in M. Morrison, editor. The prrots of Luquillo: Nturl History nd Conservtion of the Puerto RIcn Prrot. The Western Foundtion of Vertebrte Zoology, Cliforni. Click here to return to the title slide CONCLUSIONS