Wangworn Sankamethawee. Survival and Natal Dispersal of Cooperatively Breeding Puff-throated Bulbuls (Alophoixus pal/idus). Doctoral Degree(Conservation Ecology). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library.. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2009.
Survival and Natal Dispersal of Cooperatively Breeding Puff-throated Bulbuls (Alophoixus pal/idus)
Abstract:
Tropical passennes are thought to have slower life histories than those in
temperate zones. The Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pal/idus is the most common
species of the evergreen forest of Khao Yai National Park, and recently found to breed
cooperatively. To understand their life history traits associated with cooperative breeding,
several demographic parameters (i.e. post-fledging survival, natal dispersal, and adult
survival) were investigated in the 30 ha Mo-Singto long-term biodiversity plot.
Information-theoretical approach was used to evaluate factors affecting these three
demographic parameters based on mark-resighting data to fit Cormack-Jolly-Seber
models for open population. The study is divided into three parts;
First, over the course of three breeding seasons (2006-2008), weekly survival of a
total of 54 fledglings were estimated during their first eight weeks post-fledging (Chapter
1). The presence of helpers, fledgling age, sex, body mass of nestling, fledging date, and
year of fledging were incorporated as covariates. Survival probability was strongly
associated with age after leaving the nest, in which most of the mortality occurred during
the first week post-fledgling. The mean survival estimate during the first week after
fledging was 0.73 +- 0.08 SE, while the mean of the seven subsequent weeks' survivorship
was 0.97 +- 0.01. Cumulative probability of surviving the first eight weeks post-fledging
was 0.61 +- 0.09. The other covariates had little or no effect on survival.
Second, probabilities of staying in the natal territory and the timing of offspring
dispersal in relation to sex, the presence of helper(s), and fledging date were modelled
(Chapter 2). Offspring of both sexes did not disperse until at least their second calendar
year. Dispersal was strongly female-biased both in frequency and distance. Most females
dispersed away from their natal territories (94.4%) crossing 2-7 territories. In contrast,
50% of the males remained on the natal site as helpers in their second year, while 22%
dispersed to adjacent territories, 6% traversed two territories, and 22% were not relocated.
Dispersal of young birds was not influenced by either group size or the presence
of helpers. Males that fledged earlier in the breeding season exhibit higher rates of
philopatry than the males that fledged later, but no correlation was observed in females.
The probability of staying in the natal territory during the second year post-fledging for
males and females were 0.58 ? 0.14 SE and 0.05 +- 0.04, respectively.
Third, adult survival rate was estimated based on 145 individuals of known sex
(73 males and 72 females) banded during 2003-2008 (Chapter 3). The average annual
survival was 0.85 +- 0.02 and the mean lifespan (MLS) for the population was 6.22 +- 4.38
years. Survivorship was seasonally-dependent; the breeding season survival estimate was
0.89 +- 0.02 SE, while during the non-breeding season was 0.96 +- 0.02. The estimated
MLS of male was 6.70 +- 7.73 years for males, and 5.87 +- 4.88 years for females. This
single species estimate on color-banded adult birds should be representative and more
precise than recapture methods alone as the combined method minimizes survival bias
due to low recapture rates and juvenile dispersal.
The data suggest that survival of cooperative breeders either during juvenile or
adult stages may not experience significantly higher survivorship than those from noncooperatively
breeding birds in the same system. As expected, males were more
philopatric, presumably due to limiting breeding vacancy and may queue for territory
inheritance, while the vast majority of females dispersed although the reasons for this are
less clear. Overall adult survival was similar to tropical and cooperative passerines from
elsewhere. The study helps broaden our understanding of how ecological and social
factors influencing the demographic parameters. It provides insights to this important
limiting life history stages which impact population dynamics and breeding system of
tropical birds. Further comparative studies with closely related species and/or noncooperative
breeding species in the same community will help broaden our understanding
of life-history patterns of tropical passerines worldwide.