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The conservation value of tree decay processes as a key driver structuring tree cavity nest webs in South American temperate rainforests

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Abstract

South American temperate rainforests, a global biodiversity hotspot, have been reduced to nearly 30% of their original extent and most remaining stands are being degraded. Cavity-nesting vertebrate communities are dependent on cavity-bearing trees and hierarchically structured within nest webs. Evaluating the actual degree of cavity dependence (obligate, non-obligate) and the preferred attributes of trees by cavity nesters is critical to design conservation strategies in areas undergoing habitat loss. During three breeding seasons (2010–2013), we studied the cavity-nesting bird community in temperate rainforests of Chile. We found the highest reported proportion of tree cavity nesters (n = 29 species; 57%) compared to non-cavity-using birds for any forest system. Four species were excavators and 25 were secondary cavity nesters (SCNs). Among SCNs, ten species were obligate and 15 were non-obligate cavity nesters. Seventy-five percent of nests of SCNs were located in cavities produced by tree decay processes and the remaining 25% were in cavities excavated mainly by Pygarrhichas albogularis and Campephilus magellanicus. Nest web structure had a low dominance and evenness, with most network interactions occurring between SCNs and large decaying trees. Tree diameter at breast height (DBH) was larger in nest-trees (57.3 cm) than in available trees (26.1 cm). Cavity nesters showed a strong preference for dead trees, both standing and fallen (58% of nests). Our results stress that retaining large decaying and standing dead trees (DBH > 57 cm), and large fallen trees, should be a priority for retention in forest management plans in this globally threatened ecosystem.

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  • 11 November 2017

    In the original publication of the article, Table 3 was incorrectly published. The corrected Table 3 is given below.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the financial support from the Chilean Ministry of the Environment (FPA Projects 09-083-08, 09-078-2010, 9-I-009-12), The Peregrine Fund, Environment Canada, Idea Wild Fund, Rufford Small Grants Foundation (14397-2), Neotropical Ornithological Society’s Francois Vuilleumier Fund for Research on Neotropical Birds, Vicerrectoría de Investigación from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Internationalization Grant Agreement PUC1566-MINEDUC), “NETBIOAMERICAS” CONICYT/Apoyo a la Formación de Redes Internacionales entre Centros de Investigación (REDES150047), and CONICYT/FONDECYT de Inicio (11160932). We acknowledge the logistic support from the Chilean Forestry Service (CONAF). J. Laker (Kodkod: Lugar de Encuentros), M. Venegas and R. Sanhueza (Guías-Cañe), R. Timmerman, M. Sabugal, C. Délano, Lahuen Foundation, Kawellucó Private Sanctuary, and many landowners kindly allowed us to work on their properties. Special thanks to A. Vermehren, D. Cockle, M. de la Maza, M. T. Honorato, M. I. Mujica, and A. Dittborn for their great involvement on this project. Numerous friends and students provided invaluable assistance in the field. TAA is supported by a Postdoctoral scholarship from Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fauna Australis Wildlife Laboratory, Department of Ecosystems and Environment, School of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, P.O. Box 306-22, Macul, Santiago, Chile

    Tomás A. Altamirano, José Tomás Ibarra & Cristian Bonacic

  2. Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Tomás A. Altamirano, José Tomás Ibarra & Kathy Martin

  3. Centre for Local Development, Education and Interculturality (CEDEL), Villarrica Campus, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, O’Higgins 501, Villarrica, La Araucanía Region, Chile

    José Tomás Ibarra

  4. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, BC, V4K 3N2, Canada

    Kathy Martin

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  1. Tomás A. Altamirano
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Communicated by Jan C. Habel.

This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Forest and plantation biodiversity.

A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1457-y.

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Altamirano, T.A., Ibarra, J.T., Martin, K. et al. The conservation value of tree decay processes as a key driver structuring tree cavity nest webs in South American temperate rainforests. Biodivers Conserv 26, 2453–2472 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1369-x

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