Food resources and reproductive output of the Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) in forests of northern Patagonia

Abstract

Assessing use of resources across resource gradients and over time is necessary for determining factors that influence the natural distribution of birds. We analysed the pattern of availability of food resources, the use of food resources and the influence of food availability on reproduction and demography for the Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) in two southern temperate forests of Argentine Patagonia. The abundance of Austral Parakeets in Nothofagus pumilio forests co-dominated by Araucaria araucana was generally higher and fluctuated more than abundance of populations in monospecific N. pumilio forest. This appears to be related to A. araucana providing a larger but more variable food resource. Austral Parakeets responded quickly to changing availability of resources by modifying their diet if alternative food resources were available, and reproductive success also increased when seed availability was high. We found mixed forests to be a unique and important habitat for Austral Parakeets in the northern part of their range, and conservation management should recognise this special role that mixed N. pumilio—A. araucana forests play in Austral Parakeet ecology.