Pollen analysis as an ecological proxy for the assessment of habitat use of the endangered Black-polled Yellowthroat (Geothlypis speciosa) and sympatric Common Yellowthroat (G. trichas)

Gabriela Domínguez-Vázquez,Susana Raygadas,Jorge L León-Cortés,Alejandro Pérez-Arteaga

doi:10.5751/ace-01856-160202

Abstract

Domínguez-Vázquez, G., S. Raygadas, J. L. León-Cortés and A. Pérez-Arteaga. 2021. Pollen analysis as an ecological proxy for the assessment of habitat use of the endangered Black-polled Yellowthroat (Geothlypis speciosa) and sympatric Common Yellowthroat (G. trichas). Avian Conservation and Ecology 16(2):2. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01856-160202

Highlights

Traditional methods to study habitat use in songbirds rely heavily on data obtained by direct observations upon individuals; this is not always possible due to low abundance, reluctance to vocalize, secrete behavior, or inaccessibility, which in turn makes it difficult for researchers to obtain enough detections to estimate habitat use patterns (Bobay et al 2018)
We present a novel application of palynological analyses to assess habitat use of the endangered Black-polled Yellowthroat (Geothlypis speciosa) and the sympatric Common Yellowthroat (G. trichas) in Lake Cuitzeo, Mexico
We explore palynological techniques as an ecological proxy to address two research questions for the Lake Cuitzeo BPY‛s population: 1) do BPY foray outside cattail and bulrush marsh habitats? And 2) do sympatric, potentially competing CY display similar habitat use patterns? We approached these issues through different angles: are there identifiable differences between pollen rain in water and pollen loads in feathers? If so, do pollen loads from feathers indicate use of non-marsh habitats by BPY? do pollen loads differ between seasons, species, or sex?

Summary

Introduction

Traditional methods to study habitat use in songbirds rely heavily on data obtained by direct observations upon individuals; this is not always possible due to low abundance, reluctance to vocalize, secrete behavior, or inaccessibility, which in turn makes it difficult for researchers to obtain enough detections to estimate habitat use patterns (Bobay et al 2018) Such studies can become impractical to implement, leading researchers to use indirect techniques such as capturerecapture, radio and satellite tracking, and camera traps. Feathers; copious data exist for species-level relationships (e.g., polinization by hummingbirds), it has been rarely used at the habitat level (e.g., Cecere et al 2011, Wood et al 2014) Because of their intricate structure, feathers can hold pollen loads by trapping grains directly from physical contact with flowering plants or from pollen rain (Waateringe 1998). We analyzed pollen rain and pollen loads in feathers, to study habitat use components for two wetland-related warblers with contrasting conservation needs

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