Population structure and body condition of White-crested Elaenia (Elaenia albiceps) in relation to habitat in a modified Neotropical forest landscape

Abstract

Despite the widely accepted view that planted forests are valuable habitat for wildlife species, there is a lack of empirical evidence showing the suitability of this novel habitat, especially in relation to plantations of exotic tree species. Furthermore, little is known about the effects of forest management on the ecology and dynamics of wild populations in the Neotropics. During the breeding season, the migrant flycatcher White-crested Elaenia is the most abundant bird species in forested landscapes in Chile. For several years we have studied different aspects of these artificial forests in the coastal range of south-central Chile as habitat for the species, particularly in contrast to the native forest. In general, our results indicate that plantation forests offer a poorer quality habitat, where the density of the species tends to be lower than in the native forest, although a significant edge effect suggests that its quality can be mitigated by planting as a matrix mosaic with native forest. Furthermore, compared to native forests, populations in plantations contained a higher proportion of younger adult individuals maintaining larger territories, and showing poorer body condition. We suggest that these differences could also have an impact on the birds’ longevity and survival.