Psophia Crepitans Research Articles

Primary molt in Gruiforms and simpler molt summary tables.

Molt summary tables reveal the sequence and mode of flight-feather replacement and how these feathers are divided into independent replacement series. Tables for summarizing molt are relatively new, and the rules for generating them were first formally illustrated using data from a temperate passerine. However, this first illustration failed to address (i) species with primaries divided into more than one replacement series, (ii) species with stepwise primary replacement, which almost always involves incomplete annual replacement of the primaries, and (iii) species with incomplete annual replacement within molt series characterized by single-wave replacement. Here, we review complications that arise in developing molt summary tables for such cases and we offer solutions that remove ambiguity about the direction that molt proceeds within a replacement series and about the recognition of nodal and terminal feathers that mark the beginning and end of molt series. We use these modified molt summary tables to describe the sequence of primary replacement in four groups of Gruiform birds, a group for which primary replacement has been reported to proceed from the outermost primary toward the body, unlike most other birds. Eighty molting Grey-winged Trumpeters, Psophia crepitans, and 124 molting Limpkins, Aramus guarauna, show the sequence of primary replacement is proximal in both groups; furthermore, the primaries of trumpeters are divided into two replacement series, one beginning at the outermost primary P10, and the other beginning at P3. To further evaluate the extent of this highly unusual direction of replacement in Gruiforms, we cast the data (Stresemann & Stresemann, 1966) on primary replacement in upland rails (Rallidae) and flufftails (Sarothruridae) into molt summary tables; both also replace their primaries proximally, from outermost to innermost, suggesting that this mode of primary replacement may be characteristic of Gruiformes.

Water availability not fruitfall modulates the dry season distribution of frugivorous terrestrial vertebrates in a lowland Amazon forest.

Terrestrial vertebrate frugivores constitute one of the major guilds in tropical forests. Previous studies show that the meso-scale distribution of this group is only weakly explained by variables such as altitude and tree basal area in lowland Amazon forests. For the first time we test whether seasonally limiting resources (water and fallen fruit) affect the dry season distribution in 25 species of terrestrial vertebrates. To examine the effects of the spatial availability of fruit and water on terrestrial vertebrates we used a standardized, regularly spaced arrangement of camera-traps within 25km2 of lowland Amazon forest. Generalized linear models (GLMs) were then used to examine the influence of four variables (altitude, distance to large rivers, distance to nearest water, and presence vs absence of fruits) on the number of photos on five functional groups (all frugivores, small, medium, large and very large frugivores) and on seven of the most abundant frugivore species (Cuniculus paca, Dasyprocta leporina, Mazama americana, Mazama nemorivaga, Myoprocta acouchy, Pecari tajacu and Psophia crepitans). A total of 279 independent photos of 25 species were obtained from 900 camera-trap days. For most species and three functional groups, the variation in the number of photos per camera was significantly but weakly explained by the GLMs (deviance explained ranging from 6.2 to 48.8%). Generally, we found that the presence of water availability was more important than the presence of fallen fruit for the groups and species studied. Medium frugivores, large-bodied frugivores, and two of the more abundant species (C. paca and P. crepitans) were recorded more frequently closer to water bodies; while none of the functional groups nor the most abundant species showed any significant relationship with the presence of fallen fruit. Two functional groups and two of the seven most common frugivore species assessed in the GLMs showed significant results with species-specific responses to altitude. Our findings provide a more detailed understanding of how frugivorous vertebrates cope with periods of water and fruit scarcity in lowland Amazon forests.

Ecological relationships of meso-scale distribution in 25 neotropical vertebrate species.

Vertebrates are a vital ecological component of Amazon forest biodiversity. Although vertebrates are a functionally important part of various ecosystem services they continue to be threatened by anthropogenic impacts throughout the Amazon. Here we use a standardized, regularly spaced arrangement of camera traps within 25km2 to provide a baseline assessment of vertebrate species diversity in a sustainable use protected area in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. We examined seasonal differences in the per species encounter rates (number of photos per camera trap and number of cameras with photos). Generalized linear models (GLMs) were then used to examine the influence of five variables (altitude, canopy cover, basal area, distance to nearest river and distance to nearest large river) on the number of photos per species and on functional groups. GLMs were also used to examine the relationships between large predators [Jaguar (Panthera onca) and Puma (Puma concolor)] and their prey. A total of 649 independent photos of 25 species were obtained from 1,800 camera trap days (900 each during wet and dry seasons). Only ungulates and rodents showed significant seasonal differences in the number of photos per camera. The number of photos differed between seasons for only three species (Mazama americana, Dasyprocta leporina and Myoprocta acouchy) all of which were photographed more (3 to 10 fold increase) during the wet season. Mazama americana was the only species where a significant difference was found in occupancy, with more photos in more cameras during the wet season. For most groups and species variation in the number of photos per camera was only explained weakly by the GLMs (deviance explained ranging from 10.3 to 54.4%). Terrestrial birds (Crax alector, Psophia crepitans and Tinamus major) and rodents (Cuniculus paca, Dasyprocta leporina and M. acouchy) were the notable exceptions, with our GLMs significantly explaining variation in the distribution of all species (deviance explained ranging from 21.0 to 54.5%). The group and species GLMs showed some novel ecological information from this relatively pristine area. We found no association between large cats and their potential prey. We also found that rodent and bird species were more often recorded closer to streams. As hunters gain access via rivers this finding suggests that there is currently little anthropogenic impact on the species. Our findings provide a standardized baseline for comparison with other sites and with which planned management and extractive activities can be evaluated.

A New Area of Endemism for Amazonian Birds in the Rio Negro Basin

We describe a new area of endemism for Amazonian birds which we designate as the Jaú Area of Endemism. This area of endemism in central-western Amazonia north of the Rio Solimões was identified through congruent distributions of six avian taxa: Psophia crepitans ochroptera Pelzeln 1857, Nonnula amaurocephala Chapman 1921, Pteroglossus azara azara Vieilot 1819, Picumnus lafresnayi pusillus Pinto 1936, Synallaxis rutilans confinis Zimmer 1935, and Myrmoborus myotherinus ardesiacus Todd 1927. The southern and eastern limits of this area of endemism are the middle courses of the Solimões and Negro rivers, respectively. The northern limits apparently coincide with sandy soil vegetation along the middle Rio Negro. The western boundary remains undefined, but could involve the Japurá or Içá rivers north of the upper Solimões. Taxonomic studies and expansion of ornithological collections are needed to more precisely delimit the Jaú Area of Endemism. It is possible the avian taxa restricted to the Jaú Area of Endemism are derived through parapatric or peripatric speciation events from taxa whose ranges were centered in the Imeri and Napo areas of endemism. Alternatively, tectonic events that affect the lower course of the Rio Negro could influence bird distribution in this region if they serve as vicariance mechanisms.

Gray-winged Trumpeter (Psophia crepitans)

Gray-winged Trumpeter (Psophia crepitans)

A New Cyclocoelid (Digenea) Genus From the Grey-winged Trumpeter, Psophia Crepitans (Aves: Gruiformes: Psophiidae), From Guyana

Six specimens representing a new genus of cyclocoelid, Psophiatrema greineri n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae: Cyclocoelinae), were collected from the air sacs of a common or grey-winged trumpeter, Psophia crepitans (Gruiformes: Psophiidae), from Guyana on 19 January 2001. The bird was being maintained in an aviary at Emerald Forest Bird Gardens, Fallbrook, California. The new genus has an intertesticular ovary forming a triangle with the testes, placing it in Cyclocoelinae. There are currently 2 genera recognized in Cyclocoelinae: Cyclocoelum and Selfcoelum. The new genus is most similar to Selfcoelum by having a postpharyngeal genital pore, but differs from both Cyclocoelum and Selfcoelum by having the vitelline fields confluent posteriorly. A revised key to the Cyclocoelinae is provided to include the new genus, and the subfamily diagnosis is emended to reflect that the vitelline fields can be either confluent or not posteriorly.

Breeding of the Gray-Winged Trumpeter in French Guiana

In French Guiana, a territorial group of Gray-winged Trumpeters (Psophia crepitans) laid three eggs in a cavity atop a Voucapoua vouacapoua snag, 13.5 m up. At least two individuals alternated incubation, as in White-winged Trumpeters P. leucoptera in Peru, One egg had a dead embryo, and the two nidifugous chicks disappeared in their first week. Some previous field records of nests or eggs are probably incorrect.

Les fruits dans le régime alimentaire de Penelope marail (Aves, Cracidae) en forêt guyanaise : frugivorie stricte et selective ?

The diet of the Marail Guan (Penelope marail) was studied by analysis of the digestive tract contents of birds hunted at different seasons, from 1977 to 1983, in a pristine lowland rainforest along the Arataye river in French Guiana. The characteristics of the fruits consummed, and of the fruiting plants, were given special attention. This guan preys only occasionally upon insects or other invertebrates and feeds almost exclusively on fruits the seeds of which it disseminates. It looks for fruits both in the canopy and in the understorey. Most ingested fruits are black or yellow, soft-skinned, thick fleshy or with a juicy soft pulp, and less than 30 mm wide. They are mostly drupes or berries which enclose 1-4 seeds (usually a single one) less than 15 mm wide and protected within a very hard envelope. They belong to high standing crop plants that are frequent to abundant in the forest. By comparison with the three other large frugivorous bird species (Tinamus major, Crax alector and Psophia crepitans) which were studied at the same time on the same spot, Penelope marail appears to be a selective frugivore. Four plant species account for 75 % of its diet (two of them representing 60 %) which includes 23 plant species, against 80 for the Black Curassow, 55 for the Common Trumpeter, and at least 38 for the Great Tinamou. This selectivity and the role the guan plays in forest dynamics are discussed, particularly in term of foraging behaviour.

Foster parenting, growth and management of the Common trumpeter Psophia crepitans at the National Zoological Park, Washington

Foster parenting, growth and management of the Common trumpeter Psophia crepitans at the National Zoological Park, Washington

Breeding and management of the common trumpeter (Psophia crepitans)

AbstractThe breeding biology and management of three wild‐caught adult Common trumpeters (one male and two females) was documented at the Woodland Park Zoological Gardens, Seattle, from April, 1984 to August, 1986. A total of 27 eggs were laid, and eight young survived to fledging. Both sexes exhibited crane‐like dances during courtship, but the male appeared to perform these behaviors more frequently and with greater intensity than the females. Courtship feeding and allo‐preening also occurred. Nests consisted of simple scrapes on the ground, but the birds had no opportunity to rest in trees or other elevated sites. Clutches contained two or three eggs, and the incubation period was aproximately 28 days. Although the breeding pair was generally aggressive toward the second female, all three adults participated in incubation and in caring for the young. Parental behavior consisted of brooding, allopreening, and feeding. The male preened and fed one chick significantly more often than either of the females. Trumpeter chicks were highly precocial, but grew relatively slowly, reaching 50% of adult weight by 45 to 50 days of age. Trumpeters are difficult to maintain and breed in captivity and appear to be susceptible to mycotic diseases, such as aspergillosis. Changes in the social composition of captive groups may result in improved breeding.

Foster parenting, growth and management of the Common trumpeter Psophia crepitans at the National Zoological Park, Washington

Foster parenting, growth and management of the Common trumpeter Psophia crepitans at the National Zoological Park, Washington

Dactylaria gallopava Encephalitis in Two Grey-Winged Trumpeters (Psophia crepitans)

Encephalitis caused by Dactylaria gallopava is reported in two 17-to-18-day-old grey-winged trumpeters (Psophia crepitans). One of the chicks was housed in a tropical exhibit, and the other was in an adjacent room. Fir bark litter and aerosol infection were the suspected source and route of infection. The occurrence of this disease in a species other than the domestic chicken and turkey suggests the presence of a broader avian population at risk than previously indicated. Adult trumpeters and both young and old passerines housed in the same exhibit were not affected.