European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks

The European Starling (Stumus vulgaris) was introduced in Argentina by 1987. Starlings are secondary cavity nesters and may constitute a threat to other cavity nesters. We estimated the density of starlings in Buenos Aires city urban parks and examined the relationships between some habitat characte...

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Autor principal: Fiorini, Vanina Dafne
Publicado: 2010
Materias:
Argentina
Density estimate
European starling
Invasive species
Stumus vulgaris
Urban parks
Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
id paper:paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran
record_format dspace
spelling paper:paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran2023-06-08T16:05:16Z European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks Fiorini, Vanina Dafne Argentina Density estimate European starling Invasive species Stumus vulgaris Urban parks The European Starling (Stumus vulgaris) was introduced in Argentina by 1987. Starlings are secondary cavity nesters and may constitute a threat to other cavity nesters. We estimated the density of starlings in Buenos Aires city urban parks and examined the relationships between some habitat characteristics and the presence and abundance of starlings. We also evaluated the interactions between starlings and native species, by observations during foraging and nesting. Because starlings may use Rufous Hornero (Fumarius rufus) dome-shaped nests, we also located and observed them. Starlings were recorded in 293 transects distributed in 20.8 km2 corresponding to 103 Buenos Aires public-access parks, in which 447 individuals were recorded. We found that the relative population density for starlings in parks of Buenos Aires (individuals/ha ± SD) was 2.21 ± 0.09. Starling presence was positively associated with the park area and number of palms and negatively with the number of trees. A positive significant association between starling density and number of tipu trees was also found. Neither the presence nor the abundance of starlings was associated with the park's avian species richness. Although starlings were found to feed in heterospecrfic flocks in 60.3% of the 58 observations (totally 464 min), only five interspecific interactions were recorded (the starling being always the losing species). Twenty-one starling nests were built in natural cavities and nine in cavities made by woodpeckers (Colaptes spp). None of the 26 Rufous Hornero nests found was occupied by starlings. However, the nestling cycle of the Golden-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes melanolaimus) was recorded to be interrupted in three occasions due either to aggressive interactions or to the presence of starlings near the nests. These findings can be relevant in relation with the need of any action against starlings in Argentina. Accepted 21 September 2010. © The Neotropical Ornithological Society. Fil:Fiorini, V.D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. 2010 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Argentina
Density estimate
European starling
Invasive species
Stumus vulgaris
Urban parks
spellingShingle Argentina
Density estimate
European starling
Invasive species
Stumus vulgaris
Urban parks
Fiorini, Vanina Dafne
European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks
topic_facet Argentina
Density estimate
European starling
Invasive species
Stumus vulgaris
Urban parks
description The European Starling (Stumus vulgaris) was introduced in Argentina by 1987. Starlings are secondary cavity nesters and may constitute a threat to other cavity nesters. We estimated the density of starlings in Buenos Aires city urban parks and examined the relationships between some habitat characteristics and the presence and abundance of starlings. We also evaluated the interactions between starlings and native species, by observations during foraging and nesting. Because starlings may use Rufous Hornero (Fumarius rufus) dome-shaped nests, we also located and observed them. Starlings were recorded in 293 transects distributed in 20.8 km2 corresponding to 103 Buenos Aires public-access parks, in which 447 individuals were recorded. We found that the relative population density for starlings in parks of Buenos Aires (individuals/ha ± SD) was 2.21 ± 0.09. Starling presence was positively associated with the park area and number of palms and negatively with the number of trees. A positive significant association between starling density and number of tipu trees was also found. Neither the presence nor the abundance of starlings was associated with the park's avian species richness. Although starlings were found to feed in heterospecrfic flocks in 60.3% of the 58 observations (totally 464 min), only five interspecific interactions were recorded (the starling being always the losing species). Twenty-one starling nests were built in natural cavities and nine in cavities made by woodpeckers (Colaptes spp). None of the 26 Rufous Hornero nests found was occupied by starlings. However, the nestling cycle of the Golden-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes melanolaimus) was recorded to be interrupted in three occasions due either to aggressive interactions or to the presence of starlings near the nests. These findings can be relevant in relation with the need of any action against starlings in Argentina. Accepted 21 September 2010. © The Neotropical Ornithological Society.
author Fiorini, Vanina Dafne
author_facet Fiorini, Vanina Dafne
author_sort Fiorini, Vanina Dafne
title European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks
title_short European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks
title_full European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks
title_fullStr European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks
title_full_unstemmed European Starling (sturnus vulgaris): Population density and interactions with native species in Buenos Aires urban parks
title_sort european starling (sturnus vulgaris): population density and interactions with native species in buenos aires urban parks
publishDate 2010
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_10754377_v21_n4_p507_Ifran
work_keys_str_mv AT fiorinivaninadafne europeanstarlingsturnusvulgarispopulationdensityandinteractionswithnativespeciesinbuenosairesurbanparks
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