Nearctic-Neotropical migrant wood-warbler populations in St. Martin, West Indies
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Abstract: Standardized mist netting was used from 2002–2009 to survey Nearctic-Neotropical migrant wood-warbler populations in three common habitats on the island of St. Martin, West Indies. The primary goal of this study was to compare avian diversity and relative abundance in (a) secondary dry forest, (b) thorn scrub forest, and (c) mangrove scrub forest, including assessment of sex and age differences among these habitats, and a preliminary evaluation of annual return rates. A total of 18 species and 710 individuals were captured across all habitats. Data collected indicate a greater abundance and diversity of wood-warbler species on St. Martin than previously recorded, with four new species recorded for the island. The secondary dry forest was the most used habitat with the highest capture rate (9.32 birds captured per 100 mist net-hr) and diversity of species (14). There were no age or sex differences in passerine use of the three habitats. In general, wood-warbler populations had lower rates of annual return compared to similar studies in the West Indies.
Keywords: habitat use, Lesser Antilles, Nearctic-Neotropical migrants, St. Martin, wood-warblers
Resumen: Poblaciones migrantes neárticas-neotropicales de parúlidos en San Martin, caribe insular- Un muestro estandarizado con redes de niebla fue utilizado del 2002–2009 para muestrear las poblaciones migrantes neárticas-neotropicales de parúlidos en tres hábitats comunes de la isla de San Martin, en el Caribe Insular. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue comparar la diversidad y la abundancia relativa en (a) un bosque seco secundario, (b) un matorral espinoso y (c) un manglar, incluyendo la estimación de diferencias entre sexos y edades entre estos hábitats y una evaluación preliminar de las tasas anuales de retorno. Se capturaron un total de 18 especies y 710 individuos en todos los tipos de hábitat. Los datos colectados indican una mayor abundancia y diversidad de parúlidos en San Martin que lo que había sido registrado previamente, con cuatro nuevas especies reportadas para la isla. El bosque seco secundario fue el hábitat más utilizado, con las más altas tasa de captura (9,32 individuos capturados por 100 h / red) y diversidad de especies (14). No existieron diferencias entre sexos y edades en el uso de los tres hábitats por parte de este grupo de aves. En general, las poblaciones de parúlidos tuvieron tasas de retorno anual menores al compararlas con estudios similares en el Caribe Insular.
Palabras clave: Antillas Menores, migrantes neárticos-neotropicales, parúlidos, San Martin, uso de hábitat
Résumé: Populations de parulines migratrices néarctiques-néotropicales à Saint-Martin, antilles- Des captures normalisées au filet ont été réalisées de 2002 à 2009 pour étudier les populations de parulines migratrices néarctiques-néotropicales dans trois habitats communs sur l’île de Saint-Martin, Antilles. L’objectif principal de cette étude était de comparer la diversité et l’abondance relative de l’avifaune en (a) forêt sèche secondaire, (b) forêt d’arbustes épineux, et (c) forêt de mangrove, de comparer les sexes-ratios et les âges-ratios des peuplements de parulines de chacun de ces habitats, et de faire une évaluation préliminaire des taux de retour annuel. Au total, 710 individus appartenant à 18 espèces ont été capturés dans tous les habitats. Les données recueillies indiquent une abondance et une diversité des espèces de parulines sur Saint-Martin plus fortes que ce qui avait été précédemment observé, avec quatre espèces observées pour la première fois sur l’île. La forêt sèche secondaire était l’habitat le plus utilisé, présentant le taux de capture le plus élevé (9,32 oiseaux capturés par 100 filet/h) et la plus forte diversité spécifique (14). Les peuplements des trois habitats ne présentaient pas de différence d’âges-ratios ni de sexes-ratios. En général, les populations de parulines présentaient des taux de retour annuel plus faibles que ceux observés lors d’études similaires dans les Antilles.
Mots clés: migrateurs néarctiques-néotropicaux, Petites Antilles, Saint-Martin, utilisation de l’habitat
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