The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands
A genetically and morphologically divergent population of c. 500 American Flamingos, isolated from the parental Caribbean stock of Phoenicopterus ruber, occurs in the Galapagos archipelago. Based primarily on data from a 3-year study, we provide the first description of the feeding and breeding biology of this population. Galapagos provides a suitable habitat comprising lagoons on a number of islands, among which the flamingos travel in response to food and nest site availability. We identify putative food items. The occurrence and quantity of some food species was associated with the chlorosity of lagoon water, as was the distribution of flamingos. The flamingos bred opportunistically at five lagoons on four islands, sometimes simultaneously on more than one island. Group display usually involved = 20 birds, and colonies contained as few as three nests. Laying occurred during nine months of the year, mainly August–January, coinciding with the coastal drier season and low lagoon water levels. On average c.30% of all adults incubated clutches each year, producing 0.37 fledglings per clutch. Recruitment is probably sufficient to sustain the population, which has been stable over at least c. 45 years, and is probably limited by suitable habitat. Moult to flightlessness was recorded among adults. We review potential dangers to this unique population and suggest conservation measures.
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Format: | article biblioteca |
Language: | English |
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2016-10
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Subjects: | Biology, breeding, population, distribution, Lagoon ecology, movement, moult, feeding, |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/36360 |
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dig-aquadocs-1834-363602021-07-15T02:07:02Z The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands Tindle, Robert W. Tupiza, Arnaldo Blomberg, Simon P. Tindle, L. Elizabeth Biology breeding population distribution Lagoon ecology movement moult feeding A genetically and morphologically divergent population of c. 500 American Flamingos, isolated from the parental Caribbean stock of Phoenicopterus ruber, occurs in the Galapagos archipelago. Based primarily on data from a 3-year study, we provide the first description of the feeding and breeding biology of this population. Galapagos provides a suitable habitat comprising lagoons on a number of islands, among which the flamingos travel in response to food and nest site availability. We identify putative food items. The occurrence and quantity of some food species was associated with the chlorosity of lagoon water, as was the distribution of flamingos. The flamingos bred opportunistically at five lagoons on four islands, sometimes simultaneously on more than one island. Group display usually involved = 20 birds, and colonies contained as few as three nests. Laying occurred during nine months of the year, mainly August–January, coinciding with the coastal drier season and low lagoon water levels. On average c.30% of all adults incubated clutches each year, producing 0.37 fledglings per clutch. Recruitment is probably sufficient to sustain the population, which has been stable over at least c. 45 years, and is probably limited by suitable habitat. Moult to flightlessness was recorded among adults. We review potential dangers to this unique population and suggest conservation measures. 2021-06-24T17:58:12Z 2021-06-24T17:58:12Z 2016-10 article TRUE 1390-2830 http://hdl.handle.net/1834/36360 en application/pdf application/pdf 15-27 -0.743292 -90.3157 http://aquaticcommons.org/id/eprint/21552 18060 2017-07-01 17:42:51 21552 Fundacion Charles Darwin Foundation |
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Biology breeding population distribution Lagoon ecology movement moult feeding Biology breeding population distribution Lagoon ecology movement moult feeding |
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Biology breeding population distribution Lagoon ecology movement moult feeding Biology breeding population distribution Lagoon ecology movement moult feeding Tindle, Robert W. Tupiza, Arnaldo Blomberg, Simon P. Tindle, L. Elizabeth The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands |
description |
A genetically and morphologically divergent population of c. 500 American Flamingos, isolated from the parental Caribbean stock of Phoenicopterus ruber, occurs in the Galapagos archipelago. Based primarily on data from a 3-year study, we provide the first description of the feeding and breeding biology of this population. Galapagos provides a suitable habitat comprising lagoons on a number of islands, among which the flamingos travel in response to food and nest site availability. We identify putative food items. The occurrence and quantity of some food species was associated with the chlorosity of lagoon water, as was the distribution of flamingos. The flamingos bred opportunistically at five lagoons on four islands, sometimes simultaneously on more than one island. Group display usually involved = 20 birds, and colonies contained as few as three nests. Laying occurred during nine months of the year, mainly August–January, coinciding with the coastal drier season and low lagoon water levels. On average c.30% of all adults incubated clutches each year, producing 0.37 fledglings per clutch. Recruitment is probably sufficient to sustain the population, which has been stable over at least c. 45 years, and is probably limited by suitable habitat. Moult to flightlessness was recorded among adults. We review potential dangers to this unique population and suggest conservation measures. |
format |
article |
topic_facet |
Biology breeding population distribution Lagoon ecology movement moult feeding |
author |
Tindle, Robert W. Tupiza, Arnaldo Blomberg, Simon P. Tindle, L. Elizabeth |
author_facet |
Tindle, Robert W. Tupiza, Arnaldo Blomberg, Simon P. Tindle, L. Elizabeth |
author_sort |
Tindle, Robert W. |
title |
The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands |
title_short |
The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands |
title_full |
The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands |
title_fullStr |
The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands |
title_full_unstemmed |
The biology of an isolated population of the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber in the Galapagos Islands |
title_sort |
biology of an isolated population of the american flamingo phoenicopterus ruber in the galapagos islands |
publishDate |
2016-10 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/1834/36360 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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