Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: BRUNA STEFANE DA SILVA SANTOS

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : BRUNA STEFANE DA SILVA SANTOS
DATE: 19/12/2023
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Videoconferência
TITLE:

Formation of mixed aggregations of army ant-following birds: A behavioral analysis of Pyriglena pernambucensis

KEY WORDS:

Ethogram, Pernambuco Endemism Center, multimodal clues, communication

PAGES: 35
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Zoologia
SUBÁREA: Comportamento Animal
SUMMARY:

Mixed-species aggregations of army ant-following birds is an ecological phenomenon maintained by acoustic cues learned between individuals. In this work, the natural history and behavioral ecology of Pyriglena pernambucensis, an endangered bird endemic to the Pernambuco Endemism Center, were studied. Recent studies indicate that this species is a regular follower of army ants. Due to the conspicuous color pattern with black color, white spot and red eyes, we test the hypothesis that multimodal cues (acoustic and visual) of P. pernambucensis may act in the formation of mixed aggregations. Samplings were carried out in the two largest remnants of the Atlantic Forest in Alagoas: Murici Ecological Station (ESEC de Murici) and Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve (REBRIO de Pedra Talhada). The observations focused on analyzing the behavioral and acoustic repertoire of the species during the daytime period (7:00 am to 5:00 pm hours) contrasting frequencies of behavior outside and during foraging near the ant swarms. The objective was to identify the foraging patterns of P. pernambucensis and its interaction with other species of followers. The species was actively searched for and when found, behavioral sampling was carried out at a single point and focal animal, totaling 22 hours of observation. An ethogram was constructed that details a wide range of the species' behaviors. The frequency and duration of these behaviors were recorded, identifying relevant patterns such as locomotion and social interactions. Vocalizations were categorized into songs, calls, disputes and groups, and are associated with intraspecific and interspecific communication. The results show that P. pernambucensis is almost always found (following army ants. In this context P. pernambucensis exhibits a greater variety of behaviors, including cleaning, movement and social interactions, often in response to the activities of army ants. Furthermore, the birds have the behavior of checking the activity of the bivouacs in the morning, so the flocks live associated with the corrections. Vocalizations play a crucial role in recruiting and coordinating group behaviors. Experiments with recordings and colorful 3D models of P. pernambucensis were used to test the use of multimodal cues in attracting other species of birds (heterospecific). As a control, cues from a model bird Conopophaga melanops that rarely follows ants were used. Responses varied between study areas, with multimodal cues attracting other insectivorous species in just one area, highlighting their importance as a nucleus for aggregation. This study contributes significantly to the understanding of the behavior of P. pernambucensis, a poorly studied species endemic to an area of high biodiversity and risk of extinction. The results reinforce the importance of interactions between species and multimodal communication in the Atlantic Forest ecosystem and fill some gaps in its natural history. Therefore, it is fundamental for the effective conservation of the species and the interactions that exist in its habitat. However, more research is needed on this complex system of interactions existing in tropical forests.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interno(a) - 2024367 - MELISSA FONTES LANDELL
Interno(a) - 2882780 - RICHARD JAMES LADLE
Externo(a) à Instituição - MARCO AURELIO PIZO FERREIRA - UNESP