Title

Foraging behavior and substrate preference of the mangrove warbler (Setophaga petechial bryanti) in North-Western Pacific Mangroves of Costa Rica

Alternative Title

Comportamiento de forrajeo y preferencia de sustrato de la reinita de manglar (Setophaga petechial bryanti) en manglares del Pacífico noroccidental de Costa Rica

Creator

Michael K. Spaeth

Files

Publication Date

June 2018

Abstract

Mangrove Warblers (Setophaga petechia bryanti) reside in mangrove habitats that are at continuous risk of human alteration and destruction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the foraging behavior of Mangrove Warblers and whether they prefer a specific species of mangrove for foraging in the North-Western Pacific Mangroves of Costa Rica. I investigated this by observing Mangrove Warblers forage at different mangrove tree species throughout a mangrove habitat along Rio Cuajiniquil in Cuajiniquil, Costa Rica. My primary finding was that Mangrove Warblers occur more frequently in Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) and Black Mangroves (Avicennia germinans) while foraging. Furthermore, Mangrove Warblers tended to forage for a longer duration of time in White Mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa) before leaving the substrate. Understanding Mangrove Warblers’ foraging preference in mangrove ecosystems helps convey how they will respond to a continuously decreasing habitat type. Las reinitas de manglar (Setophaga petechial bryanti) residen en manglares que corren un riesgo continuo de alteración y destrucción por humanos. El propósito de este estudio fue investigar el comportamiento de forrajeo de las reinitas de manglar y si prefieren una especie particular de manglar para forrajear en los manglares del Pacífico noroccidental de Costa Rica. Investigué esto observando el forraje de los manglares en diferentes especies de árboles de mangle a través de un hábitat de manglares a lo largo de Rio Cuajiniquil en Costa Rica. Mi hallazgo principal fue que las reinitas de manglares buscan comida con mayor frecuencia en manges rojos (Rhizophora mangle) y mangles negros (Avicennia germinans). Además, las reinitas de manglar tendieron a forrajear durante más tiempo en los manglares blancos (Laguncularia racemosa) antes de abandonar el sustrato. Entender las preferencias de forrajeo de las reinitas de manglar en los manglares nos ayuda a comprender cómo responderán a un hábitat en declive continuo.

Keywords

Mangrove animals, Animales de manglar, Birds, Aves, EAP Spring 2018, EAP Primavera 2018, Costa Rica--Guanacaste--Cuajiniquil

Description

Student affiliation: Department of Biological Science, University of California, Merced Born Digital

Subject: topical

Mangrove animals; Animales de manglar; Birds; Aves; EAP Spring 2018; EAP Primavera 2018; Costa Rica--Guanacaste--Cuajiniquil

Genre

Reports

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute MVI

Recommended Citation

Spaeth, Michael K., "Foraging behavior and substrate preference of the mangrove warbler (Setophaga petechial bryanti) in North-Western Pacific Mangroves of Costa Rica" (2018). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 450.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/450