La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Nest-site characteristics of Red-tailed Tropicbirds on Rose Atoll, American Samoa
Auteurs :	T. E. Morrell, Auteur ; S. M. Aquilani, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Field Ornithology (71(3) SUM 2000)
Article en page(s) :	455-459
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	We examined nest sites of Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda) on Rose Island of the Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, American Samoa, to determine habitat features important for nest-site selection of this species. We quantified habitat characteristics at 21 nest sites and at 27 random sites during September 1991. Al nests were located under beach heliotrope (Messerschmidia argentea) shrubs or pisonia (Pisonia grandis) trees. Nest sites were placed farther under the nest shrub, had more stems in the nest space, and greater percent shade cover than random sites. Nest sites averaged 24.9 m from their nearest neighbor, greater than or equal to 20 m greater than has been reported elsewhere for this colonial species. We suggest that an overpopulation of Polynesian rats (Rattus exelans) may have influenced nest-site selection by Red-tailed Tropicbirds on Rose Island.

Lundi , mardi et jeudi de 9h à 12h et de 13h à 17h00 : ouverture au public ...