(on-line) Reproduction and demographic trends of Sula Leucogaster at the Moleques do Sul Archipelago, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Joaquim Olinto Branco, Hélio Augusto, Alves Fracasso, & Valéria, Santos Moraes-Ornellas, Hélio Augusto, Alves Fracasso
2013 Biota Neotrop   unpublished
A Biota Neotropica é uma revista eletrônica e está integral e gratuitamente disponível no endereço http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br Biota Neotropica is an electronic, peer-reviewed journal edited by the Program BIOTA/FAPESP: The Virtual Institute of Biodiversity. This journal's aim is to disseminate the results of original research work, associated or not to the program, concerned with characterization, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity within the Neotropical region. Biota
more » ... pica é uma revista do Programa BIOTA/FAPESP -O Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade, que publica resultados de pesquisa original, vinculada ou não ao programa, que abordem a temática caracterização, conservação e uso sustentável da biodiversidade na região Neotropical. Reproduction and demographic trends of Sula Leucogaster at the Moleques do Sul Archipelago, Santa Catarina, Brazil Branco, J.O. et al. BRANCO, J.O., FRACASSO, H.A.A. & MORAES-ORNELLAS, V.S. Reproduction and demographic trends of Sula Leucogaster at the Moleques do Sul Archipelago, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 13(4): http:// www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v13n4/en/abstract?article+bn00713042013 Abstract: The Brown Booby, Sula Leucogaster, is one of the most common species of marine birds of the Brazilian coast and, in spite of being a viable subject for long-term studies, in Brazil there are scarce demographic descriptions of this species obtained from observations made in sets of consecutive years. This paper presents breeding information collected in monthly samples taken in the Moleques do Sul Island, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, during a five year period. The main island was divided into three different study areas, in which adult censuses were conducted, along with counts of number of nests, eggs, chicks and incubating adults. No significant change was found in these numbers during the sampled years and the breeding season extended over the entire year, with a peak production of eggs and chicks from August to November. The flatter areas II and I were preferentially used, where a higher number of nests with two eggs were found. A certain number of individuals abandoned the colony outside the breeding season during some of the sampled years, which may be related to an alternation between abandonment and permanence, non-exclusive phenomena possibly associated with food availability and favorable environmental conditions. The long term knowledge of the demographic patterns and of occupation parameters of this Brown Bobby colony is essential for the conservation of the species and its habitats.
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