Survival and longevity in the Puerto Rican Vireo, Vireo latimeri

Abstract

The Puerto Rican Vireo (Vireo Zatimeri), a Puerto Rican endemic, is declining in at least one forest reserve as the result of pressures from introduced nest predators and an introduced brood parasite. We collected data on adult survival, adult longevity, and juvenile survival from a long-term mist netting study (1973-1999) and a demographic study of color-marked birds (1990-1993) in Guanica Forest, Puerto Rico. Of the adult birds banded in the first three years of the demographic study, 24 of 32 males (75%) and 6 of 7 females (86%) were known to survive until June of the year following their banding. Model-based estimates of adult survival rate from capturejresighting of 65 color-marked birds was 0.74 (Z 0.05 SE); for 51 adult males analyzed separately, survival rate was 0.74 (kO.06; data were insufficient to estimate survival rate of females). We recorded a new longevity record for the Puerto Rican Vireo of 13 years, 2 months. Juvenile survival was estimated by enumeration to be 0.40 (+O. 15). Juveniles spent prolonged periods on their natal territory, which might increase their probability of surviving to first breeding. Puerto Rican Vireos have relatively high survival rates despite the presence of numerous introduced predators in their habitat, a highly seasonal environment, and the stress of renesting as many as 6 times in a season.

Citation

Woodworth, Bethany L.; Faaborg, John; Arendt, Wayne J. 1999. Survival and longevity in the Puerto Rican Vireo, Vireo latimeri. Wilson Bulletin 111:376–380.