Date of Award
9-13-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Than Boves
Committee Members
Brook Fluker; Jerry Farris
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2017 S54
Abstract
(I) To aid conservation efforts for the declining Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), we studied warblers breeding in White River NWR to assess relationships between nest site microhabitat variables and both habitat selection patterns and nest survival; furthermore, we estimated demographic parameters of individuals breeding in natural cavities vs. nest boxes. Prothonotary Warblers preferred nesting in relatively high, shallow cavities in dead trees; however, canopy cover was negatively related to nest survival. Demographic parameters generally did not differ between nest type. (II) To explore how carotenoid-derived coloration and associated signaling vary spatially, we compared warblers breeding in Arkansas and Virginia, USA. We assessed coloration for both sexes and compared color metrics between sites, then assessed female quality surrogates and compared coloration-quality relationships between sites. Birds breeding in Arkansas (mostly females) were generally more colorful than those breeding in Virginia. Additionally, females showed both similarities and differences in color-quality relationships between sites.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Slevin, Morgan Christopher, "Prothonotary Warbler nest selection, nest survival, demographic parameters, and spatial plumage color variation" (2017). Student Theses and Dissertations. 577.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/577
