The introduced Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) in Patagonia: abundance, group structure, activity patterns and association to human disturbance

Valeria L. Martin-Albarracin; Guillermo C. Amico; Martín A. Nuñez

doi:10.56178/eh.v32i2.509

Articles Published 01 December 2017 https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v32i2.509

The introduced Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) in Patagonia: abundance, group structure, activity patterns and association to human disturbance

habitat use Isla Victoria Lophura nycthemera phasianids Silver Pheasant

Valeria L. Martin-Albarracin Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Quintral 1250, 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

Guillermo C. Amico Laboratorio Ecotono, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Quintral 1250, 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

Martín A. Nuñez Grupo de Ecología de Invasiones, INIBIOMA, CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Av. de los Pioneros 2350, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina

Abstract

Phasianids are one of the groups of introduced birds with highest impact on native ecosystems. In Patagonia several phasianids are established or in process of establishment, thus it is relevant to know their impacts on ecosystems. The Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) was introduced to Isla Victoria in the 1950’s and successfully established all over the island. The aim of this work is to study the population of this species on Isla Victoria in terms of abundance and association to human disturbance as a first step to know its potential impact in the ecosystem. We conducted camera-trapping and direct observations in linear transects located in highly disturbed and in lowly disturbed areas. Using camera-trapping data we estimated an index of relative abundance to compare habitat use between areas. We used the distance-sampling approach to estimate population density with the data from direct observations. The Silver Pheasant used much more frequently areas with a high level of disturbance, suggesting that the presence of disturbed habitats could facilitate establishment and spread of this species in Patagonia. Population densities in areas with high and with low levels of disturbance were higher than those reported from the native distribution area, showing that the Silver Pheasant had a great success on Isla Victoria. The high abundance, together with distinctive characteristics such as a large body size, foraging habits and social behaviour can shape the interactions with native species and influence its impact on native communities.

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References

BLACKBURN TM AND DUNCAN RP (2001) Establishmentpatterns of exotic birds are constrained by non-random patterns in introduction. Journal of Biogeo-graphy 28:927–939
BOWKETT AE, ROVERO F AND MARSHALL AR (2008) Theuse of camera trap data to model habitat use byantelope species in the Udzungwa Mountain for-ests, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology 46:479–487
BRAZIL M (2009) Birds of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Korea,Japan, and Russia. Bloomsbury, London
BUCKLAND ST, ANDERSON DR, BURNHAM KP, LAAKE JL,BORCHERS DL AND THOMAS L (2001) Introduction todistance sampling: estimating abundance of biologicalpopulations. Oxford University Press, Oxford
BUCKLAND ST, ANDERSON DR, BURNHAM KP, LAAKE JL,BORCHERS DL AND THOMAS L (2007) Advanced dis-tance sampling: estimating abundance of biologicalpopulations. Oxford University Press, Oxford
COUVE E AND VIDAL C (2003) Aves de Patagonia, Tierradel Fuego y Península Antártica, Islas Malvinas y Georgiadel Sur. Fantástico Sur Birding, Punta Arenas
CHIMERA CG AND DRAKE DR (2010) Patterns of seeddispersal and dispersal failure in a Hawaiian dryforest having only introduced birds. Biotropica42:493–502
DACIUK J (1978) Aclimatación de aves y mamíferos enel parque nacional Nahuel Huapi (Prov. deNeuquén y Río Negro, Argentina), con especial refe-rencia de los fasiánidos. Anales de Parques Nacionales14:96-104
DAVIS MA, CHEW MK, HOBBS RJ, LUGO AE, EWEL JJ,VERMEIJ GJ, BROWN JH, ROSENZWEIG ML, GARDENERMR AND CARROLL SP (2011) Don’t judge species ontheir origins. Nature 474:153–154
DAVISON GWH (1981) Habitat requirements and foodsupply of the crested fireback. World Pheasant Asso-ciation Journal 6:40–52
ELTON CS (1958) The ecology of invasion by plants andanimals. Methuen, London
GANTCHOFF MG AND BELANT JL (2015) Anthropogenicand environmental effects on invasive mammaldistribution in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Mam-malian Biology 80:54–60
JAKSIC FM, IRIARTE JA, JIMÉNEZ JE AND MARTÍNEZ DR(2002) Invaders without frontiers: cross-borderinvasions of exotic mammals. Biological Invasions4:157–173
JENKS KE, CHANTEAP P, DAMRONGCHAINARONG K, CUT-TER P, CUTTER P, REDFORD T, LYNAM AJ, HOWARD J ANDLEIMGRUBER P (2011) Using relative abundanceindices from camera-trapping to test wildlife con-servation hypotheses — an example from Khao YaiNational Park, Thailand. Tropical Conservation Sci-ence 4:113–131JOHNSGARD PA (1986) The pheasants of the world. OxfordUniversity Press, Oxford
KOUTCHÉ V (1942) Estación forestal de Puerto Achorena,Isla Victoria; su organización y trabajos. Dirección deParques Nacionales, Buenos AiresLANTSCHNER MV AND RUSCH V (2007) Impacto de dife-rentes disturbios antrópicos sobre las comunidadesde aves de bosques y matorrales de Nothofagusantarctica en el NO Patagónico. Ecología Austral17:99–112
LANTSCHNER MV, RUSCH V AND HAYES JP (2012) Doexotic pine plantations favour the spread of inva-sive herbivorous mammals in Patagonia? AustralEcology 38:338–345
LEVER C (2005) Naturalised birds of the world. T & ADPoyser, London
LI N, ZHOU W, LI W, ZHANG Q AND WANG XR (2010)Comparison of roosting habitat characteristics oftwo sympatric pheasants during springtime atDazhong Mountain, southwestern China. ChineseBirds 1:132–140
MARON JL AND VILÀ M (2001) When do herbivoresaffect plant invasion? Evidence for the naturalenemies and biotic resistance hypotheses. Oikos95:361–373
MARTIN-ALBARRACIN VL, AMICO GC, SIMBERLOFF D ANDNUÑEZ MA (2015a) Impact of non-native birds onnative ecosystems: a global analysis. PLoS One10:e0143070
MARTIN-ALBARRACIN VL, NUÑEZ MA AND AMICO GC(2015b) Replacement of native by non-native ani-mal communities assisted by human introductionand management on Isla Victoria, Nahuel HuapiNational Park. PeerJ 3:e1328
MATARASSO H AND SALABERRY G (2008) Faisanes enPatagonia: crónica de tiempo cero. Aves Argentinas22:19–21
MERINO ML, CARPINETTI BN AND ABBA AM (2009)Invasive mammals in the national parks system ofArgentina. Natural Areas Journal 29:42–49
NAVA S J (2002) Las aves exóticas introducidas y natura-lizadas en la Argentina. Revista del Museo Argentinode Ciencias Naturales 4:191–202
NUÑEZ MA, MORETTI A AND SIMBERLOFF D (2011)Propagule pressure hypothesis not supported byan 80-year experiment on woody species invasion.Oikos 120:1311–1316
NUÑEZ MA, SIMBERLOFF D AND RELVA MA (2008) Seedpredation as a barrier to alien conifer invasions. Bio-logical Invasions 10:1389–1398
PERIS S, SOAVE G, CAMPERI A, DARRIEU C AND ARAMBURUR (2005) Range expansion of the European StarlingSturnus vulgaris in Argentina. Ardeola 52:359–364
PRADITSUP N, NAKSATHIT A AND ROUND PD (2007)Observations on the Siamese Fireback Lophura diardiin Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Forktail23:125–128
R CORE TEAM (2014) R: a language and environment forstatistical computing. R Foundation for StatisticalComputing, Vienna
ROUND PD AND GALE GA (2008) Changes in the sta-tus of Lophura pheasants in Khao Yai National Park,Thailand: a response to warming climate? Biotropica40:225–230
ROWCLIFFE JM, FIELD J, TURVEY ST AND CARBONE C(2008) Estimating animal density using camera trapswithout the need for individual recognition. Jour-nal of Applied Ecology 45:1228–1236
ROWCLIFFE JM, KAYS R, KRANSTAUBER B, CARBONE CAND JANSEN PA (2014) Quantifying levels of animalactivity using camera trap data. Methods in Ecologyand Evolution 5:1170–1179
SAVINI T AND SUKUMAL N (2009) Group structure andreproductive behavior of Siamese Fireback Lophuradiardi and Silver Pheasant L. nycthemera in Khao YaiNational Park, Thailand. International Journal ofGalliformes Conservation 1:12–17
SIMBERLOFF D, RELVA MA AND NUÑEZ M (2003) Intro-duced species and management of a Nothofagus/Austrocedrus forest. Environmental Management31:263–275
SKEWES O, RODRÍGUEZ R AND JAKSIC FM (2007) Ecologíatrófica del jabalí europeo (Sus scrofa) silvestre enChile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80:295–307
SOL D, TIMMERMANS S AND LEFEBVRE L (2002) Behav-ioural flexibility and invasion success in birds.Animal Behaviour 63:495–502
SUKUMAL N, GALE GA AND SAVINI T (2010) Sub-montane habitat selection by a lowland pheasant.Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 58:391–401
SUKUMAL N AND SAVINI T (2009) Altitudinal dif-ferences in habitat use by Siamese firebackLophura diardi and silver pheasant Lophuranycthemera in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.International Journal of Galliformes Conservation1:18–22
THOMAS CD AND PALMER G (2015) Non-nativeplants add to the British flora without negativeconsequences for native diversity. Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences 112:4387–4392
TOMPKINS DM, DRAYCOTT RAH AND HUDSON PJ (2000a)Field evidence for apparent competition mediatedvia the shared parasites of two gamebird species.Ecology Letters 3:10–14
TOMPKINS DM, GEENMAN JV AND HUDSON PJ (2001)Differential impact of a shared nematode parasiteon two gamebird hosts: implications for apparentcompetition. Parasitology 122:187–193
TOMPKINS DM, GREENMAN JV, ROBERTSON PA AND HUD-SON PJ (2000b) The role of shared parasites in theexclusion of wildlife hosts: Heterakis gallinarum inthe ring-necked pheasant and the grey partridge.Journal of Animal Ecology 69:829–840

How to cite

Valeria L. Martin-Albarracin, Guillermo C. Amico, Martín A. Nuñez (2017). The introduced Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera) in Patagonia: abundance, group structure, activity patterns and association to human disturbance. El Hornero, Vol. 32 No. 2 (2017), 227-236. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v32i2.509

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[1] BLACKBURN TM AND DUNCAN RP (2001) Establishmentpatterns of exotic birds are constrained by non-random patterns in introduction. Journal of Biogeo-graphy 28:927–939

[2] BOWKETT AE, ROVERO F AND MARSHALL AR (2008) Theuse of camera trap data to model habitat use byantelope species in the Udzungwa Mountain for-ests, Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology 46:479–487

[3] BRAZIL M (2009) Birds of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Korea,Japan, and Russia. Bloomsbury, London

[4] BUCKLAND ST, ANDERSON DR, BURNHAM KP, LAAKE JL,BORCHERS DL AND THOMAS L (2001) Introduction todistance sampling: estimating abundance of biologicalpopulations. Oxford University Press, Oxford

[5] BUCKLAND ST, ANDERSON DR, BURNHAM KP, LAAKE JL,BORCHERS DL AND THOMAS L (2007) Advanced dis-tance sampling: estimating abundance of biologicalpopulations. Oxford University Press, Oxford

[6] COUVE E AND VIDAL C (2003) Aves de Patagonia, Tierradel Fuego y Península Antártica, Islas Malvinas y Georgiadel Sur. Fantástico Sur Birding, Punta Arenas

[7] CHIMERA CG AND DRAKE DR (2010) Patterns of seeddispersal and dispersal failure in a Hawaiian dryforest having only introduced birds. Biotropica42:493–502

[8] DACIUK J (1978) Aclimatación de aves y mamíferos enel parque nacional Nahuel Huapi (Prov. deNeuquén y Río Negro, Argentina), con especial refe-rencia de los fasiánidos. Anales de Parques Nacionales14:96-104

[9] DAVIS MA, CHEW MK, HOBBS RJ, LUGO AE, EWEL JJ,VERMEIJ GJ, BROWN JH, ROSENZWEIG ML, GARDENERMR AND CARROLL SP (2011) Don’t judge species ontheir origins. Nature 474:153–154

[10] DAVISON GWH (1981) Habitat requirements and foodsupply of the crested fireback. World Pheasant Asso-ciation Journal 6:40–52

[11] ELTON CS (1958) The ecology of invasion by plants andanimals. Methuen, London

[12] GANTCHOFF MG AND BELANT JL (2015) Anthropogenicand environmental effects on invasive mammaldistribution in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Mam-malian Biology 80:54–60

[13] JAKSIC FM, IRIARTE JA, JIMÉNEZ JE AND MARTÍNEZ DR(2002) Invaders without frontiers: cross-borderinvasions of exotic mammals. Biological Invasions4:157–173

[14] JENKS KE, CHANTEAP P, DAMRONGCHAINARONG K, CUT-TER P, CUTTER P, REDFORD T, LYNAM AJ, HOWARD J ANDLEIMGRUBER P (2011) Using relative abundanceindices from camera-trapping to test wildlife con-servation hypotheses — an example from Khao YaiNational Park, Thailand. Tropical Conservation Sci-ence 4:113–131JOHNSGARD PA (1986) The pheasants of the world. OxfordUniversity Press, Oxford

[15] KOUTCHÉ V (1942) Estación forestal de Puerto Achorena,Isla Victoria; su organización y trabajos. Dirección deParques Nacionales, Buenos AiresLANTSCHNER MV AND RUSCH V (2007) Impacto de dife-rentes disturbios antrópicos sobre las comunidadesde aves de bosques y matorrales de Nothofagusantarctica en el NO Patagónico. Ecología Austral17:99–112

[16] LANTSCHNER MV, RUSCH V AND HAYES JP (2012) Doexotic pine plantations favour the spread of inva-sive herbivorous mammals in Patagonia? AustralEcology 38:338–345

[17] LEVER C (2005) Naturalised birds of the world. T & ADPoyser, London

[18] LI N, ZHOU W, LI W, ZHANG Q AND WANG XR (2010)Comparison of roosting habitat characteristics oftwo sympatric pheasants during springtime atDazhong Mountain, southwestern China. ChineseBirds 1:132–140

[19] MARON JL AND VILÀ M (2001) When do herbivoresaffect plant invasion? Evidence for the naturalenemies and biotic resistance hypotheses. Oikos95:361–373

[20] MARTIN-ALBARRACIN VL, AMICO GC, SIMBERLOFF D ANDNUÑEZ MA (2015a) Impact of non-native birds onnative ecosystems: a global analysis. PLoS One10:e0143070

[21] MARTIN-ALBARRACIN VL, NUÑEZ MA AND AMICO GC(2015b) Replacement of native by non-native ani-mal communities assisted by human introductionand management on Isla Victoria, Nahuel HuapiNational Park. PeerJ 3:e1328

[22] MATARASSO H AND SALABERRY G (2008) Faisanes enPatagonia: crónica de tiempo cero. Aves Argentinas22:19–21

[23] MERINO ML, CARPINETTI BN AND ABBA AM (2009)Invasive mammals in the national parks system ofArgentina. Natural Areas Journal 29:42–49

[24] NAVA S J (2002) Las aves exóticas introducidas y natura-lizadas en la Argentina. Revista del Museo Argentinode Ciencias Naturales 4:191–202

[25] NUÑEZ MA, MORETTI A AND SIMBERLOFF D (2011)Propagule pressure hypothesis not supported byan 80-year experiment on woody species invasion.Oikos 120:1311–1316

[26] NUÑEZ MA, SIMBERLOFF D AND RELVA MA (2008) Seedpredation as a barrier to alien conifer invasions. Bio-logical Invasions 10:1389–1398

[27] PERIS S, SOAVE G, CAMPERI A, DARRIEU C AND ARAMBURUR (2005) Range expansion of the European StarlingSturnus vulgaris in Argentina. Ardeola 52:359–364

[28] PRADITSUP N, NAKSATHIT A AND ROUND PD (2007)Observations on the Siamese Fireback Lophura diardiin Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Forktail23:125–128

[29] R CORE TEAM (2014) R: a language and environment forstatistical computing. R Foundation for StatisticalComputing, Vienna

[30] ROUND PD AND GALE GA (2008) Changes in the sta-tus of Lophura pheasants in Khao Yai National Park,Thailand: a response to warming climate? Biotropica40:225–230

[31] ROWCLIFFE JM, FIELD J, TURVEY ST AND CARBONE C(2008) Estimating animal density using camera trapswithout the need for individual recognition. Jour-nal of Applied Ecology 45:1228–1236

[32] ROWCLIFFE JM, KAYS R, KRANSTAUBER B, CARBONE CAND JANSEN PA (2014) Quantifying levels of animalactivity using camera trap data. Methods in Ecologyand Evolution 5:1170–1179

[33] SAVINI T AND SUKUMAL N (2009) Group structure andreproductive behavior of Siamese Fireback Lophuradiardi and Silver Pheasant L. nycthemera in Khao YaiNational Park, Thailand. International Journal ofGalliformes Conservation 1:12–17

[34] SIMBERLOFF D, RELVA MA AND NUÑEZ M (2003) Intro-duced species and management of a Nothofagus/Austrocedrus forest. Environmental Management31:263–275

[35] SKEWES O, RODRÍGUEZ R AND JAKSIC FM (2007) Ecologíatrófica del jabalí europeo (Sus scrofa) silvestre enChile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 80:295–307

[36] SOL D, TIMMERMANS S AND LEFEBVRE L (2002) Behav-ioural flexibility and invasion success in birds.Animal Behaviour 63:495–502

[37] SUKUMAL N, GALE GA AND SAVINI T (2010) Sub-montane habitat selection by a lowland pheasant.Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 58:391–401

[38] SUKUMAL N AND SAVINI T (2009) Altitudinal dif-ferences in habitat use by Siamese firebackLophura diardi and silver pheasant Lophuranycthemera in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.International Journal of Galliformes Conservation1:18–22

[39] THOMAS CD AND PALMER G (2015) Non-nativeplants add to the British flora without negativeconsequences for native diversity. Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences 112:4387–4392

[40] TOMPKINS DM, DRAYCOTT RAH AND HUDSON PJ (2000a)Field evidence for apparent competition mediatedvia the shared parasites of two gamebird species.Ecology Letters 3:10–14

[41] TOMPKINS DM, GEENMAN JV AND HUDSON PJ (2001)Differential impact of a shared nematode parasiteon two gamebird hosts: implications for apparentcompetition. Parasitology 122:187–193

[42] TOMPKINS DM, GREENMAN JV, ROBERTSON PA AND HUD-SON PJ (2000b) The role of shared parasites in theexclusion of wildlife hosts: Heterakis gallinarum inthe ring-necked pheasant and the grey partridge.Journal of Animal Ecology 69:829–840