Ecology of the monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus: An investigation of interspecies interaction, time-activity budget, and nest building biology.

摘要

This study investigated the interspecific relationships, annual cycle, time-activity budget, alarm response mechanism, and nest building biology of the monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus in coastal Connecticut. Resource and predatory-based interactions were the most frequent interspecies interactions and dependent upon winter intensity. Lack of antagonistic or competitive behavior was observed from the monk parakeet. Annual cycles focused around key seasonal activities and behaviors. Nest building composed most of the daily activity budgets and was seasonally influenced by environmental conditions and presence of predators. Parakeets exhibited characteristic alarm response mechanisms (ARMs) toward predators. An ARM was characteristic to each predator and possessed variable phases based on hunt intensity and time to react. Management issues and the invasive species label were analyzed. The invasive species label in light of the findings of this study was found to be incorrect. The invasive label was determined to be more applicable on a local scale.