EXPLOITATION OF A SEASONAL RESOURCE BY NONBREEDING PLAIN AND WHITE-CROWNED PIGEONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION OF TROPICAL DRY FORESTS

摘要

Columbids often exhibit irregular movement patterns in response to fruit abundance. We tested whether the abundance of nonbreeding Plain (Columba inornata) and White-crowned (C. leucocephala) pigeons was correlated with Thrinax parviflora fruit production in a dry forest in southeastern Jamaica. Monthly, from November to March, we counted the number of pigeons leaving the forest to roost in an adjacent mangrove Swamp. Within two days of each roost count, we also counted all fruits on then T. Parviflora trees in the forest.