Food delivery to the nestlings of Alectrurus tricolor in Itirapina Ecological Station, SP

• Grant number: 12/24424-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Jose Carlos Motta Junior
• Grantee: Mariana Herminio Bressan Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Alectrurus tricolor is a passerine from the Tyrannidae family, it inhabits "campos limpos" and "campos sujos" of "cerrado", the second largest Brazilian domain, appearing in parts of midwest, southeast and south of the territory. It's an animal that does not tolerate disturbances in the environment, being found only in grasslands. Considering the human extractiving and farming practices, its habitat is being degraded and the population is getting declined. The data on the natural history and ecology of the species are very rare. Therefore, the objective of this study is to quantify the rate of food delivery to nestlings during their stay in the nest and observe the type of parental care. The study will be developed in Itirapina Ecological Station, State of São Paulo, one of the last remnants of cerrado in the state. The methodology used will involve observations throughout the daytime period of active nests, specifically focusing on the rate of food delivered to the nest, which one (male and / or female) is bringing food and which food is being offered to the young birds. (AU)