Raptors in the city: Site occupancy and abundance of a top predator inhabiting urban green spaces within a megacity
Por:
Zúñiga-Vega J.J., Gutierrez-Garcia, Mariana, Suarez-Rodriguez, Monserrat, Morales-Salcedo, Veronica D., Palencia-Martinez, Mariana, Espinosa-Lucas, Alejandro, Ramirez-Cruz, Gonzalo A., Perez-Garcia, R. Dario, Saleh-Subaie, Nabila, Solano-Zavaleta, Israel
Publicada:
1 jun 2023
Ahead of Print:
1 mar 2023
Resumen:
Urban green spaces have the potential to harbor a rich biodiversity,
including top predators, which maintain the structure and regulate the
dynamic processes of these urban ecosystems. Conservation of top
predators in cities requires quantitative knowledge of their
populations. In this study, we provide critical information about
population abundance and site occupancy rates of Harris's hawks
(Parabuteo unicinctus) inhabiting urban green spaces in one of the
largest cities in the world, Mexico City. We asked if this population
permanently resides in the city or, alternatively, if individuals move
into the city only during particular periods of the year. In addition,
we tested the hypothesis that prey abundance in urban green spaces is
the most important environmental trait that promotes the presence of
this raptor in this megacity. We found that both population abundance
and site occupancy rates differed between the dry and rainy seasons,
increasing during the latter season. This seasonal change indicated that
some individuals immigrated to the city and/or the presence of juveniles
that were born just before the rainy season. Inter-estingly, their
habitat preferences differed between seasons. During the dry season,
when hawks are apparently nesting, they occupy parks surrounded by tall
buildings and located relatively far from other green areas. In
contrast, during the rainy season, hawks prefer parks with high
abundance of large prey (doves and pigeons). Based on our findings, we
propose specific management actions aimed at facilitating the presence
of nesting individuals in the urban landscape.
Filiaciones:
Zúñiga-Vega J.J.:
Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Gutierrez-Garcia, Mariana:
Licenciatura en Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Suarez-Rodriguez, Monserrat:
Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México, 54090, Mexico
Morales-Salcedo, Veronica D.:
Licenciatura en Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Palencia-Martinez, Mariana:
Licenciatura en Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Espinosa-Lucas, Alejandro:
Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Ramirez-Cruz, Gonzalo A.:
Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Perez-Garcia, R. Dario:
Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl, Tlaxcala, 90062, Mexico
Saleh-Subaie, Nabila:
Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
Solano-Zavaleta, Israel:
Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
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