Work

Reproductive success of Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) pairs without helpers correlates with habitat variables and female breeding experience

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Extensive research has focused on effects of non‐breeding helpers on the reproductive success of cooperatively breeding birds, yet in the cooperatively breeding Florida Scrub Jay Aphelocoma coerulescens about half of breeding pairs do not have helpers in any given year. We tested for effects of breeder experience and environmental variables (acorn abundance, fire history and territory size) on reproductive output of breeding pairs that lacked helpers. In generalized linear mixed models, explanatory variables that best explained variation in reproductive output included female breeder experience, time since fire, territory size and acorn crop. Our results emphasize that active habitat management through prescribed fire enhances the reproductive success of this declining bird across a diversity of social group compositions.

Source: Ibis

DOI: 10.1111/ibi.13422

Authors: Olivia Smith, Tori D. Bakley, Reed Bowman, John W. Fitzpatrick, Sahas Barve

Institutions: Archbold Biological Station, Cornell University, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Language: English

Topic: Avian ecology and behavior

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Science Foundation