Birds

Photo by John Blake

We began our studies on vertebrate distribution and diversity patterns at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in February 2001. The main focus of our research is on the spatial and temporal patterns of diversity and distribution of bird populations on two 100-ha study plots. We use both mist nets and direct observations to sample birds; acoustic monitors also have been used in some years. We use these data to examine changes in abundance across years, spatial distribution patterns within and between plots, comparisons with data from other tropical sites, and patterns of annual survival (from mark-recapture analyses). A second component of our research focuses on lek-breeding manakins (family Pipridae) and currently combines behavioral andecological studies. We are interested in, for example, how consistent male manakins of several species are in their distribution within leks (i.e., do numbers of males and their positions change across years). We also have examined distribution patterns of leks in relation to environmental features as well as the role of manakins as seed dispersal agents. Finally, we use camera traps to examine the distribution patterns, both spatial and temporal, of terrestrial mammals and birds. This work has been conducted in collaboration with Station personnel. 

Our studies have produced a number of publications over the years:

2021 Blake, J. G. Acoustic monitors and direct observations provide similar but distinct perspectives on bird assemblages in a lowland forest of eastern Ecuador. PeerJ 9:e10565 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10565.

2018 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Annual and spatial variation in composition and activity of terrestrial mammals on two replicate plots in lowland forest of eastern Ecuador. PeerJ 6:e4241; DOI 10.7717/peerj.4241

2018    Cárdenas-Posada, G., C. D. Cadena, J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle.  Display behavior, social organization and vocal repertoire of Blue-backed Manakin (Chiroxiphia pareola napensis) in northwest Amazonia. Ibis 160:269-282. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12548

2016 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Long-term changes in composition of bird communities at an “undisturbed” site in eastern Ecuador. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 128:255-267.

2016 Svensson-Coelho, M., B. A. Loiselle, J. G. Blake, and R. E. Ricklefs. Resource predictability and specialization in avian malaria parasites. Molecular Ecology 25:4377-4391. 

2015 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Enigmatic declines in bird numbers in lowland forest of eastern Ecuador may be a consequence of climate change. PeerJ 3:e1177; DOI 10.7717/peerj.1177

2013 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Apparent survival rates of forest birds in eastern Ecuador revisited: Improvement in precision but no change in estimates. PLoS One dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0081028.

2013 Fair, J. M., T. B. Ryder, B. A. Loiselle, J. G. Blake, T. E. Larson, P. Davis, J. Syme, G. B. Perkins, and J. M. Heikoop. Estimates of dietary overlap for six species of Amazonian manakins using stable isotopes. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies 49:420-435.

2013 Svensson-Coelho, M., J. G. Blake, B. A. Loiselle, A. S. Penrose, P. G. Parker, and R. E. Ricklefs. Diversity, prevalence, and host specificity of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus in a western Amazon assemblage. Ornithological Monographs 76:1-48.

2012 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Temporal and spatial patterns in abundance of the Wedge-billed Woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus) in lowland Ecuador. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124: 436-445.

2012 Hidalgo, J. R., J. G. Blake, B. A. Loiselle, T. B. Ryder, R. Durães, and W. P. Tori. Nest site selection by Blue-crowned (Lepidothrix coronata) and Wire-tailed (Pipra filicauda) manakins in lowland Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 23:63-71.

2012 Karubian, J., L. Browne, C. Bosque, T. Carlo, M. Galetti, B. A. Loiselle, J. G. Blake, D. Cabrera, R. Durães, F. M. Labecca, K. M. Holbrook, R. Holland, W. Jetz, F. Kümmeth, J. Olivo, K. Ottewell, G. Papadakis, G. Rivas, S. Steiger, B. Voirin, and M. Wikelski. Seed dispersal by Neotropical birds: emerging patterns and underlying processes. Ornitología Neotropical 23:9-24.

2011 Blendinger, P. G., J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle. Connecting fruit production to seedling establishment in two co-occurring Miconia species: consequences of seed dispersal by birds in upper Amazonia. Oecologia 167:61-73.

2011    Blendinger, P. G., J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle. Composition and clumping of seeds deposited by frugivorous birds varies between forest microsites. Oikos 120:463-471.

2011 Durães, R., J. G. Blake, B. A. Loiselle, T. B. Ryder, W. P. Tori, and J. R. Hidalgo. Vocalization activity at leks of six manakin (Pipridae) species in eastern Ecuador. Ornitología Neotropical 22: 437-445.

2011    Ryder, T. B., J. G. Blake, P. G. Parker, and B. A. Loiselle. The composition, stability, and kinship of reproductive coalitions in a lekking bird. Behavioral Ecology 22:292-290.

2010 Ryder, T., W. Tori, J. Blake, B. Loiselle, and P. Parker. Mate choice for genetic quality: a test of the heterozygosity and compatibility hypotheses. Behavioral Ecology 21:203-210.

2009 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Species composition of Neotropical understory bird communities: local versus regional perspectives based on capture data. Biotropica 41:85-94.

2009 Durães, R., B. A. Loiselle, P. G. Parker, and J. G. Blake. Female mate choice across spatial scales: influence of lek and mate attributes on mating success of blue-crowned manakins. Proceedings Royal Society B. 276:1875-1881.

2009 Ryder, T. B., P. G. Parker, J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle. It takes two to tango: reproductive skew and social correlates of male mating success in a lek breeding bird. Proceedings Royal Society B. 276:2377-2384.

2009 Sheth, S. N., J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle. Phylogenetic constraints on fine-scale patterns of habitat use by eight primate species in eastern Ecuador. Journal of Tropical Ecology 25:1-13.

2008 Blake, J. G., and B. A. Loiselle. Estimates of apparent survival rate for forest birds in eastern Ecuador. Biotropica 40:485-493.

2008 Blendinger, P., B. Loiselle, and J. Blake. Crop size, plant aggregation, and microhabitat type affect fruit removal by birds from individual melastome plants in the Upper Amazon. Oecologia 158:273-283.

2008    Durães, R., B. A. Loiselle, and J. G. Blake. Spatial and temporal dynamics at manakin leks: reconciling lek traditionality with male turnover. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62:1947-1957.

2008    Hidalgo, J. R., T. B. Ryder, W. P. Tori, R. Durães, J. G. Blake, and B. A. Loiselle. Nest architecture of three manakin species in lowland Ecuador. Cotinga 29:57-61.

2008 Ryder, T. B., R. Durães, W. P. Tori, J. R. Hidalgo, B. A. Loiselle, and J. G. Blake. Modeling nest survival for two species of manakins (Aves: Pipridae) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Journal of Avian Biology 39:355-358.

2008 Ryder, T. B., D. B. MacDonald, J. G. Blake, P. G. Parker, and B. A. Loiselle. Social networks in the lek-mating wire-tailed manakin (Pipra filicauda). Proceedings Royal Society B. 275:1367-1374.

2008 Tori, W. P., R. D. Durães, T. B. Ryder, M. Anciães, J. Karubian, R. H. Macedo, A. C. Uy, P. G. Parker, T. B. Smith, A. C. Stein, M. S. Webster, J. G. Blake, and B. A Loiselle. Advances in sexual selection theory: insights from tropical avifauna. Ornitología Neotropical 19 (Suppl.): 151-163.

2007 Blake, J. G.  Neotropical forest bird communities: A comparison of species richness and composition at local and regional scales. Condor 109:237-255.

2007 Durães, R., B. A. Loiselle, and J. G. Blake. Intersexual spatial relationships in a lekking species: blue-crowned manakins and female hotspots. Behavioral Ecology 18:1029-1039.

2007 Loiselle, B.A., J.G. Blake, R. Durães, T.B. Ryder, and W.P. Tori. Environmental and spatial segregation of leks among six co-occurring species of manakins (Aves: Pipridae) in eastern Ecuador. Auk 124: 420-431.

2007 Loiselle, B.A., T.B. Ryder, R. Durães, W.P. Tori, J.G. Blake, and P. G. Parker. Kin selection does not explain male aggregation at leks of 4 manakin species. Behavioral Ecology 18:287-291.

2007 Loiselle, B. A., P. Blendinger, J. G. Blake, and T. B. Ryder. 2007. Ecological redundancy in seed dispersal systems: a comparison between manakins (Aves: Pipridae) in two tropical forests. Pp. 178-195 in A. J. Dennis, E. W. Schupp, R. Green, and D.W. Westcott, editors. Seed Dispersal: Theory and its Application in a Changing World. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.

2006 Ryder, T.B., J.G. Blake, and B.A. Loiselle. A test of the environmental hotspot hypothesis for lek placement in three species of manakins. Auk 123: 247-258.

2006 Tori, W. P., T. B. Ryder, R. Durães, J. R. Hidalgo, B. A. Loiselle, and J. G. Blake. Obtaining offspring genetic material: a new method for species with high nest predation rates. Condor 108:948-952.