Resumen (es):
El guácharo (Steatornis caripensis) es un importante dispersor de semillas en los bosques neotropicales, cuya dinámica poblacional es poco conocida. Evaluamos los patrones a largo plazo de abundancia y actividad reproductiva de la colonia de la Cueva de Dunston, en Trinidad, y examinamos su relación con la productividad vegetal y la precipitación. Se analizaron conteos mensuales de adultos y polluelos realizados entre 2004 y 2015, en relación con datos del Índice Mejorado de Vegetación (EVI). Adicionalmente, los restos de semillas recolectados en octubre de 2015 se compararon con datos históricos. Nuestros resultados indican que la variación estacional de las condiciones ambientales está asociada con los patrones de abundancia y reproducción del guácharo a largo plazo. La integración de índices de vegetación derivados de sensores remotos con programas de monitoreo ecológico constituye una aproximación útil para evaluar la influencia de las condiciones ambientales sobre aves frugívoras tropicales.
Resumen (en):
The Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis) is an important seed disperser in Neotropical forests whose population dynamics remain poorly understood. We evaluated long-term patterns of abundance and breeding activity in the Dunston Cave colony, Trinidad, and examined their relationships with vegetation productivity and rainfall. Monthly counts of adults and chicks collected between 2004 and 2015 were analyzed in relation to Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data derived from MODIS imagery and local precipitation records. Seed remains collected in October 2015 were also compared with historical dietary data from 1957–1960. Oilbird abundance and vegetation productivity varied significantly over the study period. Diet composition differed from historical records, although palms remained the dominant food resource. Cross-correlation analyses revealed significant associations between colony dynamics, vegetation productivity, and rainfall. Adult and chick abundance peaked during the dry season, when EVI values were comparatively low, whereas rainfall was positively associated with adult abundance after a temporal lag. Breeding activity was concentrated between March and May, with peak chick abundance occurring in April. Our results indicate that seasonal environmental variation is associated with long-term patterns of Oilbird abundance and reproduction. Integrating satellite-derived vegetation indices with ecological monitoring offers a useful approach for assessing environmental influences on tropical frugivorous birds.
Palabras clave:
frugivory, remote sensing, reproductive seasonality, tropical rainforest, environmental variability (en)
frugivoría, sensores remotos, estacionalidad reproductiva, bosque tropical lluvioso, variabilidad ambiental (es)
frugivoría, sensores remotos, estacionalidad reproductiva, bosque tropical lluvioso, variabilidad ambiental (es)
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Cómo citar
Mahabir, K., & Rostant, L. (2026). Variabilidad ambiental y dinámica poblacional a largo plazo del guácharo (Steatornis caripensis) en Trinidad. Biota Colombiana, 27, e1335. https://doi.org/10.21068/2539200X.1335
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 4.0.
Derechos de autor 2026 Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander Von Humboldt
