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Interaction between distant taxa in the use of tree cavities in African ecosystems: a study using nest-boxes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2013

José P. Veiga ,
Wanyoike Wamiti ,
Vicente Polo  and
Muchane Muchai
José P. Veiga*
Affiliation:
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Madrid, Spain
Wanyoike Wamiti
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Vicente Polo
Affiliation:
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, ESCET, Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Madrid, Spain
Muchane Muchai
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
*
1Corresponding author. Email: jpveiga@mncn.csic.es
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Abstract:

Convergence in the use of resources may occur between distantly related organisms. A major ecological resource in which members of various taxa may be interested is a cavity for nesting. A variety of social hymenopterans and vertebrates may nest within tree cavities in tropical ecosystems. We used 241 nest-boxes placed in seven Kenyan localities to investigate the use of nesting cavities by members of distant taxa and discuss whether interaction between them is a potential factor shaping cavity-nester communities in tropical regions. The nest-boxes were occupied by social insects (ants, bees and wasps) (30.1% of nest-boxes in April–May and 33.1% in September–October) and vertebrates (birds and mammals) (20% and 7.7%, respectively). Hymenopterans were more abundant in forest boxes (36.2% of nest-boxes occupied in April–May and 37% in September–October), whereas savannas had lower figures (21.7% and 31.3%, respectively). Among vertebrates, most occupants of nest-boxes in savanna were birds (17.8% of nest-boxes occupied vs. 8% in mammals), while mammals predominated in forests (4.9% of the nest-boxes occupied vs. 0.3% in birds). Spatial and temporal patterns of occupation highlight the potential that interaction between distant taxa may have on the access to nesting cavities. More nest-boxes remained unoccupied in forested areas than in savanna areas suggesting that a shorter supply of nesting sites in the savanna may be a source of competition. The simultaneous occupation of a nest-box by two different taxa was exceptional, also supporting the hypothesized inter-taxon competition.

Keywords

birdscavity nestershymenopteransinteraction between taxamammalsnest-boxestree cavitiesvertebrates
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , May 2013 , pp. 187 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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