Dissertation Research: Termitaria and Avian Coexistence

9520800 Terborgh种间竞争在构建许多社区中起着重要作用，但类似的模式也可能由专业化产生。在鸟类群落中，许多物种在树洞中筑巢，这是一种长期限制的基质。一些热带森林鸟类可能会在白蚁窝中筑巢，以避免与树窝竞争。本论文的研究将测试两个备选假设：（1）白蚁巢鸟专门白蚁，喜欢使用它们独立的可用性树腔，（2）白蚁目前提供了一个避难所，从竞争有限的树腔。这些假设将通过使用巢箱实验并确定白蚁巢和树洞的自然占用率来解决。行为数据将用于确定鸟类是否通过在白蚁窝而不是树洞中筑巢获得优势。 这项研究将提供深入了解如何存在的基板用于一个单一的，专门的生活史阶段（筑巢）影响社区结构，并提供了一个框架，了解白蚁如何影响鸟类结构和物种共存。

9520800 Terborgh Interspecific competition plays an important role in structuring many communities, but similar patterns may also be produced by specialization. In avian communities many species nest in tree cavities, a chronically limiting substrate. Some tropical forest birds may avoid competition for tree cavities by nesting in the termitaria in active colonies of arboreal termites. This dissertation research will test two alternative hypotheses: (1) termitarium nesting birds specialize on termitaria and prefer to use them independent of the availability of tree cavities, and (2) termitaria currently provide a refuge from competition for limited tree cavities. These hypotheses will be addressed by using nest box experiments and determining the natural occupancy rates of termitaria and tree cavities. Behavioral data will be used to determine if birds receive advantages by nesting in termitaria instead of tree cavities. This research will provide insight into how the presence of a substrate used for a single, specialized life history stage (nesting) influences community structure and provides a framework for understanding how termitaria affect avian structure and species coexistence.