Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) Nesting Preferences in Relation to Running Water Proximity and Ambient Noise

Research Project Abstract

Quetzals are an important species both ecologically and economically, as many eco tourists travel to Costa Rica in search of the bird. The purpose of this research is to determine whether the quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) prefers to nest near running water because of the sound. According to local guides, quetzals prefer to nest within earshot of running water. In order to test this anecdotal knowledge, used and unused quetzal nesting sites in the area of the Rio Savegre were analyzed based on their distance from running water and their ambient sound levels using an independent sampled t-test. Our data indicate that the distance from the stream did not influence the quetzals nesting selection among the snags we surveyed (p = 0.204) and that quetzal select nesting cavities where the ambient sound associated with running water is louder (p = 0.016).

Session Number

PS1

Location

Graves Gym

Abstract Number

PS1-j

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Apr 23rd, 10:45 AM Apr 23rd, 12:15 PM

Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) Nesting Preferences in Relation to Running Water Proximity and Ambient Noise

Graves Gym

Quetzals are an important species both ecologically and economically, as many eco tourists travel to Costa Rica in search of the bird. The purpose of this research is to determine whether the quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) prefers to nest near running water because of the sound. According to local guides, quetzals prefer to nest within earshot of running water. In order to test this anecdotal knowledge, used and unused quetzal nesting sites in the area of the Rio Savegre were analyzed based on their distance from running water and their ambient sound levels using an independent sampled t-test. Our data indicate that the distance from the stream did not influence the quetzals nesting selection among the snags we surveyed (p = 0.204) and that quetzal select nesting cavities where the ambient sound associated with running water is louder (p = 0.016).