Abstract

FERRER-SANCHEZ, Yarelys; PLASENCIA VAZQUEZ, Alexis Herminio; ABASOLO-PACHECO, Fernando  and  RUIZ COMPANIONI, Idael. Microhabitat variables influencing nest-site selection by Cuban sandhill crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes) in a wetland of Cuba. Huitzil [online]. 2017, vol.18, n.1, pp.112-117. ISSN 1870-7459.

The Cuban Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis nesiotes), endemic subspecies of Cuba, is threatened and has an estimation of 550 individuals only. Facilitating nesting areas could increase the reproductive success of the subspecies. However, little is known about the determinants of the nesting area selection. This limits any attempt of management. Here, we characterize the structure of the vegetation around four nests and points within the Gran Humedal del Norte de Ciego de Ávila wetland, central region of Cuba. We measured the structural variables of vegetation that could determine the nesting microhabitat selection. We defined 20 plots around nests and selected four points to 100 m of each nest in the cardinal directions, in which we measured: height, coverage at 30 and 100 cm and distance between herbs (nearest neighbor method) in the herbaceous stratus. We compared the data between nests and points and calculated a selection index. The areas around nests showed differences for height, coverage and distance between herbs. Only coverage at 30 cm was homogeneous. The distances between herbs were more frequently between 5 and 10 cm. The height, coverage at 100 cm and distance between herbs are part of a nesting site-selection pattern of the Cuban sandhill crane in this wetland.

Keywords : Threatened subspecies; Gran Humedal del Norte de Ciego de Ávila; vegetation structural variables; endemic subspecies; swamp marsh grassland.