Habitat and food preferences of the endangered palila (Loxioides Bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii
- Author:
-
Hess, Steven, Banko, Paul C., Miller, Linda Joyce, Laniawe, Leona P.
- Title:
- Habitat and food preferences of the endangered palila (Loxioides Bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii
- Periodical:
- The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
- Year:
- 2014
- Volume:
- 126
- Pages:
- 728-738
- Subject:
-
Palila
Loxioides bailleui
Mamane-naio forest
Sophora chrysophylla
Birds Mauna Kea
Endangered species birds
Birds habitat Hawaii Island
- Summary:
- Due to the degradation by non-native ungulates, the subalpine woodland habitat of Palila has been severely reduced. This study investigated Palila foraging behavior and food selection in two woodland types, mamane and mixed mamane-naio. The results suggest that Palila spent 1.7–3.9 times longer in mamane than in naio during foraging observations where naio was 1.3–4.6 times as dense as mamane. Naio fruit was readily available, but it comprised proportionally 11% of food items taken by Palila. Therefore, restoration of mamane woodland may benefit Palila more than conservation efforts in mixed-woodland.
- Label:
- Birds - Palila
- URL:
- http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/pierc/assets/hesshabitatfoodpreferencesendangeredpalilamaunakeahawaiiwjo2014.pdf
- Date:
- 2014
- Collection:
- Periodicals