Trap behavior of <i> Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha </i> at different elevations in the West Elk Mountains, Colorado

Abstract

High-alpine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Thus, many ecosystem patterns are shifting due to warming temperatures, extreme weather events, and seasonal changes. This becomes an issue for birds that breed and live in high-elevation environments, as they may not be able to co-adapt quick enough to rapid shifts in mountain conditions and habitat. Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha or the Mountain White-Crowned Sparrow (henceforth called: oriantha) is a native, migratory species that resides in Gunnison County, CO, USA. Oriantha can serve as a model species because it lives and breeds across an elevational range, allowing for life-history differences in the population to be observed. Our hypothesis states that if there are variations in life-history traits along an elevational gradient, than trap-behavior will also show variation. Within this study, our aim was to determine whether there were differences in oriantha behavior across elevation by gauging the level of trap-activity at different elevations. We predicted such differences would exist between elevations. We tested for variables including sex, fat, tarsus length, recapture count, and whether the bird was previously banded. The most significant effects on the activity index of trapped birds were elevation and recapture counts, while sex, fat, tarsus length, and previously banded showed no significant effects. Although stress-induced energetics may account for different trap-activity levels, a more thorough and direct examination needs to be conducted in order to explain the causal mechanisms of such differences and how elevation plays a role in trap-behavior.

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