Ramos Vazquez, Luis

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    Reproductive success and chicks diet of the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) in the South-southwest of Puerto Rico
    (2023-12-11) Ramos Vazquez, Luis; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences; Tossas-Cavalliery, Adrianne; Alfaro, Mónica; Department of Biology; Sánchez-Quintero, Dilsom
    The Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) is a small seabird widespread in North America that breeds in the Caribbean region. Although it is listed as a species of least concern, its population is decreasing in the eastern United States and the Caribbean. The breeding season ranges from mid-May to early August, and it prefers coastal habitats. However, there is a lack of information about breeding and diet in Puerto Rico. To fill this gap, I investigated the breeding biology of the Least Tern in the South-southwest of Puerto Rico. I monitored 222 nests across two colony sites in the South-southwest of Puerto Rico during the 2021 and 2022 breeding seasons. My study found that the breeding success of Least Terns in Puerto Rico is low, given predation and flooding. However, the Least Terns in both sites are improving their hatching success despite low fledgling and breeding success due to predation, human disturbance, and flooding. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) and the Red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor), are new threats to the Least Terns on the Island. The study also found that Least Terns in the South-southwest of Puerto Rico nest in rocks and sand with debris but without vegetation at the nest. The main prey identified in the fecal samples was scaled sardines (Harengula jaguana) and silversides (Atheriniformes sp.), for Peñuelas and Cabo Rojo, respectively. Overall, my study provides critical new insights into the breeding biology of this tern species in Puerto Rico. These findings highlight the challenges that are facing this species and suggest areas where conservation efforts could be focused. Further studies are needed to understand better the impact of these challenges on breeding productivity and to develop conservation strategies to protect Least Terns in Puerto Rico.