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Reintroduction of songbirds from captivity: the case of the Great-billed Seed-finch (Sporophila maximiliani) in Brazil

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Abstract

Ex situ breeding programs are a relevant strategy for recovering populations that are threatened in the wild. Thus, it is important to evaluate how different reintroduction strategies can affect population establishment, dynamics, survival, and local persistence. Herein, we use the Great-billed Seed-finch (Sporophila maximiliani), a songbird threatened with extinction in most Brazilian biomes, as an example. To identify scenarios that could result in viable populations in nature, we considered an introduction successful when the chance of surviving for 100 years was > 90%. Knowing the distribution of the captive populations, we also investigated where reintroductions should be promoted, considering the fragmented status of the natural vegetation and human pressures along the original southern range of S. maximiliani. We modeled the population viability under four different release schemes: one single area versus three different areas and, for each scheme, with or without the supplementation of individuals. The reintroductions would be successful if a minimum of 24 individuals were released in one single area or in three different areas, both with supplementation of four pairs per area over 5 years. However, few regions were appropriate for reintroduction from captivity, such as the central part of the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest in the species distribution range. Specifically, areas such as veredas (palm swamps) should be target sites for reintroductions since the species is primarily common in these unique ecosystems. Our data indicated that any reintroduction needs monitoring, and individuals should be tracked to evaluate their effective establishment in the release areas.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvovimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq for providing a research grant to R. B. Machado (CNPq # 303838/2016-8) and to L.F. Silveira (CNPq # 302291/2015-6). We are grateful for the financial support provided by the Tropical Forest Conservation Act – TFCA, CNPq and FAPESP. CEMAVE/ICMBio provided permits for the fieldwork, and FUNBIO and the Instituto Pró-Terra provided logistical support. Breeders provided information about the Great-billed Seed-finch, and Bruno Ehlers (UPS) supported of our field and laboratory activities. We thank the PPBIO-Cerrado project grants to J.C. Dianese (CNPq # 457455/2012-8) and to L.F. Silveira (CNPq # 457444/2012-6).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil

    Ricardo Bomfim Machado

  2. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Nazaré 481 – Bairro Ipiranga, 042630-00, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Luís Fábio Silveira

  3. Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis – IBAMA, SCEN Trecho 2 – Edifício Sede – L4 Norte, Brasilia, DF, 70818-900, Brazil

    Maria Izabel Soares Gomes da Silva

  4. Laboratório de Ornitologia, Departamento de Química e Biologia, Centro de Estudos Superiores de Caxias, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Praça Duque de Caxias, Morro do Alecrim s/n, Caxias, MA, CEP 65604-380, Brazil

    Flávio Kulaif Ubaid

  5. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luís, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13565-905, Brazil

    Cesar Augusto Medolago

  6. Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Campus de Sorocaba Rod. João Leme dos Santos, CEP 18052-780, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil

    Mercival Roberto Francisco

  7. Departamento de Fitopatologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, 70910-900, Brasilia, DF, Brazil

    José Carmine Dianese

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  1. Ricardo Bomfim Machado
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  2. Luís Fábio Silveira
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  3. Maria Izabel Soares Gomes da Silva
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  4. Flávio Kulaif Ubaid
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  5. Cesar Augusto Medolago
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  7. José Carmine Dianese
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Correspondence to Ricardo Bomfim Machado.

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Machado, R.B., Silveira, L.F., da Silva, M.I.S.G. et al. Reintroduction of songbirds from captivity: the case of the Great-billed Seed-finch (Sporophila maximiliani) in Brazil. Biodivers Conserv 29, 1613–1636 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01830-8

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