Interaction between the Hawaiian Dark-Rumped petrel and the Argentine Ant in Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii
Krushelnycky PD, Hodges CN, Medeiros AC, Loope LL. 2001. Interaction between the Hawaiian Dark-Rumped petrel and the Argentine Ant in Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii. Studies in Avian Biology. (22):243-246
The invasive immigrant Argentine ant (Linepithema humile Mayr) has spread to occupy roughly 120ha. or 15% of the nesting habitat of the endangered Hawaiian Dark rumped petrel in Haleakala National park on the Island of Maui Hawaii. The colony at Haleakala is responsible for most of the known reproduction of the endemic seabird, and concern arose that the Argentine ant may reduce petrel breeding success at this important site. Investigations in ant-infested areas of the petrel colony, however, showed that the nesting sucess of rate 53.7% was not significantly different from the nesting success rate in adjacent free areas 50.0%. While the ant occurred more frequently at the entrances of burrows with recent petrel activity, high numbers of ants or foraging trails within the petrel burrrows were seen only rarely. At current levels the Argentine andt is not believed to significantly influence the nesting successs rate of the Hawaiian Dark-Rumped Petrel.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Krushelnycky, Paul; Hodges, Cathleen; Medeiros, Arthur; Loope, Lloyd
- Units
- HALE
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Argentine ant, Birds, Haleakala, Hawaii, Hawaiian Dark-rumped Petrel, Invertebrates, Linepithema humile, Maui, Pterodroma phaeopygia sandwichensis