Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala

Telemetry tracking provides essential insights into avian movements and habitat preferences, aiding the identification of critical resources and conservation areas for endangered species such as the Resplendent Quetzal. In this study, we tracked two radio-tagged Resplendent Quetzals in a mountainous...

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Autores principales: Bustamante, Michelle, Bosarreyes, Bianca, Barrios-Izas, Manuel
Formato: Online
Idioma:eng
Publicado: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala 2024
Acceso en línea:https://revistas.usac.edu.gt/index.php/cytes/article/view/1865
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institution Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
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language eng
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author Bustamante, Michelle
Bosarreyes, Bianca
Barrios-Izas, Manuel
spellingShingle Bustamante, Michelle
Bosarreyes, Bianca
Barrios-Izas, Manuel
Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
author_facet Bustamante, Michelle
Bosarreyes, Bianca
Barrios-Izas, Manuel
author_sort Bustamante, Michelle
description Telemetry tracking provides essential insights into avian movements and habitat preferences, aiding the identification of critical resources and conservation areas for endangered species such as the Resplendent Quetzal. In this study, we tracked two radio-tagged Resplendent Quetzals in a mountainous cloud forest region containing national protected areas, private reserves, and indigenous lands. Both individuals primarily remained within the protected Biotopo del Quetzal reserve and nearby areas for approximately five months; however, during the non-breeding season, one individual exhibited increased mobility, moving outside the reserve for three months and utilizing lower-elevation areas up to 5.5 km away. These areas are embedded in a modified landscape, comprising agricultural fields, roads, and human settlements. Together with previous telemetry data from Central America’s quetzal populations, these findings support the occurrence of seasonal migratory behavior in this species, indicating reliance on distinct habitats at different times of the year. Establishing biological corridors could provide safe passage between these habitats, facilitating access to vital foraging and roosting sites while mitigating genetic isolation effects through enhanced connectivity and genetic resilience. Key non-protected sites within the study area, such as Ranchitos del Quetzal and forest patches along the Panimá River basin, offer valuable opportunities for targeted conservation aimed at improving habitat connectivity, safeguarding critical resources, and engaging local communities. Finally, preserving and restoring plant species identified as primary food sources should be prioritized in protected and adjacent areas to ensure adequate nutrition for Quetzals throughout their migratory and breeding cycles.
title Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
title_short Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
title_full Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
title_fullStr Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
title_full_unstemmed Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
title_sort telemetry tracking of two resplendent quetzals (pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of baja verapaz, guatemala
title_alt Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala
publisher Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala
publishDate 2024
url https://revistas.usac.edu.gt/index.php/cytes/article/view/1865
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spelling CYTES18652025-07-08T14:22:02Z Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala Telemetry Tracking of Two Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno mocinno) at a mountain area of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala Bustamante, Michelle Bosarreyes, Bianca Barrios-Izas, Manuel Avian migration habitat connectivity conservation biology cloud forest ecological corridors Migración aviar conectividad del hábitat biología de la conservación bosque nuboso corredores ecológicos Telemetry tracking provides essential insights into avian movements and habitat preferences, aiding the identification of critical resources and conservation areas for endangered species such as the Resplendent Quetzal. In this study, we tracked two radio-tagged Resplendent Quetzals in a mountainous cloud forest region containing national protected areas, private reserves, and indigenous lands. Both individuals primarily remained within the protected Biotopo del Quetzal reserve and nearby areas for approximately five months; however, during the non-breeding season, one individual exhibited increased mobility, moving outside the reserve for three months and utilizing lower-elevation areas up to 5.5 km away. These areas are embedded in a modified landscape, comprising agricultural fields, roads, and human settlements. Together with previous telemetry data from Central America’s quetzal populations, these findings support the occurrence of seasonal migratory behavior in this species, indicating reliance on distinct habitats at different times of the year. Establishing biological corridors could provide safe passage between these habitats, facilitating access to vital foraging and roosting sites while mitigating genetic isolation effects through enhanced connectivity and genetic resilience. Key non-protected sites within the study area, such as Ranchitos del Quetzal and forest patches along the Panimá River basin, offer valuable opportunities for targeted conservation aimed at improving habitat connectivity, safeguarding critical resources, and engaging local communities. Finally, preserving and restoring plant species identified as primary food sources should be prioritized in protected and adjacent areas to ensure adequate nutrition for Quetzals throughout their migratory and breeding cycles. Telemetry tracking provides essential insights into avian movements and habitat preferences, aiding the identification of critical resources and conservation areas for endangered species such as the Resplendent Quetzal. In this study, we tracked two radio-tagged Resplendent Quetzals in a mountainous cloud forest region containing national protected areas, private reserves, and indigenous lands. Both individuals primarily remained within the protected Biotopo del Quetzal reserve and nearby areas for approximately five months; however, during the non-breeding season, one individual exhibited increased mobility, moving outside the reserve for three months and utilizing lower-elevation areas up to 5.5 km away. These areas are embedded in a modified landscape, comprising agricultural fields, roads, and human settlements. Together with previous telemetry data from Central America’s quetzal populations, these findings support the occurrence of seasonal migratory behavior in this species, indicating reliance on distinct habitats at different times of the year. Establishing biological corridors could provide safe passage between these habitats, facilitating access to vital foraging and roosting sites while mitigating genetic isolation effects through enhanced connectivity and genetic resilience. Key non-protected sites within the study area, such as Ranchitos del Quetzal and forest patches along the Panimá River basin, offer valuable opportunities for targeted conservation aimed at improving habitat connectivity, safeguarding critical resources, and engaging local communities. Finally, preserving and restoring plant species identified as primary food sources should be prioritized in protected and adjacent areas to ensure adequate nutrition for Quetzals throughout their migratory and breeding cycles. Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala 2024-12-30 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Artículos Científicos application/pdf https://revistas.usac.edu.gt/index.php/cytes/article/view/1865 10.36829/63CTS.v11i2.1865 Ciencia, Tecnología y Salud; Vol. 11 No. 2; 72-82 Ciencia, Tecnologí­a y Salud; Vol. 11 Núm. 2; 72-82 2410-6356 2409-3459 eng https://revistas.usac.edu.gt/index.php/cytes/article/view/1865/1166 Derechos de autor 2025 Michelle Bustamante, Bianca Bosarreyes, Manuel Barrios-Izas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0