Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Northern Waterthrushes Among Nonbreeding Habitats in Southwestern Puerto Rico1

We surveyed nonbreeding Northern Waterthrushes (Seiurus noveboracensis) in several coastal habitats in southwestern Puerto Rico, West Indies. Waterthrush abundance was highest (mean = 2.2/point) in well‐developed mangrove habitats characterized by large trees and standing water, and lowest (mean = 0.1/point) in dry coastal scrub and savannah. Within the latter habitats, waterthrushes were more common in moist microhabitats such as temporary ponds and dry washes. Abundance in most habitats declined between October and January, probably a result of the presence of transients during the October surveys, Between January and March, abundance in mature red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) forests increased dramatically, suggesting that this habitat provides a refuge for birds at the end of the dry season and prior to northward migration. In conjunction with other data demonstrating the use of coastal red mangroves as nocturnal roosting sites, these results suggest that mangroves are the most important nonbreeding habitat for this species. Conservation of this globally threatened habitat may thus be important for the long‐term stability of waterthrush populations.     

Variation in a sparrow's reproductive success with rainfall: food and predator-mediated processes

From 1997 to 1999, we monitored the reproductive success of individual rufous-crowned sparrows (Aimophila ruficeps) in coastal sage scrub habitat of southern California, USA. Annual reproductive output of this ground-nesting species varied strongly with annual variation in rainfall, attributed to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Birds fledged 3.0 young per breeding pair in 1997, when rainfall was near the long-term mean, 5.1 offspring per pair in 1998, a wet El Niño year, and 0.8 fledglings per pair in 1999, a dry La Niña year. Variation in many components of reproductive output was consistent with the hypothesis that food availability was positively correlated with rainfall. However, the factor most responsible for the high reproductive output in 1998 was low early season nest predation which, combined with favorable nesting conditions, enabled more pairs to multiple-brood. Cool, rainy El Niño conditions may have altered the activity of snakes, the main predator of these nests, in the early season of 1998. Overall, more of the annual variation in fecundity was attributable to variation in within-season components of reproductive output (mean number of nests fledged per pair) than to within-nest components (mean brood size). Annual variation in rufous-crowned sparrow fecundity appears to be driven primarily by food resource-mediated processes in La Niña years and by predator-mediated processes in El Niño years.     

Habitat selection and diet of Great Snipe Gallinago media during breeding

The Great Snipe Gallinago media is considered to be an endangered species. This paper examines its food and habitat use on a sub-alpine/low-alpine breeding area in central Norway. It was estimated that earthworms constitute more than 90% of Great Snipe food (by weight). Feeding birds selected the low herb willow scrub vegetation community and to a lesser degree eutrophic fen. Birds did not selectively feed on eutrophic dwarf birch/juniper heath despite it being the third most used vegetation community by virtue of its extent. Although soil penetrability, vegetation cover and earthworm density varied across vegetation communities, Great Snipe selected sites with similar habitat characteristics in different vegetation communities. Great Snipe seemed to select for an optimal combination of soil penetrability and earthworm density, and for medium scrub cover. Nests were found in a broad range of vegetation communities, but only low herb willow scrub was selectively used. However, an equal number of nests was found in eutrophic fen due to its larger extent. Dense vegetation cover around nests and short flushing distance of incubating females indicate low sensitivity to disturbance. We consider the Great Snipe to be a food and habitat specialist, requiring habitats rich in sub-surface invertebrates to breed. This may explain its scattered distribution in Scandinavia, and may render it vulnerable to habitat modification and loss.     

Issue Information

The population of Yellow‐naped Amazons (Amazona auropalliata) declined by an estimated 50% between 1980 and 2000, and the current population is estimated to be between 10,000 and 50,000. Poaching of young has been a persistent problem, but the species is also threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Because most aspects of their life history, behavior, and ecology have not been examined in wild populations, we studied Yellow‐naped Amazons with the following objectives: (1) identify the species of trees used for nesting, (2) determine the size and potential function of breeding territories, (3) determine nesting success, and (4) examine their duetting behavior. We located nests at 16 sites on the Pacific Slope of Costa Rica from 1999 to 2008. We searched for nests from January to May. Every nest was visited at least once and some nests were visited every 2–3 weeks throughout the breeding season. We also collected territory and duetting data at one site (Ahogados). The breeding season of Yellow‐naped Amazons was during the dry season (January–May). Yellow‐naped Amazons nested in 21 species of trees, but 68% of nests were located in only five species, and cavities in dead coyols (Acrocomia aculeata) were used most often. We found no association between breeding success and the species of tree in which birds nested. Mean territory size was 25,578 m², and these small areas generally consisted of several trees surrounding a nest tree. Pairs continued to duet throughout the breeding season, suggesting that duetting is important for territory defense. The nest failure rate in our study was 89%, and most nest failures (64%) were due to poaching for the pet trade. We recommend immediate population management and conservation actions, including increased law enforcement to reduce nest poaching, protection of key nesting areas, educational programs, and habitat conservation.     

Variations in bird abundance in tropical arid and semi-arid habitats

Temporal variation in bird abundance was studied during a complete annual cycle in a thorn scrub, a thorn woodland and a deciduous forest in northeastern Venezuela. Abundance of site-attached and transient birds from different feeding guilds was determined by mist-netting at 2-week intervals. Diets were investigated by regurgitated samples. The overall avifauna was characterized by a low number of species but they were present all year despite showing strong seasonal fluctuations in abundance. The number of bird species and individuals peaked before and after the reproductive period. These high values probably were associated with movement of species feeding on plant food during the late dry season and the post-breeding dispersion of juveniles. Bird richness and abundance were lowest during the breeding season and in the early dry season when food abundance was low. Birds from different feeding guilds showed distinct patterns of seasonal abundance which tended to be similar at all three sites. Transient birds represented a large portion of the avifauna, particularly in nectarivores, frugivores and granivores during the dry season. We used a canonical correspondence analysis to demonstrate that bird abundance was correlated with breeding activity, rainfall seasonality and food abundance, with the influence of each parameter varying according to feeding guilds, spatial behaviour of individuals and habitats. Despite a great turnover in the occurrence of the diverse food types available, species composition remained strikingly constant during the year, with birds responding to seasonal changes primarily through a generalist feeding habit and a highly variable rate of transience.     

Driver Ants Invading a Termite Nest: Why Do the Most Catholic Predators of All Seldom Take This Abundant Prey?

Driver ants ( i.e. , epigaeic species in the army ant genus Dorylus , subgenus Anomma ) are among the most extreme polyphagous predators, but termites appear to be conspicuously absent from their prey spectrum and attacks by driver ants on termite nests have not yet been described. Here, we report a Dorylus ( Anomma ) rubellus attack on a colony of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes subhyalinus that was observed during the dry season in a savannah habitat in Nigeria's Gashaka National Park. It was estimated that several hundred thousand termites (probably more than 2.4 kg dry mass) were retrieved. The apparent rarity of driver ant predation on Macrotermes nests may be explained by different habitat requirements, by the fact that these ants mostly forage aboveground, by efficient termite defense behavior and nest architecture that make entry into the nest difficult, and finally by driver ant worker morphology, which differs remarkably from that of subterranean Dorylus species that regularly invade and destroy termite colonies.     

Breeding limits foraging time: evidence of interrupted foraging response from body mass variation in a tropical environment

Birds should store body reserves if starvation risk is anticipated; this is known as an ‘interrupted foraging response’. If foraging remains unrestricted, however, body mass should remain low to limit the predation risk that gaining and carrying body reserves entails. In temperate environments mass gain in female birds during breeding is often attributed to egg formation and mass loss after incubation to flight adaptation or the effect of reproductive workload, rather than as a result of an adaptive interrupted foraging response to the limited foraging time or unpredictable foraging conditions that breeding demands. In tropical environments, foraging conditions vary more within the breeding season than in temperate environments, and so studies in tropical environments are more suited to decouple the potentially confounded effects of increase in body reserves versus egg formation on the body mass of breeding birds. In this study, we test whether breeding results in an interrupted foraging response in a tropical savannah system using body mass data collected over a 15‐year period from female common bulbuls Pycnonotus barbatus. This species breeds both in the wet and dry season, despite fewer resources being available in the dry season. Breeding stage predicted female body mass: body mass peaked abruptly during incubation, but was not closely associated with the egg‐laying stage, and declined during brood rearing. Breeding females were heavier in the dry season than in the wet season. In the dry season, heavier birds were more likely to incubate eggs or brood chicks. These observations suggest that increased body reserves are required to buffer the consequence of limited foraging time or impoverished foraging conditions, which may be most pronounced during incubation and in the dry season, respectively. Such mass increases are consistent with an interrupted foraging response, which may apply to temperate zone birds experiencing foraging restrictions during breeding.     

Does the proportion of arthropods versus fruit in the diet influence overwintering condition of an omnivorous songbird?

Many migratory songbirds switch from a primarily insectivorous diet during the breeding season to either a mixed diet or fruit diet during the non‐breeding season. However, for species with mixed diets, arthropods may be superior food items because of their higher protein content and easier digestibility. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing the diet and body condition of omnivorous Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) at a non‐breeding site in tropical forest in Belize, Central America. We used analysis of stable isotopes δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C in the blood to measure diet. Our objective was to determine if a higher dietary proportion of arthropods relative to fruit (i.e., higher δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) was associated with better body condition. We also examined the possible effect of age, sex, and habitat type on Wood Thrush diets, as well as any changes in diet through the overwintering period. We used a hierarchical Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR) to estimate the proportion of different prey items in the diet of overwintering Wood Thrushes overall, in each habitat type, and over time during the non‐breeding period. From January to April, we found a significant decline in δ¹⁵N in forest habitats, whereas δ¹⁵N increased in scrub habitat. There was no significant seasonal change in δ¹³C. Birds with higher δ¹⁵N or δ¹³C values were not in better body condition. Females in dry‐scrub habitat consumed more fruit than males, but this did not affect body condition. Mixing model results indicated that most Wood Thrushes at our study sites consumed primarily arthropods, even during the driest times of the non‐breeding season and in the driest habitat. Overall, our results suggest that the diet of Wood Thrushes varies with habitat and during the overwintering period, but diet alone was not a predictor of body condition. Wood Thrushes, and possibly other omnivorous migratory songbirds, are apparently flexibly able to meet their wintering and pre‐migration nutritional demands with a variety of diets.     

Short‐term changes in body condition in relation to habitat and rainfall abundance in American redstarts Setophaga ruticilla during the non‐breeding season

In migratory birds, environmental conditions during the stationary period of the non‐breeding season are crucial to consider because they ultimately affect the fitness of individuals by influencing their subsequent migration, breeding success and survival. Although a few studies have investigated the influence of non‐breeding habitat on the capacity of individuals to cope with long‐term seasonal rainfall fluctuations, it remains unknown how habitat quality and variations in rainfall abundance–at a monthly scale–interact to affect non‐breeding condition of migrating birds. In this study, we examined the influence of monthly changes in rainfall abundance on body condition of non‐breeding female redstarts Setophaga ruticilla living either in a high quality habitat (mangrove) or in a low quality habitat (scrub). Body condition of both mangrove and scrub redstarts showed important variations over the study period, demonstrating for the first time that body condition of non‐breeding female redstarts can change rapidly in response to short‐term fluctuations in rainfall. Importantly, we found that female redstarts living in mangrove were usually in better condition during periods of low rainfall compared to females living in scrub. However, body condition did not differ between mangrove females and scrub females during an episode of frequent, heavy precipitation. Importantly, our study also demonstrated that the duration of a perturbation is an important determinant of body condition in redstarts since a prolonged drought resulted in similar low body condition for birds from both habitats. Age was not correlated with body condition whatever the habitat and the rainfall conditions. Our results demonstrate that high quality habitat can temporarily reduce the deleterious effect of a short‐term drought on body condition, but also, that a habitat of low quality does not constrain individuals when climatic conditions are optimal.     

Grassland birds and rotational-grazing in the northeast: Breeding ecology,survival and management opportunities

We studied long-term (2002–2009) demographics of bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) breeding in rotationally grazed systems in the northeastern United States. Both nest success (6–44% bobolink; 7–48% savannah sparrow) and annual productivity (0.43–2.83 bobolink; 0.70–2.35 savannah sparrow) varied annually. Predation (48%) and trampling by cows (32%) accounted for most failed nests. Annual adult apparent survival ranged from 23% to 85% and showed substantial variation by species and sex. Although grazing resulted in substantial loss of vegetative cover, savannah sparrows responded similarly to predation and grazing-induced nest failure (time to renest, distance moved between nests) and generally remained in the same paddock to renest. Minimum paddock size to accommodate one female within this rotation was 70 m × 70 m (0.49 ha), allowing a female to stay within a paddock and move (approx. 50 m) between nesting attempts. To balance pasturing objectives and birds' needs in paddocks first grazed before 25 June, managers in the Northeast should rest that paddock 42–50 days before the second grazing. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Eggs in the freezer: energetic consequences of nest site and nest design in Arctic breeding shorebirds

Birds construct nests for several reasons. For species that breed in the Arctic, the insulative properties of nests are very important. Incubation is costly there and due to an increasing surface to volume ratio, more so in smaller species. Small species are therefore more likely to place their nests in thermally favourable microhabitats and/or to invest more in nest insulation than large species. To test this hypothesis, we examined characteristics of nests of six Arctic breeding shorebird species. All species chose thermally favourable nesting sites in a higher proportion than expected on the basis of habitat availability. Site choice did not differ between species. Depth to frozen ground, measured near the nests, decreased in the course of the season at similar non-species-specific speeds, but this depth increased with species size. Nest cup depth and nest scrape depth (nest cup without the lining) were unrelated to body mass (we applied an exponent of 0.73, to account for metabolic activity of the differently sized species). Cup depth divided by diameter(2) was used as a measure of nest cup shape. Small species had narrow and deep nests, while large species had wide shallow nests. The thickness of nest lining varied between 0.1 cm and 7.6 cm, and decreased significantly with body mass. We reconstruct the combined effect of different nest properties on the egg cooling coefficient using previously published quantitative relationships. The predicted effect of nest cup depth and lining depth on heat loss to the frozen ground did not correlate with body mass, but the sheltering effect of nest cup diameter against wind and the effects of lining material on the cooling coefficient increased with body mass. Our results suggest that small arctic shorebirds invest more in the insulation of their nests than large species.     

Habitat suitability and demography,a time‐dependent relationship

The habitat suitability index, which reflects spatial variability in species occurrence probability, has been shown to exhibit various contrasting relationships with local demographic performances (survival, productivity) in several species. One proposed explanation for these discrepancies is that the link between the habitat suitability index and demography is influenced by density‐dependent, temporally variable processes. Based on the survival rates of more than 3,000 nests monitored over 12 years in the North African Houbara Bustard, we investigated whether the habitat suitability index computed over the species breeding range is related to nest survival throughout the breeding season, accounting for variation in meteorological conditions. We found that the relationship between the habitat suitability index and nest survival progressively changes along the breeding season and that this intra‐annual variation is consistent between years. Our results support the hypothesis that variation in space use occurs intra‐annually and that biotic interactions throughout the breeding season strongly influence the habitat suitability index–demography relationship.     

Breeding ecology of Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori strunthiunculus in the Serengeti National Park

The breeding ecology of the Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori strunthiunculus was studied in the plains of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania in 2014 and 2015. Random transects were used to search for male courtship displays, nests, chicks and subadults. GPS satellite collars were used to locate nesting females. Linear regression analyses and post hoc tests were used to determine the predictors that contributed most to the variation of the dependent variables (courtship display, nest, chicks and subadults). The results indicate that courtship behaviour peaks during the short dry and short rainy season before the peaks in nests and chicks. The highest nest frequency was found in short grass habitats. Female Kori Bustard may undergo repeated nestings within a single breeding season. The adult sex ratio was female skewed during the breeding season. The Kori Bustard breeding season in the Serengeti plains is relatively long, lasting for almost nine months, and taking place during all seasons except for the long dry season. We recommend that management authorities conduct assessments of Kori Bustard recruitment as well as habitat suitability in the Serengeti ecosystem to develop future conservation strategies.     

Effects of habitat,season, and age on winter fat storage by migrant and resident birds in Jamaica

Most small birds wintering in the tropics should show little subcutaneous fat deposition (SFD), except in habitats where food availability may decline in late winter or, for some resident species, to prepare for incubation or brooding fasts. However, these predictions need re‐examination in light of a new, precise, cross‐validated method to compare SFD among habitats and species. We sampled 170 Nearctic‐Neotropical migrant and 279 resident birds during early and late winter in 1993 and 1994 in Jamaica, West Indies. Habitats, from greatest to least expected availability of insect prey, were (1) mangrove forest, (2) montane/foothills forest and cultivation, (3) dry limestone forest, and (4) acacia scrub. Percent lipid, estimated from multiple‐regression models using visual fat scoring (0–8 scale), total‐body electrical conductivity, and a variety of morphometrics, was categorized by percentile ranks to determine if SFD varied by habitat, season, or age for all species, resident species, migrant species, and several individual species. SFD averaged ~ 13% total mass for all birds, ranging from 8–24% for well‐sampled species. The few bird species in acacia scrub, primarily two facultative long‐distance migrants, averaged ~ 26% lipid content, significantly more than birds in other habitats. Most birds did not vary in SFD in the other three habitats, although Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) had greater SFD in dry limestone habitat than in montane habitat. Bananaquits (Coereba flaveola) and Jamaican Euphonias (Euphonia jamaica) in montane habitat, especially in early winter, had higher SFD than other resident species. Contrary to our prediction, adults and juveniles had similar SFD, with the exception of juveniles having more SFD than adults in acacia scrub habitat. Winter fat deposition (or, in some cases, muscle‐protein catabolism) in the tropics may be an overlooked strategy, potentially important as a hedge against fasting for floaters, facultative migrants, some territorial migrants in habitats with seasonal declines in food resources, and some resident species prior to breeding.     

Sprague's pipit breeding biology and reproductive success in planted and native grasslands

Much of the native grasslands in agricultural regions have been converted to cropland or tilled and seeded with non‐native grasses for livestock production. Several grassland songbird species occupy planted grasslands, but occupancy or density may not be a reliable indicator of habitat quality. I studied the breeding biology of Sprague's pipit Anthus spragueii from 2004 to 2008 in Saskatchewan, Canada. My objective was to determine the extent to which the breeding biology, density and reproductive success of pipits varied in planted and native grasslands. Peak clutch initiation occurred in mid‐ to late‐May in planted and native grassland. Peak pipit density also occurred in May, but density drastically declined over the breeding season in planted grassland. Clutch size varied among years and declined over the breeding season, but was similar in planted (4.7  0.1 SE) and native grasslands (4.5  0.1 SE). Daily nest survival rates varied with age of the nest and date, but the relationships differed in the two habitats and was likely a result of lower nestling survival in planted grassland compared to native grassland. The number of young fledged per nest increased as the season progressed and tended to be greater in native (1.2  0.1 SE) than planted (0.9  0.2 SE) grasslands. Seasonal productivity was much greater in native grassland. Only three nests were initiated after May in planted grassland and all were unsuccessful, whereas pipit young fledged at higher rates from nests initiated in native grassland in June and July than planted grassland nests initiated in May. The number of fledged young from successful nests did not vary strongly with habitat, date or year. This research indicates that planted grasslands attract pipits at the beginning of the breeding season, but habitat suitability and reproductive success substantially declines as the breeding season progresses compared to that found in native grassland.     

基于鸟类栖息地季节性变化的自然保护区动态分区管理——以安徽升金湖国家级自然保护区为例

鸟类栖息地会随着季节迁徙而改变,基于此对以珍稀濒危鸟类保护为主要目标的自然保护区进行动态分区管理,能够有效提高土地利用效率,协调生物多样性保护与其他生态系统服务功能利用。通过MaxEnt模型分析预测安徽升金湖国家级自然保护区鸟类繁殖季和越冬季的栖息地范围,并采用空间叠加分析方法得到动态分区方案。结果发现：繁殖季鸟类栖息地适宜性受到人口密度、丰水期土地利用类型、距居民点距离、距道路距离等环境因素的影响;越冬季鸟类受到距道路距离、人口密度、距枯水期水体距离、枯水期土地利用类型等环境因素的影响。运用ArcGIS水文工具分析出升金湖国家级自然保护区汇水单元作为其动态区划单元,根据鸟类栖息地季节性变化的特点结合分析结果叠加分析,将安徽升金湖国家级自然保护区划分为核心栖息地保护区、繁殖季栖息地保护区、越冬季栖息地保护区和一般控制区。核心栖息地保护区要进行全年严格保护,繁殖季栖息地保护区和越冬季栖息地保护区在相应鸟类栖息时段严格管控、非栖息时段可合理利用,一般控制区则全年可允许合理的行为活动。季节性动态分区方案注重解决安徽省升金湖国家级自然保护区生态环境保护和社区发展之间的矛盾问题,便于未来保护区生态保护规划决策的制定和实施,进一步丰富了以季节性栖息物种为主要保护对象的自然保护区的动态功能分区研究理论与方法体系,为制定提高自然保护区空间利用效率的生态管理策略提供了参考依据。综上,建议在升金湖国家级自然保护区生态环境保护和社区发展中,依据保护区季节性动态分区特征,实行分区管制,制定对应的生态环境保护和发展的措施。     

Breeding ecology of the Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola on the Biebrza marshes, northeast Poland

Aquatic Warblers Acrocephalus paludicola were studied in a natural fen mire in the Biebrza River valley, the main breeding ground of the species in its entire distribution range. The number of males present and singing at the sample plot changed considerably during the breeding season. Individual identified colour-ringed males sang with unchanged intensity throughout the breeding season. The period of daily singing activity differed from other species of Acrocephalus ; males sang at dusk rather than at dawn. Males took no part in rearing nestlings but remained on territory and showed vigilance behaviour. The density of males in the breeding season ranged from 1.0 to 10.9 per 10 ha. The density of nesting females ranged from 1.3 to 15.7 per 10 ha. In the most suitable habitat females were more numerous than males. The distribution of females (nests) was clumped where potential food resources were higher. Nests were well hidden in places with deeper water between sedge tufts and an abundance of old dry sedge. Females feeding nestlings collected most food within a 5–60-m radius (mean 31.7 m). The return rate of males was higher than that of females. The results suggest a mating system that is intermediate between facultative polygyny and promiscuity.     

Winter microhabitat selection of a threatened pond amphibian in constructed urban wetlands

Mitigating the threat of habitat loss requires actions such as restoring and creating new habitat. In order to effectively achieve this, species habitat requirements and use patterns need to be understood. While many studies have been conducted on the habitat choice of species, these generally focused on habitat use during periods of high activity and detection probability without considering seasonal shifts in habitat use. Understanding habitat selection by frogs during the winter season of low activity may be crucial since it may differ from that used during the summer and may be overlooked as important for population success. We describe the microhabitat use of the threatened green and golden bell frog (Litoria aurea) using radio tracking methods during winter when detection is low and knowledge is limited. We followed 26 individuals between May and July, 2011 to determine whether they selected specific overwintering microhabitats and related this to levels of individual exposure to predators, distance from the edge of the water and temperature of microhabitats. We found that overwintering bell frogs inhabited reeds and rock gabions more frequently than expected and that females used a reduced subset of microhabitats compared to males. Additionally, microhabitats used were more likely to conceal an individual from view, and the majority of overwintering sites were located within 5 m of the edge of the water which may be important for reducing the risk of predation and desiccation. Rock gabions had significantly warmer (1.2°C–1.8°C) mean temperatures than the other microhabitats used. The information presented here can be used in habitat creation and reintroduction programmes to provide habitat which is suitable during both the breeding and non‐breeding season for the conservation of other populations.     

Temporal Dynamics of Rich Moth Ensembles in the Montane Forest Zone in Southern Ecuador1

We studied temporal dynamics of diverse moth ensembles (Arctiidae and Geometridae) in early and late succession stages of forest recovery in the montane zone of southern Ecuador. Moths were sampled using weak light sources (2 × 15 W tubes per trap) during three sampling periods (March–April 2002, wet season; October–November 2002, and August–October 2003, both “dry” seasons). Arctiid moth abundance hardly varied between sampling periods. Estimates of local diversity were lower in 2002 (wet and dry season) than in the dry season 2003, and ensemble composition was more strongly affected by sampling period rather than habitat differences. Geometridae ensembles revealed stronger temporal patterns. Geometrid abundance increased about twofold from the wet to the dry season, and temporal effects on species composition were far more pronounced that in arctiids. These differences might hint to variation in the dependence of geometrid versus arctiid larvae on ephemeral plant resources. Despite these significant temporal dynamics, in both families only a few of the more common species analyzed individually showed strong temporal changes in abundance. Almost all common species occurred as adults during all sampling periods. Therefore, even though temporal dynamics of moth ensembles are not negligible, both moth families are suitable “indicators” of community diversity and change along the succession gradient. Samples must be large enough, however, and preferably should be collated over various times of the year and in parallel, to allow for valid statements about moth diversity and species compositions in relation to habitat differences. These recommendations undermine the validity of the concept of “rapid biodiversity inventories” for speciose tropical insect communities.