Longevity records for bird species from the central Monte desert, Argentina

Abstract

Longevity is a key life-history parameter of bird species, highly relevant for the development of evolutionary biology, the study of ecological patterns and conservation planning. However, there is a marked paucity of data for Neotropical birds, mainly because estimating longevity requires long-term studies that are very scarce in temperate South America. We report data on the longevity of 25 bird species obtained in an 8-year long-term capture–recapture programme carried out in the Monte desert in Argentina and evaluate the influence of diet and migratory status on this life-history trait. The maximum value recorded was 105 months for Microspingus torquatus and the minimum was 13 months for Synallaxis albescens. Resident birds had higher average longevity than migratory birds, while species consuming mainly plant material had higher longevity values than those consuming mainly animal foods. Our results are similar to the few published records from temperate South America, although more data are needed to assess the impact of diet and migratory behaviour on longevity of Neotropical species.