Despite the importance of diet in avian ecology, knowledge of bird diet in tropical regions, particularly South-East Asia, is limited. Assessing predator–prey relationships of how energy flows acro...

Diet of tropical insectivorous birds in lowland Malaysian rainforest

There was no monitoring specifically on fauna in the reclamation area of PT Adaro Indonesia. The objective of the research was to record fauna species in this area which had been revegetated less than two years ago. Diurnal birds as a main object were recorded through observation point and survey in four reclamation locations, but mammals, reptiles, and amphibians as supporting objects were recorded merely through survey. Data on birds was analyzed based on a five minute unit to obtain both relative frequency of presence and that of location utilization, but those of others were analyzed merely to list their presence. Thirty bird species, 1 mammal, 3 reptiles, and 4 amphibians were identified in the reclamation area, but each 1 species of mammal, reptile, and amphibian was not identified yet. Five bird species were always present in every location, although their relative frequencies of presence varied. They could be categorized as pioneer birds in the reclamation area. Nine bird species were found only in a certain location

Satwa Liar di Area Reklamasi PT Adaro Indonesia, Kalimantan Selatan yang Direvegetasi Kurang dari Dua Tahun

Tese de doutoramento em Biociencias, na especialidade de Ecologia, apresentada ao Departamento de Ciencias da Vida da Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra

Birds in interface riparian vegetation-woodland matrix: their habitat use and role in ecosystem processes and ecological services

Occasional screening of food and water quality available to organisms in protected areas could be beneficial to their successful conservation. This is important for areas receiving regular human visitors and exhibiting activities that may be detrimental to ecosystem health. This study determined the intestinal protozoan species harboured by insectivorous and granivorous birds within the Jos Wildlife Park, Nigeria and whether the two avian feeding guilds are more susceptible to protozoan infection through water or food (grass seeds and insects). Special boxes were used to collect faecal samples from trapped birds. Samples were later analysed in the laboratory for protozoans. Both food and water utilised by the birds in the area were microscopically screened. The composition and abundance of intestinal protozoans between the two feeding guilds did not show significant differences. However, considering parasite species individually, the degree of infection by protozoans such as Giardia lamblia was highly related to the range of infection sources that a feeding guild was exposed to. The composition of parasites observed in the two feeding guilds was strongly linked to both water bodies and avian diet obtainable in the Park. These observations showed that birds in the Park are orally susceptible to infection with protozoans, some of which have been reported to cause health implications in birds. Thus, any measure to curtail environmental contamination by the parasites may improve ecosystem health and survival of avian species in the Park.

Assessment of potential sources of protozoan contamination between two avian feeding guilds in a conservation area

Detailed investigation of the foraging site utilised by avian species may reveal the habitat factors important in their conservation. This study compared the foraging sites of the Sunlark, Galerida modesta and Familiar Chart, Cercomela familiaris (both African resident insectivorous birds) a week after fire engulfed about one third of the 300 ha of the Amurum Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Foraging sites were compared based on proxies of food availability (ant, grasshopper and other insect abundance) and vegetation structure. Data on food availability and vegetation structures were obtained by quadrate sampling while foraging spots were determined from four stratified transects each surveyed four times during the study. Food availability was not a significant predictor of foraging site characteristics between the two bird species. However of the nine vegetation variables measured, grass height and proportion of burned grass cover per foraging site significantly distinguished the foraging sites of the two bird species; Sunlark foraged more at sites with shorter grasses and high proportion of burned grass cover as compared to the Familiar Chat. The characteristics of the foraging sites observed might have implications on the foraging success of the birds in line with literature on the Influences of vegetation structure on avian foraging behaviour. Key words: Foraging site, Insectivorous birds, Burn, Vegetation structure, Food availability

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A Comparison of Foraging Site Characteristics of Two African Resident Insectivorous Birds in a Burned Habitat

Despite being the most common avian dietary strategy, our understanding of the nutrition of avian insectivores lags behind that of less populous granivores, herbivores, and frugivores; thereby attracting research interest. Insect diet of Afrotropical insectivorous passerines at the Jos Wildlife Park was studied by trapping birds using mist nets in 2009. Trapped birds were identified and kept in a wooden box for 15 minutes to create a dark interior for the discharge of faeces. Insect remains in faecal droppings collected from individual passerines were identified to at least Order level. SPSS 2001 506 /id software packages was used for statistical analyses. Identified insect remains in faecal droppings of insectivorous passerines showed that there were 13 positively identified Orders. Ten Families belonging to the Orders Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Diptera, Isoptera, Anoplura and Mantodae were positively identified. There was a significant difference (One sample- T-test; t=5.05, df=18, P<0.001) in the choice of insect diet by the insectivorous passerines trapped during the study. Of the fragments recorded from the faecal droppings, 325(83%) constitute insect diet, 35(10%) plant materials and 25(7%) were unidentified. The study shows that insects utilised by avian insectivores in the Jos Wildlife Park is probably a reflection of insect abundance and diversity. Therefore insectivorous passerines may have adapted to feeding largely on abundant and diversed insect species present in the study area.

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G S Mwansat

Papers

Insect diet of some afrotropical insectivorous passerines at the jos wildlife park, nigeria.