Nutrients Drive Termite Nest Geophagy in Yellow-chevroned Parakeets (Brotogeris chiriri)

Autor(es)

Costa-Pereira, Raul ^[1] ; Severo-Neto, Francisco ^[2] ; Inforzato, Igor ^[3] ; Laps, Rudi Ricardo ^[4] ; Pizo, Marco Aurelio ^[5]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Programa Pos Grad Ecol & Biodiversidade, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, Lab Zool, Campo Grande, MS - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Santa Cruz, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Conservacao Biodiversidad, Ilheus, BA - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, Campo Grande, MS - Brazil

^[5] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Wilson Journal of Ornithology; v. 127, n. 3, p. 506-510, SEP 2015.
• Citações Web of Science: 5

Resumo

We observed Yellow-chevroned Parakeets (Brotogeris chiriri) consuming soil from arboreal termite nests while excavating a nest cavity. As most observations of parrot geophagy come from clay licks, this observation prompted questions about the benefits of consuming termite nest soil rather than ground soil. We compared nutrient contents and chemical properties (organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity, macro and micronutrients) from these two types of soil. Termite nest soil had higher concentrations of macronutrients and cation exchange capacity than ground soil, which may be related to mineral supplementation and binding of toxins present in fruits consumed by the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 14/20924-5 - Revisitando o paradoxo da diversidade: a variação ecológica intraespecífica facilita a coexistência de espécies?
• Beneficiário: Raul Costa Pereira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado