Feeding Biology of Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos (Birds: scolopacidae) in the Floodplain of the Paraná river, Argentina

BAGNAROL, M.; BELTZER, A.; QUIROGA, M.; DUCOMMUN, M.; RONCHI VIRGOLINI, A

NATURA NEOTROPICALIS

ASOCIACIÓN DE CIENCIAS NATURALES DEL LITORAL

Año: 2010 vol. 41 p. 5 - 17

0329-2177

This study focuses on the nourishing biology of the Pectoral Sandpiper at the floodplain of the Paraná river during spring and summer. Trophic spectrum, feeding selectivity and efficiency, extent of the trophic niche, circadian rhythm of feeding activity, size of preys and habitat preference were evaluated. Twenty eight stomachs containing twenty–seven taxonomic entities (12 vegetal and 15 animal entities) were analyzed. The highest index values of relative importance were for seeds and coleopteran, being this species one of a generalist diet. The amplitude of the trophic niche remained constant along the period studied. Feeding was more active during the early morning hours. The most frequent prey size ranged from 1.5 to 5 mm. This work constitutes the first contribution to the knowledge of the feed- ing ecology of this species in this region.