CANIBALISMO EN Nycticorax nycticorax Y DEPREDACIÓN INTERESPECÍFICA DE JUVENILES DE N. nycticorax SOBRE PICHONES Ardea alba (ARDEIDAE) EN UNA COLONIA MIXTA EN ARGENTINA

SOVRANO, L.V.; REGNER, S. A.; LORENZÓN, R.E.; CEPPI, G.; ROCHA, A.; BELTZER, A. H.

Oecologia australis

ABECO

Año: 2022

2177-6199

Few studies have documented the presence of cannibalism and predation among colonial heron species (Ardeidae) and the causes of these behaviors. In this study, we describe cannibalism by juveniles of Nycticorax nycticorax consuming conspecific younger chicks and predation of these juveniles on chicks of Ardea alba in a wetland of the Parana Middle River (Santa Fe, Argentina). During 2016, the observations recorded were used to describe the behaviors related to the feeding, attack and defense of chicks and juveniles. This is the first record of cannibalism in heron colonies in the Neotropical region. The cannibalism could reduce the disadvantages generated by the high mortality of juveniles in the colony, increasing their chances of survival.