Diet and Breeding Seasonality among a Population of Sharp-Tailed Munias, Lonchura striata, in Malaysia

The Auk ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-166
Author(s):  
Michael L. Avery

Abstract From April 1975 through March 1977, the food habits and breeding seasonality of a population of Sharp-tailed Munias (Lonchura striata) were studied in northwestern peninsular Malaysia. The abundance of munias on the study area varied in accordance with the 6-month rice-growing cycle there. The population peaked in March and September when juvenile birds were most numerous and when rice was most plentiful. Field observations and stomach analyses showed that the munias ate rice and the green filamentous alga, Spirogyra, almost exclusively. The primary periods of algae eating occurred in January and June-August, coinciding with the munias' two peak periods of reproductive activity, as determined by gonadal examination. Apparently munias on the study area ate Spirogyra as a source of protein to enable them to become physiologically ready for breeding, much as othe tropical bird species eat insects. Thus, unlike other species, Sharp-tailed Munias' breeding seasonality is determined by manmade cycles of rice cultivation rather than by natural cycles of rain and insect abundance.

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
SYAMIL ABD RAHMAN ◽  
MOHD-RIDWAN ABD RAHMAN ◽  
AMSAH MOHD ARIF ◽  
MUHAMMAD ABDUL-LATIFF ABU BAKAR ◽  
BADRUL MUNIR MD ZAIN

Abstract. Syamil AR, Mohd-Ridwan AR, Amsah MA, Abdul-Latiff MAB, Md-Zain BM. 2019. Population census and age category character of Stump-tailed macaque, Macaca arctoides, in Northern Peninsular Malaysia. Biodiversitas 20: 2446-2452. Macaca arctoides is reported to be distributed only in the northern part of Malay Peninsula. Intensive scientific observations have never been carried out before on this neglected macaque in the northern range. Thus, in this article, an estimation of population data on the Malaysian stump-tailed macaques that were found in Wang Kelian forest areas in Perlis State Park, Malaysia is presented. Intensive field observations were conducted from Sept 2018 to January 2019 with scanning sampling. The study revealed a total of 171-176 stump-tailed macaques, consisting of 44 (25%) adult males, 28 (16%) adult females, 19-22 (11%) sub-adult males, 16-19 (10%) sub-adult females, 43 (25%) juveniles, and 21-23 (13%) infants. Two main groups were observed, which were the Nomad and the Batat groups. Their ranging areas appear to sometimes overlap each other, while some Nomad members were observed in the Batat group. The age structure can be differentiated through body size and pelage coloration. The stump-tailed macaque populations in Wang Kelian are sensitive to human presence, while their habitat area is threatened by human illegal poaching activities. More conservation efforts are needed to conserve this neglected macaque from local extinction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fagner Daniel Teixeira ◽  
Elisa Paraíso Mesquita ◽  
Michele Alves Ferreira ◽  
Felipe Carvalho de Araújo

AbstractThe Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) is a top predator and inhabits mainly preserved forests. It occurs from Mexico to Argentina and throughout Brazil, where it is threatened by extinction. It hunts birds, mammals and reptiles, picking up both on the ground and on the branches in the forest. Here we report data on a pair and one young individual of this species registered in the southeast of Minas Gerais state, eastern portion of the Espinhaço Range, Brazil. In addition, a literature review on the diet of the species was carried out aiming gather data on food habits. The nesting territory, as well as the nest was discovered in semi-deciduous seasonal forest area. We recorded predation of a Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) by the young. After two days of observation, the nest was overthrown, what allowed its screening for other food items discovered after analysis of some feathers and bones. Detailed records of predation of S. ornatus were non-existent or inaccurate. Taking together our own field observation and the literature review, we found 121 taxa consumed by S. ornatus. A total of 78 bird species were reported, mainly Galliformes, followed by medium-sized mammals (38 species), well represented by Rodentia and Primates.


1989 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-412 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Lambert

ABSTRACTSixty bird species ate the figs of 29 Ficus taxa at a lowland forest site in Peninsular Malaysia. Although most bird-eaten figs were brightly coloured, four Ficus species produced dull-coloured ripe fruits. Whilst there was tremendous overlap in the sizes of figs eaten by different bird species, data presented show that the fig resource was partitioned by birds. Large birds were commoner visitors to large-fruited Ficus, but small birds tended to eat small figs. Within two avian genera, the Treron pigeons and Megalaima barbets, there was distinct partitioning of figs consumed according to fig size.


The Murrelet ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Knight ◽  
A. David Every ◽  
Albert W. Erickson
Keyword(s):  

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Mazar Barnett ◽  
Guy M. Kirwan ◽  
Mark Pearman ◽  
Luciano Nicolás Naka ◽  
Joe A. Tobias

Previously known from two specimens, Kaempfer's Tody-tyrant Hemitriccus kaempferi is a globally threatened species endemic to the southern Brazil Atlantic Forest. The first field observations of this little-known taxon were made in the 1990s and our data therefore provide the first published information on its natural history, including breeding biology, behaviour and vocalizations, as well as a new locality. As very little information has appeared in the literature concerning the identification of this species, we present notes on its plumage and habits. Remarks concerning the species's conservation prospects and the importance of the remaining forest in the vicinity of the type-locality for other threatened bird species are made.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Atiqah Norazlimi ◽  
Rosli Ramli

A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the physical morphology of shorebirds and water birds (i.e., Lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), and Little heron (Butorides striata)) and their foraging behavior in the mudflats area of Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia, from August 2013 to July 2014 by using direct observation techniques (using binoculars and a video recorder). The actively foraging bird species were watched, and their foraging activities were recorded for at least 30 seconds for up to a maximum of five minutes. A Spearman Rank Correlation highlighted a significant relationship between bill size and foraging time (R=0.443,p<0.05), bill size and prey size (R=-0.052,p<0.05), bill size and probing depth (R=0.42,p=0.003), and leg length and water/mud depth (R=0.706,p<0.005). A Kruskal-Wallis Analysis showed a significant difference between average estimates of real probing depth of the birds (mm) and species (H=15.96,p=0.0012). Three foraging techniques were recorded: pause-travel, visual-feeding, and tactile-hunting. Thus, morphological characteristics of bird do influence their foraging behavior and strategies used when foraging.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 547-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold F. Greeney

Despite the aseasonality of temperature and day length of many tropical regions, especially when compared with temperate latitudes, most tropical animals show fairly pronounced seasonal shifts in foraging, movement patterns and reproduction (Flecker & Feifarek 1994, Saul 1975, Wolda & Fisk 1981). Understanding reproductive seasonality in tropical avian communities involves distinguishing among complex interactions between weather, resource abundance, hormones, behaviour and other life-history traits (Wikelski et al. 2003). While there is a great deal of evidence that many tropical bird species breed seasonally (Hau 2001, Marchant 1959, Miller 1963, Snow & Snow 1964), we still understand little of the causes which drive observed patterns (Wikelski et al. 2003). Most studies which address the seasonality of reproduction in tropical birds have focused on locations with fairly extreme temporal changes in rainfall (Cruz & Andrews 1989, Lack 1950, Marchant 1959, Poulin et al. 1992, Voous 1950), and comparatively few have looked at relatively aseasonal low-latitude locations (Miller 1963, Moreau 1950). Similarly, though a few studies have pointed out slight variation in the within-species initiation of breeding based on microhabitat (Wikelski et al. 2003), we know very little about how micro-habitat choice for nesting may affect (or be affected by) breeding seasonality. In this study I describe the nesting cycle of the spotted barbtail (Premnoplex brunnescens), from the Ecuadorian Andes to better understand how reproduction may be seasonal when climatic cues are subtle or absent.


2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 953
Author(s):  
Gustavo Alfredo Fava ◽  
Juan Carlos Acosta ◽  
Graciela Mirta Blanco

In subtropical regions like the Chaco Serrano (33° S), rainfall has a marked seasonality, and water flood, caused by heavy rains, may have important consequences for dependent ecosystems. Conversely, the high pressure on available resources during dry periods can also affect the fauna diversity and distribution. Even though birds have shown to be excellent ecological indicators of these shifts in the environment, currently little is known about the avifauna of the Argentine Chaco Serrano phytogeographic district. Our aim was to study the resident bird population status in the Southern Chaco Serrano, its fluctuations in richness and abundance, and its relationship to seasonal variations, in monthly and annual hydroperiods. In order to assess the resident bird status over a two year period (2011 Mar.-2013 Feb.) we carried out 18 sampling surveys during pre-breeding (spring), breeding (summer) and non breeding periods (autumn-winter), in the Northeastern part of the Valle Fértil Natural Park, San Juan province, Argentina. During each site survey, we recorded bird assemblages found in six transects, and obtained bird abundance and species diversity. A mixed general linear model was employed to evaluate relationships between the studied variables. We found a total of 98 species of birds belonging to 33 families (44 resident species, 23 spring visitors, six summer visitors, two winter visitors and 23 with scarce registers). We also registered 68 of these species in both hydroperiods, 28 only during rainy periods and only two during the dry period. Both richness and abundance showed the highest values during the pre-breeding and rainy seasons, while different tendencies were detected during the isolated monthly rainfalls. These changes in bird densities were associated with the arrival of migratory species, mainly spring visitors, and probably in relationship with their reproductive activity, and to seasonal fluctuations in food resources. The Southern Chaco Serrano is a subtropical semiarid place that seems to be an important breeding habitat for many migrant bird species, which in turn promoted seasonal changes in species density and diversity, mainly during rainy years. This work contributed to our understanding on the causes of richness and abundance variations on birds, and will contribute to this important group management and conservation in this area.


2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Arriaga-Varela ◽  
Sin Yeng Wong ◽  
Alexander Kirejtshuk ◽  
Martin Fikácek

The hydrophilid genusCycreonOrchymont, 1919, previously known from two historical specimens only, is reviewed based on the numerous material collected recently from the inflorescences of various Araceae species in the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. Four species are recognized in the genus:C.sculpturatusOrchymont, 1919 from Sumatra,C.armandiShatrovskiy, 2017 from Singapore,C.adolescenssp. n.from peninsular Malaysia, andC.floricolasp. n.with two subspecies, the nominotypical one from Peninsular Malaysia, andC.floricolaborneanussubsp. n.from Borneo. All species are very similar, differing only by the pronotal punctation, shape of the clypeus and the mentum, and the form of the median lobe of the aedeagus. Specimens ofC.floricolasp. n.andC.adolescenssp. n.were collected from inflorescences of various genera of the family Araceae. The field observations and analysis of mid gut contents indicates that they feed on organic material on internal organs of the inflorescences, including the pollen of the host plant. They were also observed to carry a large amount of pollen and are likely pollinators of their host species of Araceae.


Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 553-561
Author(s):  
Ruqqya Naz ◽  
Amjad Rashid Kayani ◽  
Muhammad Sajid Nadeem ◽  
Muhammad Mushtaq ◽  
Mazhar Qayyum

AbstractThe Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti, is indigenous to the Indo-Pak subcontinent. Food habits of this bush rat were investigated using its stomach and fecal contents. Trapping was conducted every month from November 2013 to February 2016. This over 28 months generated a total of 2520 trapping nights. Sample slides from 82 stomach and 10 fecal samples were compared with the reference slides. Field observations along with feeding the Indian bush rat in captivity revealed that it preferably fed on 27 species of grasses with Digitaria sanguinalis [frequency of occurrence (FO) = 13.5%] being the most abundant one followed by Pennisetum orientale (FO = 8.5%). However, the Berger-Parker index revealed that D. sanguinalis (d = 0.148) was followed by Triticum aestivum (d = 0.145). Along with that, they also consumed tillers and seeds of wheat, gram seeds and young leaves of mustard. Considering the climatic changes, its success in adapting to the arid regions and dependence on grasses for food and cover may favor this species in future.


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