Abstract

GONZALEZ, Alieny et al. Trophic ecology of Calidris minutílla, Calidris pusilla, and Calidris mauri (Aves: Scolopacidae) in two natural wetlands of Cuba. Caldasia [online]. 2022, vol.44, n.1, pp.154-164.  Epub May 02, 2022. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v44n1.85223.

Shorebirds are noted for their long migrations and their dependence on a wide variety of wetlands annually. Their distribution in foraging habitats is related to the availability of prey. In this work, we characterized the diet of three species of the genus Calidris, C. minutilla, C. pusilla, and C. mauri in the wetlands of Río Máximo (RM) and Tunas of Zaza (TZ) and studied their relationship with prey availability. The diet was characterized by an analysis of stomach contents of individuals collected after peak feeding times. Prey availability was evaluated by taking 20 sediment samples with a 50 CC syringe that was buried at a depth of 10 mm. Subsequently, samples were filtered with a 500-micron sieve to facilitate identification. Diet analysis confirmed a high use of Diptera larvae and pupae by all three species in RM. In TZ, Diptera was dominant in the diet of C. minutilla, but the other species made a more balanced use of other items. The similarity between the resources available in the sediment and those found in the diet was less in TZ than in RM. Tanaidaceae (Malacostraca) were the most abundant item in the TZ sediment; however, it was not identified in any stomach. In general, in RM the prey was consumed according to their availability, while in TZ there was more selectivity in the use of the food.

Keywords : Feeding habits; food availability; shorebirds; trophic selection; wetlands.

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