Trophic ecology of Calidris minutilla, Calidris pusilla, and Calidris mauri (Aves: Scolopacidae) in two natural wetlands of Cuba

• Published in: Wetlands
• Main Authors: González, Alieny, JIMÉNEZ, ARIAM, GARCÍA-LAU, IANELA, MUGICA, LOURDES, ACOSTA, MARTÍN
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá - Facultad de Ciencias - Instituto de Ciencias Naturales 2022
• Subjects: Feeding habits; food availability; shorebirds; trophic selection; wetlands; Ecology; Aves limícolas; disponibilidad de alimento; hábitos de alimentación; humedales; selección trófica; Ecología; Largas; Arctic
• Online Access: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/cal/article/view/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. Las aves limícolas se destacan por sus largas migraciones y su dependencia de una amplia variedad de humedales anualmente. Su distribución en los hábitats de forrajeo está relacionada con la disponibilidad de presas. En este trabajo se caracterizó la dieta de tres especies del género Calidris, C. minutilla, C. pusilla y C. mauri en los humedales de Río Máximo (RM) y Tunas de Zaza (TZ) y es estudió su relación con la disponibilidad de presas. La dieta se caracterizó mediante análisis del contenido estomacal de individuos recolectados luego del horario pico de alimentación. La disponibilidad de presas se evaluó tomando 20 muestras de sedimento con una jeringuilla de 50 CC que fue enterrada a una profundidad ...