Calyx-Water Consumption by Blue-and-Yellow Macaws in Spathodea Campanulata (Bignoniaceae) Floral Buds

Silva, Paulo Antônio; Melo, Celine de; Brito, Lucilene

doi:10.58843/ornneo.v26i2.27

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…), in the northwest of the State of São Paulo, bordering the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (see Silva & Melo 2013 for more details on the site). In Brazil, the use of urban spaces by wild populations of Blue-andyellow Macaw has increased, especially in cities of the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul (Silva 2013, Santos & Ragusa-Netto 2014, Silva et al 2015. Before 2007, it was uncommon to find macaws in the urban area of Ilha Solteira.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…I have been collecting dietary data from Blue-and-yellow Macaw for the last 10 years in urban and suburban areas. They feed on multiple native and exotic cultivated plant species and incorporate novel plant species and unusual food items in their diets (Silva 2013, Silva et al 2015.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This generalist psittacid can exploit a variety of environments, and forage on a wide diversity of plants (ca. 110 plant species; Roth 1984, Munn 1988, Ragusa-Netto 2006, Faria et al 2009, Tubelis 2009b, Ragusa-Netto 2011, Gilardi & Toft 2012, Silva 2013, Lee et al 2014, Santos & Ragusa-Netto 2014, Silva et al 2015. The Blue-and-yellow Macaw eats seeds of most of these species, all of them angiosperms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Massive Consumption of Unripe Slash Pine (Pinus Elliottii) Seeds by Blue-and Yellow Macaws (Ara Ararauna)

Silva

2018

Ornitol. Neotrop.

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· This study reports the first case of wild Blue-and-yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna) feeding on a gymnosperm, specifically seed consumption in a slash pine (Pinus elliottii) stand in an urban area in Brazil. Flocks of up to 25 macaws spent long periods feeding on the pine cones and damaged up to 14% of the cones per plant. This massive granivory event lasted for at least a month, even in the presence of other food plants abundantly blooming and fruiting nearby. Seemingly, this foraging activity is a response of macaws to a concentrated food source. Slash pine unripe seeds appear to be valuable food sources for the wild Blue-and-yellow Macaws inhabiting this anthropogenic area. Moreover, seed consumption by macaws could potentially reduce the spreading of this invasive conifer.Resumo · Consumo maciço de sementes imaturas em cones do pinho-americano (Pinus elliottii) pela Arara Canindé (Ara ararauna) Este estudo relata o primeiro caso de Araras Canindé (Ara ararauna) selvagens se alimentando de uma gimnosperma, especificamente o consumo de sementes em uma plantação de Pinus elliottii em uma área urbana do Brasil. Bandos de até 25 araras passaram longos períodos se alimentando de sementes de pinhas e destruiram até 14% dos cones por planta. Este maciço evento de granivoria durou pelo menos um mês, mesmo na presença de outras plantas alimentícias abundantemente florescendo e frutificando. Aparentemente, esta atividade de forrageamento é uma resposta das araras a uma fonte concentrada de alimento. As sementes imaturas do pinho-americano parecem ser fontes alimentares valiosas para as Araras Canindé selvagens que habitam a área antropogênica. Além disso, o consumo de sementes pelas araras poderia potencialmente reduzir a disseminação desta conífera invasora.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Massive Consumption of Unripe Slash Pine (Pinus Elliottii) Seeds by Blue-and Yellow Macaws (Ara Ararauna)

Silva

2018

Ornitol. Neotrop.

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“…It also corresponds to the general hypothesis that frugivorous birds might resort to flowers during fleshy fruit shortages in the driest period (Terborgh 1986). Furthermore, aside from providing an alternative source of nutrients and energy, the treetops of blooming trees can also constitute safe places for Toco Toucans seeking water (sensu Silva et al 2015), a scarce resource in the dry season (Janzen 1980).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flower Eating by the Toco Toucan (Ramphastos Toco) in an Anthropogenic Landscape During the Dry Season

Silva¹

2019

Ornitol. Neotrop.

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· Toucans rarely feed on plant parts other than ripe fleshy fruits. Here, I report observations of flower exploitation by Toco Toucans (Ramphastos toco), in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. This toucan fed on the buds, floral tissues, whole flowers and nectar of seven plant species. I made the observations in a highly anthropogenic landscape, mostly at the height of the dry season, when the availability of ripe fleshy fruits declines in the area. The exploitation of flowers reported here is consistent with an opportunistic foraging habit in which toucans resort to eating flowers to obtain nutrients, energy, and water when ripe fleshy fruits are scarce. Resumo · Consumo de flores pelo Tucano Toco (Ramphastos toco) em uma paisagem antropogênica durante a estação seca Os tucanos raramente se alimentam de partes de plantas que não sejam frutos carnosos maduros. Aqui, eu reporto observações de exploração de flor pelo Tucano Toco (Ramphastos toco) no estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Essa espécie de tucano se alimentou de botões, tecidos florais, flores inteiras e néctar de sete espécies de plantas. Eu fiz as observações em uma paisagem altamente antropogênica, principalmente no auge da estação seca, quando a disponibilidade de frutos carnosos maduros declina na área. A exploração de flores reportada aqui é consistente com um hábito alimentar oportunista em que os tucanos recorrem ao consumo de flores para obter nutrientes, energia e água quando frutos carnosos maduros são escassos.

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“…Following anthesis, these birds often consume nectar, sometimes contacting stamens and stigma without causing flower damage, which indicates a potential role in pollination (Blanco et al., 2015; Cotton, 2001; Maués & Venturieri, 1997; Ragusa‐Netto, 2002, 2007; Silva, 2008; Silva et al., 2020; Vicentini & Fischer, 1999). Finally, nectar consumption via florivory behaviours—usually flower removal or predation—is well‐documented in psittacines (Cotton, 2001; Melo et al., 2009; Ragusa‐Netto, 2005; Silva, 2018a; Silva et al., 2015; Silva, Silva, et al., 2023).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elucidating dietary secrets of the Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni (Sclater, 1876), through citizen‐sourced photographs

Brito,

Cavalcante,

Santos

et al. 2024

Austral Ecology

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Dietary data are vital for understanding species' resource requirements and ecological roles and supporting conservation efforts. The Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni, is a vulnerable and endemic species in the Amazon. Due to their rarity, elusive nature, complex forest canopy habitat, and occurrence in remote areas, we minimally know their dietary habits. To address this gap, we analysed photographs of Blue‐headed Macaws posted on wildlife‐focused social media platforms, specifically targeting images that capture foraging behaviour on plants. Photographs depicting the same foraging were included only once, and those where the plants were not identified were discarded. By doing so, we identified 36 distinct foraging events (or photos), primarily taken between July and October, concentrated in specific locations in Peru and Brazil, a potential seasonality in foraging. We documented 27 food plant species and items such as nectar (n = 9 photos), pulp (8), seeds (7), buds, bark (5 each), aril, and leaves (n = 1 photo each). Notably, floral resources, including nectar, are a potentially important food in the driest months. Using Levin's Index (Ba), we identified a broad dietary niche, indicating a generalist feeding strategy with a wide variety of plant species (Ba = 0.69) and food items (Ba = 0.88). Additionally, the study revealed interactions such as florivory, seed predation, bark consumption, and potential mutualistic roles like pollination and seed dispersal. Our photo‐centric approach here expanded the known dietary spectrum of the Blue‐headed Macaw from four to 31 plant species, offering new insights for conservation strategies. We recommend the preservation of identified food plants and suggest using these data to inform habitat restoration efforts that support the macaws' dietary needs and ecological functions. Future research should focus on continuous monitoring of these food plants to deepen our understanding of seasonal foraging trends and ecological interactions and refine conservation approaches.

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Calyx-Water Consumption by Blue-and-Yellow Macaws in Spathodea Campanulata (Bignoniaceae) Floral Buds

Abstract: No abstract.

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

Massive Consumption of Unripe Slash Pine (Pinus Elliottii) Seeds by Blue-and Yellow Macaws (Ara Ararauna)

Massive Consumption of Unripe Slash Pine (Pinus Elliottii) Seeds by Blue-and Yellow Macaws (Ara Ararauna)

Flower Eating by the Toco Toucan (Ramphastos Toco) in an Anthropogenic Landscape During the Dry Season

Elucidating dietary secrets of the Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni (Sclater, 1876), through citizen‐sourced photographs

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