The Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) inhabits a range of tropical and subtropical zones in South,Southeast and East Asia.As this heron breeds singularly in dense forests,its detailed ecology is not well k...The Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) inhabits a range of tropical and subtropical zones in South,Southeast and East Asia.As this heron breeds singularly in dense forests,its detailed ecology is not well known and only piecemeal information on its diet is available.Thus,we quantitatively estimated its diet menu with an analysis of pellets and stomach contents in the subtropical Yaeyama Islands of southern Japan.The results showed that the heron frequently foraged on land snails,arachnids,freshwater crabs and insects;no fish were detected.Although the earthworm was believed to be a primary dietary source of this species,it was not detected in our results,as it does not remain in pellets due to its high digestibility.This indicated that this bird dominantly depends on soil animals that inhabit humid forest floors.While the heron does not directly utilize aquatic habitats,they likely prefer moist forests caused by watery environments such as streams and swamps.Wet forests should be conserved for maintaining populations of this heron species.展开更多
Barn Owl (Tyto alba) pellets were collected from nine locations and two districts of Sindh,Pakistan and 937 prey items were recovered from 619 pellets.Rats/mice (59.6%) were the most dominant food items consumed by th...Barn Owl (Tyto alba) pellets were collected from nine locations and two districts of Sindh,Pakistan and 937 prey items were recovered from 619 pellets.Rats/mice (59.6%) were the most dominant food items consumed by the Barn Owl.Shrews (22.3%),bats (1.3%),birds (12.0%),insects (1.3%),frogs (2.2%) and plant materials (1.3%) were found in their diet as well.Study of the pelvic girdle bones of rats/mice,used only for sexing,proved to be a useful device in population dynamics.In the pelvic bone,pelvic symphysis is found only in female rats/mice developed as a result of sex hormones that occur during gestation.Among the diet of rats/mice,males were found to be significantly dominant.Tooth wear patterns on the occlusal surfaces of molariform teeth of the rats/mice were found to provide an effective criterion for establishing age classes of rats/mice.In the present study,adult rats/mice were found to be dominant over sub-adults and old adults.ANOVA showed significant differences in the number of rats/mice and shrews (prey items) and the other prey items/plant materials in the diet of Barn Owls in the district Thatta and district Karachi.Chi-square test disclosed non-significant differences in age and sex categories.展开更多
文摘The Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) inhabits a range of tropical and subtropical zones in South,Southeast and East Asia.As this heron breeds singularly in dense forests,its detailed ecology is not well known and only piecemeal information on its diet is available.Thus,we quantitatively estimated its diet menu with an analysis of pellets and stomach contents in the subtropical Yaeyama Islands of southern Japan.The results showed that the heron frequently foraged on land snails,arachnids,freshwater crabs and insects;no fish were detected.Although the earthworm was believed to be a primary dietary source of this species,it was not detected in our results,as it does not remain in pellets due to its high digestibility.This indicated that this bird dominantly depends on soil animals that inhabit humid forest floors.While the heron does not directly utilize aquatic habitats,they likely prefer moist forests caused by watery environments such as streams and swamps.Wet forests should be conserved for maintaining populations of this heron species.
文摘Barn Owl (Tyto alba) pellets were collected from nine locations and two districts of Sindh,Pakistan and 937 prey items were recovered from 619 pellets.Rats/mice (59.6%) were the most dominant food items consumed by the Barn Owl.Shrews (22.3%),bats (1.3%),birds (12.0%),insects (1.3%),frogs (2.2%) and plant materials (1.3%) were found in their diet as well.Study of the pelvic girdle bones of rats/mice,used only for sexing,proved to be a useful device in population dynamics.In the pelvic bone,pelvic symphysis is found only in female rats/mice developed as a result of sex hormones that occur during gestation.Among the diet of rats/mice,males were found to be significantly dominant.Tooth wear patterns on the occlusal surfaces of molariform teeth of the rats/mice were found to provide an effective criterion for establishing age classes of rats/mice.In the present study,adult rats/mice were found to be dominant over sub-adults and old adults.ANOVA showed significant differences in the number of rats/mice and shrews (prey items) and the other prey items/plant materials in the diet of Barn Owls in the district Thatta and district Karachi.Chi-square test disclosed non-significant differences in age and sex categories.
