科研之友
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摘要
Hummingbirds ingest soil in a variety of tropical and temperate habitats, apparently to supplement their diet with minerals. We observed females of a threatened hummingbird species, the Esmeraldas Woodstar (Chaetocercus berlepschi), apparently eating soil from exposed river banks in the lowlands of western Ecuador on five occasions. We analyzed soil samples from these and control sites (similar to 40 m from eating sites) to quantify levels of nine minerals, pH, and organic material. Eating and control sites alike had high levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium compared to standard values for coastal Ecuador. We hypothesize that female Esmeraldas Woodstars consume soil to counteract nutrient loss which may be exacerbated by the stresses of breeding.
- 出版日期2012
