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Diet and between-tissue isotope comparisons reveal different foraging strategies for age and sex of a Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola Linnaeus, 1766) population.

Authors :
Silva EML
Costa FJV
Nardoto GB
Source :
Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia [Braz J Biol] 2024 Aug 19; Vol. 84, pp. e282844. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 19 (Print Publication: 2024).
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Measuring stable isotopes in different tissues offers the opportunity to provide insight into the foraging ecology of a species. This study aimed to assess how diet varies between yellow females, yellow males, and dull individuals of a Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) population. We measured δ13C and δ15N in blood over a year, and in different feathers, to estimate seasonal consistency of resource use for each category. We conducted this study in a private farm in the Central Brazilian savannas. We sampled 195 individuals in seven field samplings between January 2017 and March 2018. The mean blood δ13C values were similar among yellow females, yellow males and dull individuals, indicating that this population of Saffron Finch predominantly accesses similar resources throughout the year, with a predominant C4 signal. Although Saffron Finch is considered a granivorous species, the mean δ15N values found indicate that both adults and juveniles also incorporate in their tissues some invertebrate. The slight isotope-tissue difference between feathers and blood is similar to the reported in previous studies and may reflect tissue-to-tissue discrimination. The isotopic space of yellow males was greater than that of yellow females and dull individuals, indicating greater dietary diversity due to greater inter-individual variation in diet. In Saffron Finch, which delays plumage maturation, competition-driven partitioning of food resources seems essential in driving carotenoid-based plumage coloration between age classes and sexes.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1678-4375
Volume :
84
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39166689
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.282844