Foraging behavior of the American oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus pitanay (Murphy 1925) on the intertidal ascidian Pyura praeputialis (Heller 1878) in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile |
| |
Authors: | C. J. Pacheco J. C. Castilla |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile Tel. +56(2)6862610; Fax +56(2)6862621 e-mail: jcastill@genes.bio.puc.cl, CL |
| |
Abstract: | Oystercatcher foraging behavior has been described for diverse intertidal prey such as limpets, mussels, and oysters. This paper describes foraging behavior of the American oystercatcher, Haematopous palliatus pitanay, on attached and wave-dislodged ascidians, Pyura praeputialis (prey with a restricted geographic range of 70 km) in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile. Stabbed holes on the top of the ascidian's tunic, probing excursions, handling time, and five prey-handling sequential stages (striking, hammering, prying, cavity food searching, and swallowing) are described and measured. The need to determine ascidian profit-ability for oystercatcher species in Australia and Chile is highlighted. Received: January 19, 2000 / Accepted: July 23, 2000 |
| |
Keywords: | American oystercatcher Pyura praeputialis Foraging behavior Chile |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|