Dieta del Suri, Rhea pennata (Orbigny, 1834) (Aves: Rheidae), en ecosistemas altoandinos de Moquegua, Perú

Translated title of the contribution: The Lesser Rhea diet, Rhea pennata (Orbigny, 1834) (Aves: Rheidae), in high Andean ecosystems from Moquegua, Peru: Rheidae), in high Andean ecosystems from Moquegua, Peru

Marli Echaccaya, César Arana, Letty Salinas

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Abstract

We study the Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) diet in the Moquegua region of southern Peru, using analysis of feces. This species considered "Critically Endangered" in Peru, was shown as strictly herbivorous, mainly folivorous. A total of 44 plant morphospecies were identifed in the diet, of which Oxychloe andina (a Juncaceae species dominant in disturbed wetlands of the Puna) had the highest values of relative density, weight, volume and frequency. Despite the apparent selectivity, this species presents a very diverse diet that would allow it to adapt to the nutritional defciencies in the habitat that it occupies. The data obtained in di?erent habitats of the Lesser Rhea show that in more arid zones there is a tendency for greater selectivity due to the presence of plant with secondary compounds (phenols, terpenes and alkaloids) to avoid herbivory, while in environments with wetlands (as the present study) the selectivity decreases, tending to feed on the dominant species.

Translated title of the contributionThe Lesser Rhea diet, Rhea pennata (Orbigny, 1834) (Aves: Rheidae), in high Andean ecosystems from Moquegua, Peru: Rheidae), in high Andean ecosystems from Moquegua, Peru
Original languageSpanish
Pages (from-to)139-144
Number of pages6
JournalRevista Peruana de Biologia
Volume24
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2017
Externally publishedYes

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