Nutrients Drive Termite Nest Geophagy in Yellow-chevroned Parakeets (Brotogeris chiriri)

Raul Costa-Pereira; Francisco Severo-Neto; Igor Inforzato; Rudi Ricardo Laps; Marco Aurélio Pizo

doi:10.1676/14-142.1

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1 September 2015 Nutrients Drive Termite Nest Geophagy in Yellow-chevroned Parakeets (Brotogeris chiriri)

Raul Costa-Pereira, Francisco Severo-Neto, Igor Inforzato, Rudi Ricardo Laps, Marco Aurélio Pizo

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The Wilson J. of Ornithology, 127(3):506-510 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1676/14-142.1

Abstract

We observed Yellow-chevroned Parakeets (Brotogeris chiriri) consuming soil from arboreal termite nests while excavating a nest cavity. As most observations of parrot geophagy come from clay licks, this observation prompted questions about the benefits of consuming termite nest soil rather than ground soil. We compared nutrient contents and chemical properties (organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity, macro and micronutrients) from these two types of soil. Termite nest soil had higher concentrations of macronutrients and cation exchange capacity than ground soil, which may be related to mineral supplementation and binding of toxins present in fruits consumed by the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet.

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Raul Costa-Pereira, Francisco Severo-Neto, Igor Inforzato, Rudi Ricardo Laps, and Marco Aurélio Pizo "Nutrients Drive Termite Nest Geophagy in Yellow-chevroned Parakeets (Brotogeris chiriri)," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 127(3), 506-510, (1 September 2015). https://doi.org/10.1676/14-142.1

Received: 20 September 2014; Accepted: 1 January 2015; Published: 1 September 2015

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