Keywords
Coragyps atratus
Patagonia
seasonal diet
How to Cite
Abstract
The relevance of the study of the diet of scavenger birds relies on the important role they play as carcass removers, reducing exposure and development of pathogens in cadaveric tissues. The aim of this study is to examine the diet of the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) throughout an entire year and to evaluate the relationship between diet and habitat use in north-western Patagonia. A total of 488 pellets were collected in two roosts located in an urban (Dina Huapi) and a rural environment (Estancia Chacabuco). Exotic mammals (mainly Bos taurus, Lepus europaeus, Cervus elaphus and Ovis aries) were the most consumed items, followed by arthropods. A difference was found in the selection of carrion between sites, being arthropods and Lepus europaeus more common in Estancia Chacabuco and Bos taurus and birds in Dina Huapi. Dina Huapi individuals presented a uniform selection of carrion throughout the year, while those in Estancia Chacabuco showed a negative correlation in the consumption of mammals and arthropods, which could indicate a relationship between carrion availability and arthropod consumption.
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