Evaluating the foraging preferences of the avian community in tropical urban areas
Restricted (Penn State Only)
Author:
Giombetti, Allison
Area of Honors:
Biology
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Tomas A Carlo-Joglar, Thesis Supervisor Charles T Anderson, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
urban landscapes bird foraging dietary guilds resource abundance Puerto Rico
Abstract:
Urban landscapes are predicted to expand, altering natural landscapes and their biodiversity. A case in point is how urbanization affects the availability of resources for birds, and thus the foraging activity of birds. In this study, bird foraging activity was examined in relation to the abundance of woody vegetation, flower and fruit resources, and socioeconomic status of neighborhoods in the San Juan metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. The results show that plant abundance and plant-derived resources affect foraging activity of birds according to guild types. For example, frugivore activity correlated positively with fruit-resource abundance, while nectarivore activity correlated positively with the amount of woody plants. These findings provide insight into the foraging preferences of urban birds and identify key resources for birds in human-dominated landscapes.