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Feeding ecology and interactions with mammal hosts in a symbiotic genus of birds(Buphagus spp.)in Namibia

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Feeding ecology and interactions with mammal hosts in a symbiotic genus of birds(Buphagus spp.)in Namibia
As the sole obligate symbiotic birds in Africa,oxpeckers offer a unique model for studying symbiotic relation-ships.Due to the multitrophic level they occupy and the context dependent foraging behavior they exhibit,the type of symbiotic relationship can be variable.In addition to providing a cleaning service to the host by removing ticks,oxpeckers frequently feed on blood,mucus,and saliva,inflicting potential damage on the host.Here,we used DNA metabarcoding on faecal samples to analyze the taxonomic composition of the trophic interactions of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker(Buphagus africanus)and Red-billed Oxpecker(B.erythrorhynchus)in northeastern Namibia.In contrast to conventional methods,DNA metabarcoding allows for a detailed identification of dietary resources encompassing both mammal hosts and consumed arthropods within the same samples.With this in-formation,we examined differences in the diet composition between oxpecker species and localities,as well as the co-occurrence between host and arthropod species.Our findings revealed that oxpeckers predominantly source their diet from mammals,ticks,and flies;however,ticks and flies rarely co-occur in the diet of an in-dividual.We observed variability among individuals in their feeding ecology,which is strongly correlated with locality and,to a lesser extent,with the mammal host.We noted a high degree of mobility between hosts within relatively short periods,with 32％of the samples showing traces of at least two mammal hosts.This study il-lustrates the dynamic foraging behavior of these specialized symbiotic birds,shedding light on their potential role in pest control services and disease transmission.

CommensalismDietDNA metabarcodingOxpeckersParasitismTrophic ecology

Michael S.Lukubwe、Daniel Velarde-Garcéz、Fernando Sequeira、Susana Lopes、Adrian J.F.K.Craig、Vanessa A.Mata

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Department of Zoology and Entomology,Rhodes University,Makhanda,South Africa

Department of Wildlife Management and Tourism Studies,University of Namibia,Katima Mulilo Campus,Namibia

Departamento de Biologia,Faculdade de Ciências,Universidade do Porto,Porto,Portugal

CIBIO,Centro de Investigaçãao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos,InBIO Laboratório Associado,Campus de Vairão,Vairão,Portugal

BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics,Biodiversity and Land Planning,CIBIO,Campus de Vairão,Vairão,Portugal

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Commensalism Diet DNA metabarcoding Oxpeckers Parasitism Trophic ecology

2024

10.1016/j.avrs.2024.100200

鸟类学研究(英文版)
北京林业大学

鸟类学研究(英文版)

影响因子：0.553
ISSN：2055-6187
年,卷(期)：2024.15(3)