Trophic links of the song thrush (Turdus philomelos) in transformed forest ecosystems of North-Eastern Ukraine

Biosystems Diversity

A. B. Chaplygina¹  V. V. Brygadyrenko²  O. Y. Pakhomov² 

[1] H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University;Oles Honchar Dnipro National University

关键词: foraging stereotype;    transformed areas;    trophic groups;    diet;    dendrophilous birds;    zoophages;    phytophages;    saprophages.;   

DOI  :  10.15421/011908

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Oles Honchar Dnipro National University

【 摘 要 】

The diet spectrum of the song thrush (Turdus philomelos Brehm, 1831; Passeriformes, Turdidae) was studied with the aim of supporting the population of the species in transformed forests of North-Eastern Ukraine. Four forest ecosystems were surveyed: three model sites in oak woodlands with different stages of recreational digression, and the fourth model site in a pine-oak forest. A total of 45 invertebrate taxa with the dominance of Insecta (64.6%, n = 1321), Oligochaеta (16.7%), and Gastropoda (12.0%) were revealed in the diet of the song thrush. At the level of orders, Lepidoptera (66.2%) was dominant. In the qualitative structure of the song thrush nestling diet, the highest number of taxa (40.5–59.1%) was represented by phytophages. Phytophagous species also comprised the majority of the consumed prey items (44.7–80.3%). Environmental conditions are an important factor, affecting the diet composition of birds. The most favourable foraging conditions for the thrushes were revealed in natural protected areas. The analysis has shown a fairly even foraging efficiency of the thrushes in all the studied sites. The highest biodiversity indices were found in a protected area of the National Nature Park “Homilshanski Forests”. The results of the research indicate an important role of T. philomelos in the population management of potentially dangerous agricultural pests.

【 授权许可】

CC BY