Variation in the diet of Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (Aves, Rallidae) at Lake Réghaïa, Algeria

Abstract

The diet of the Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus was studied at Lake Réghaïa (Algeria). A total of 600 faecal samples were collected from February 2010 to January 2012. The results showed that green plant materials (especially Poaceae) were the dominant faecal components (86.7 ± 23.8%), followed by invertebrates (13.2 ± 23.8%) and grit (0.03 ± 0.05%). Seventeen plant species belonging to eight different families were identified in 2010/2012. The major item identified in faecal contents was Poaceae. Paspalum distichum was the most important diet category. Others grasses mostly eaten were Poa annua, Avena sp., Phragmites sp. and Panicum repens. Other plant species recorded in faeces were Carex hispida, Polygonum lapathifolium, Thypha angustifolia, Plantago major, Mentha pulegium, Plantago crassifolia, Panicum repens and Carex hispida. The Common Moorhen diet contained invertebrates, and ephippium of Daphnia sp. were the most dominant. Insects were recorded, but with a negligible proportion.

Nendrinės vištelės Gallinula chloropus mityba buvo tiriama pagal Réghaïa ežere (Alžyras) surinktus ekskrementus. Nuo 2010 m. vasario iki 2012 m. sausio surinkta 600 ekskrementų mėginių. Rezultatai parodė, kad žalioji augalinė medžiaga (ypač Poaceae) buvo dominuojanti ekskrementų dalis (86,7 ± 23,8%). Bestuburiai sudarė 13,2 ± 23,8%, žvyras – 0,03 ± 0,05%. Tyrimo metu ekskrementuose aptikta 17 rūšių augalų, priklausančių 8 šeimoms. Poaceae augalai buvo svarbiausias ekskrementų komponentas. Dominavo Paspalum distichum. Kitos populiaresnės žolės buvo Poa annua, Avena sp., Phragmites sp. ir Panicum repens. Ekskrementuose taip pat aptikta Carex hispida, Polygonum lapathifolium, Thypha angustifolia, Plantago major, Mentha pulegium, Plantago crassifolia, Panicum repens ir Carex hispida. Nustatyta, kad nendrinės vištelės mito ir bestuburiais, ypač Daphnia sp. efipijomis, bei vabzdžiais, kurie sudarė nedidelę raciono dalį.

Keywords:

• Algeria
• Common Moorhen
• diet
• faecal analysis
• food composition

Acknowledgements

We thank Professor N. Boukhemza-Zemmouri for identification of arthropods. We are most grateful to members of the Cynegetical Center of Réghaïa for the valuable help provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.