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Diet Analysis of Wetland Passerine Nestlings Using Neck Collars or Faecal Sampling Produces Similar Results

Tanneberger, Franziska ; Flinks, Heiner ; Arbeiter, Susanne ; Minets, Marharita and Hegemann, Arne LU (2017) In Ardea 105(2). p.145-152
Abstract

Two methods are commonly used to study the diet of nestling passerines: the neck collar method and faecal sampling. Most studies apply either method, however, few methodological studies comparing both methods exist and are mainly limited to farmland birds. Furthermore, existing methodological studies only include high-level taxonomic diet categories. Here, we compared both methods using two wetland species, the Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus and the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, and included family level as a lower taxonomic prey level. We found no differences between the two methods in the dietary composition of high-level taxonomic categories (mainly orders) and only small differences in some orders at the family level.... (More)

Two methods are commonly used to study the diet of nestling passerines: the neck collar method and faecal sampling. Most studies apply either method, however, few methodological studies comparing both methods exist and are mainly limited to farmland birds. Furthermore, existing methodological studies only include high-level taxonomic diet categories. Here, we compared both methods using two wetland species, the Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus and the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, and included family level as a lower taxonomic prey level. We found no differences between the two methods in the dietary composition of high-level taxonomic categories (mainly orders) and only small differences in some orders at the family level. Hence, we recommend using the less invasive and easily accessible faecal sampling method rather than the use of neck collars in diet composition studies.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
avian, birds, diet composition, faecal analysis, neck collar method, non-invasive method
in
Ardea
volume
105
issue
2
pages
8 pages
publisher
Nederlandse Ornithologische Unie
external identifiers
  • scopus:85034073421
ISSN
0373-2266
DOI
10.5253/arde.v105i2.a7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
de9f13b1-3d20-4615-ba67-cdcf18bc5d10
date added to LUP
2017-12-08 12:08:44
date last changed
2022-02-14 23:40:55
@article{de9f13b1-3d20-4615-ba67-cdcf18bc5d10,
  abstract     = {{<p>Two methods are commonly used to study the diet of nestling passerines: the neck collar method and faecal sampling. Most studies apply either method, however, few methodological studies comparing both methods exist and are mainly limited to farmland birds. Furthermore, existing methodological studies only include high-level taxonomic diet categories. Here, we compared both methods using two wetland species, the Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus and the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, and included family level as a lower taxonomic prey level. We found no differences between the two methods in the dietary composition of high-level taxonomic categories (mainly orders) and only small differences in some orders at the family level. Hence, we recommend using the less invasive and easily accessible faecal sampling method rather than the use of neck collars in diet composition studies.</p>}},
  author       = {{Tanneberger, Franziska and Flinks, Heiner and Arbeiter, Susanne and Minets, Marharita and Hegemann, Arne}},
  issn         = {{0373-2266}},
  keywords     = {{avian; birds; diet composition; faecal analysis; neck collar method; non-invasive method}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{145--152}},
  publisher    = {{Nederlandse Ornithologische Unie}},
  series       = {{Ardea}},
  title        = {{Diet Analysis of Wetland Passerine Nestlings Using Neck Collars or Faecal Sampling Produces Similar Results}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5253/arde.v105i2.a7}},
  doi          = {{10.5253/arde.v105i2.a7}},
  volume       = {{105}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}