[en] Several species of kingfisher occur on Lake Nokoué, southern Bénin, including Malachite (Alcedo cristata) and Pied
Kingfishers (Ceryle rudis). Here, we compare their diet and estimate the degree of overlap in food niche by analysing contents
of regurgitated pellets collected near nesting sites of Pied Kingfishers or inside the nest chambers of Malachite
Kingfishers. Characteristic fish skull bones were identified using a reference collection of local fish skeletons. Malachite
Kingfishers feed most frequently on fish that occur around floating vegetation, mainly Kribia sp. (56%), Hemichromis fasciatus
(28%) and Sarotherodon melanotheron (8%). Important differences were found between different pairs, and between
adults and nestlings, the latter being fed almost exclusively on Kribia sp. Larger fish are fed to nestlings than are eaten by the
adults. Pied Kingfishers prey upon 14 different fish species, some of them being caught in the pelagic region of the lake, particularly
clupeids taken by hovering. By comparison with Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers feed on a wider diversity of
prey, and take larger fish, so that the dietary overlap between the species is relatively low (O = 0.181).
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Libois, Roland ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Zoogéographie - Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement
Laudelout, Arnaud
Language :
English
Title :
Food niche segregation between the Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo cristata, and the Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis, at Lake Nokoué, Bénin
Alternative titles :
[fr] Ségregation alimentaire entre deux martins-pêcheurs: Alcedo cristata et Ceryle rudis dans le lac Nokoué (Bénin)
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