Correction Factors for Digestion Rates for Prey Taken by Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis)
Custer TW and Pitelka FA. 1975. Correction Factors for Digestion Rates for Prey Taken by Snow Buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis). The Condor. 77(2):210-212
Analyses of stomach contents of birds are complicated by differential rates of digestion and therefore by variable bias according to diet composition. This study was undertaken to develop correction factors for the main prey items ingested by Snow Buntings near Barrow, Alaska, to permit more accurate assessment of diet. Nonstarved buntings were force-fed a variety of food items, they were sacrificed at given time intervals, and their stomach contents were analyzed immediately. It was found that, of the invertebrates used as prey, spiders remained distinguishable the shortest time (18 min) and carabid beetles, the longest time (38 min). Small seeds could be recognized over a much longer time (150 min). Thus, in relation to seeds, correction factors for invertebrates tested ranged from 3.9 to 8.3 Results from similar studies in the literature are compared.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Custer, Thomas; Pitelka, Frank
- Units
- ARCN , BELA , CAKR , GAAR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Arctic, Barrow