Registros de Comportamento REPRODUTIVO em Guira guira (Gmelin, 1788): Implicações Ecológicas e Reprodutivas.
REGISTROS DE COMPORTAMIENTO REPRODUCTIVO EN Guira guira (GMELIN, 1788): IMPLICACIONES ECOLÓGICAS Y
REGISTRO DOI: 10.69849/revistaft/th10250113011918
Rodney Murillo Peixoto Couto 1
RESUMO:
Os arranjos nupciais, reconhecidos desde os primórdios da história humana, são comportamentos que também se manifestam em diversas espécies animais, exercendo um papel significativo nos processos de acasalamento e refletindo aspectos fundamentais da biologia e sociologia reprodutiva. Durante a reprodução, machos oferecem materiais variados, desde alimentos a ornamentos, o que influencia as dinâmicas de acasalamento e a seleção sexual. Esses presentes nupciais ampliam o investimento reprodutivo masculino, restringindo as taxas de acasalamento e impactando os papéis sexuais, além de modificar o dimorfismo sexual. Guira guira é uma ave de hábitos alimentares generalistas, consumindo uma ampla gama de presas, incluindo invertebrados e, ocasionalmente, anuros de grande porte. O registro foi realizado em 4 de maio de 2024, em uma área rural do município de Porto dos Gaúchos-MT, onde um grupo de Guira guira foi observado perseguindo um macho adulto que carregava um lagarto adulto da espécie Ameivula ocellifera. O lagarto tentava se enrolar no bico da ave e mordia a parte inferior do bico, mas a ave não demonstrava inquietação. O comportamento do macho se estendeu por cerca de 30 minutos, durante os quais ele permitiu que os filhotes voassem ao seu redor, aguardando alimento. Ao pousar em uma árvore, o macho manteve o lagarto, já sem vida, no bico por mais cinco minutos e, em seguida, foi visto copulando com uma fêmea, entregando posteriormente o lagarto a ela, que o ingeria completamente por meio da técnica de “engolfar”. Esses presentes nupciais são classificados como “presentes orais exógenos”, consistindo em alimentos que os machos capturam, os quais oferecem benefícios significativos em termos de fecundidade para as fêmeas e vantagens reprodutivas para os machos. Este estudo destaca a importância das interações tróficas e comportamentais em Guira guira, contribuindo para a compreensão dos fatores que influenciam o sucesso reprodutivo na espécie.
PALAVRAS–CHAVE: Ameivula ocellifera; Presentes nupciais, Interação trófica, Reprodução; Predação.
ABSTRACT:
Nuptial arrangements, recognized since the dawn of human history, are behaviors that also manifest in various animal species, playing a significant role in mating processes and reflecting fundamental aspects of reproductive biology and sociology. During reproduction, males offer a variety of materials, from food to ornaments, influencing mating dynamics and sexual selection. These nuptial gifts enhance male reproductive investment, restricting mating rates and impacting sexual roles, while also modifying sexual dimorphism. Guira guira is a bird with generalist feeding habits, consuming a wide range of prey, including invertebrates and, occasionally, large anurans. The observation was conducted on May 4, 2024, in a rural area of Porto dos Gaúchos-MT, where a group of Guira guira was seen pursuing an adult male carrying an adult Ameivula ocellifera lizard. The lizard attempted to coil around the bird’s beak and bit the underside of it, but the bird showed no signs of agitation. The male’s behavior extended for about 30 minutes, during which he allowed the chicks to fly around him, waiting for food. Upon landing in a tree, the male kept the now lifeless lizard in his beak for another five minutes and was then observed copulating with a female, subsequently delivering the lizard to her, which she ingested entirely using the “engulfing” technique. These nuptial gifts are classified as “exogenous oral gifts,” consisting of food items captured by males, which provide significant fertility benefits for females and reproductive advantages for males. This study highlights the importance of trophic and behavioral interactions in Guira guira, contributing to the understanding of the factors influencing reproductive success in this species.
KEYWORDS: Ameivula ocellifera; Nuptial gifts; Predation; Reproduction; Trophic interaction.
RESUMEN:
Los arreglos nupciales, reconocidos desde los albores de la historia humana, son comportamientos que también se manifiestan en diversas especies animales, desempeñando un papel significativo en los procesos de apareamiento y reflejando aspectos fundamentales de la biología y sociología reproductivas. Durante la reproducción, los machos ofrecen una variedad de materiales, desde alimentos hasta adornos, influyendo en las dinámicas de apareamiento y la selección sexual. Estos regalos nupciales aumentan la inversión reproductiva masculina, restringiendo las tasas de apareamiento e impactando los roles sexuales, además de modificar el dimorfismo sexual. Guira guira es un pájaro con hábitos alimentarios generalistas, que consume una amplia gama de presas, incluyendo invertebrados y, ocasionalmente, anuros de gran tamaño. La observación se llevó a cabo el 4 de mayo de 2024, en una zona rural de Porto dos Gaúchos-MT, donde se observó a un grupo de Guira guira persiguiendo a un macho adulto que portaba un lagarto adulto Ameivula ocellifera. El lagarto intentó enrollarse en el pico del pájaro y mordió la parte inferior de este, pero el ave no mostró señales de agitación. El comportamiento del macho se extendió por aproximadamente 30 minutos, durante los cuales permitió que los polluelos volaran a su alrededor, esperando alimento. Al aterrizar en un árbol, el macho mantuvo el lagarto, ya sin vida, en su pico durante cinco minutos más, y luego fue observado copulando con una hembra, entregándole posteriormente el lagarto, que ella ingirió por completo utilizando la técnica de “engullir”. Estos regalos nupciales se clasifican como “regalos orales exógenos,” consistiendo en alimentos capturados por los machos, que proporcionan beneficios significativos de fertilidad para las hembras y ventajas reproductivas para los machos. Este estudio destaca la importancia de las interacciones tróficas y comportamentales en Guira guira, contribuyendo a la comprensión de los factores que influyen en el éxito reproductivo de esta especie.
Palabras clave: Ameivula ocellifera; Depredación; Interacción trófica; Regalos nupciales; Reproducción.
IntroduCTION
Since the dawn of human history, it has been widely recognized that individuals tend to establish nuptial arrangements (Cronk and Dunham, 2007; Mehdi, 2003), a behavior also observed in various animal species. This phenomenon plays a significant role in mating processes, reflecting fundamental aspects of reproductive biology and sociology (Vahed, 1998; Vahed, 2007; Gwynne, 2008). During the reproductive process, males of various species offer a variety of materials from different origins to females, which can include both food sources and ornaments. This interaction plays a crucial role in the dynamics of mating strategies and sexual selection (Thornhill and Alcock, 1983; Andersson, 1994).
Nuptial gifts enhance male reproductive investment, thus restricting mating rates among males and influencing sexual roles during courtship, while also modifying sexual dimorphism in terms of size (Gwynne and Simmons, 1990; Leimar et al., 1994; Boggs, 1995). Selection influences both the individual offering the gift and the one receiving it (Boggs, 2009). The nuptial gifts provided by males can manifest in various forms, with the provision of food being one of the most common, especially observed in birds (Lack, 1940; Mougeot et al., 2006). These food items may be of animal origin, including vertebrates and invertebrates, or of plant origin, such as seeds and fruits (Carayon, 1964; Thornhill, 1981; Austad and Thornhill, 1986; Cumming, 1994).
Guira guira is a generalist feeding species, consuming a wide range of prey, including Orthoptera, Araneae, Acrididae, birds, reptiles, and amphibians (Repennig et al., 2009). Dietary studies of G. guira have mainly recorded invertebrates, although there have been reports of large unidentified anurans in its stomach (Repennig et al., 2009). Guira guira typically forages between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM (Diño Marino, 1981).
This study aims to describe the reproductive behavior of Guira guira while providing insights into the trophic interaction between Guira guira and Ameivula ocellifera.
METHODOLOGY
The registration was carried out opportunistically, in a rural village located in the municipality of Porto dos Gaúchos-MT. The observation covered the entire process from the capture of the lizard by the bird to the complete ingestion of said lizard.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The observation was conducted on May 4, 2024, in a rural area of Porto dos Gaúchos-MT during the morning. At that time, a group of Guira guira was observed in an agitated state, chasing an adult male carrying an adult Ameivula ocellifera lizard that had been recently captured. The lizard attempted to coil around the bird’s beak (FIGURE 1A) and, when possible, bit the underside of the beak (FIGURE 1B), but the bird exhibited no signs of agitation regarding the situation. At certain moments, the male briefly released the lizard to adjust its grip, quickly regaining control by holding it either by the central region or by the posterior end (FIGURES 1B and 1C). Whenever the male landed with the lizard in its beak, chicks flew around it, waiting for food (FIGURE 1D). However, the male preferred to fly to another location or run, keeping the lizard in its beak. This behavior lasted for approximately 30 minutes until the bird moved to a tree with the lizard still in its beak, accompanied by the chicks. Upon landing, the male maintained the now lifeless lizard in its beak (FIGURE 1E) for an additional five minutes, avoiding the chicks and moving from branch to branch. Subsequently, the male was observed copulating with a female while still holding the lizard in its beak (FIGURE 1F), after which he delivered the lizard to her, who ingested it completely. This technique is known as “engulfing,” characterized by the capture and ingestion of food in a continuous movement, without assistance from the beak (Donatelli & Martins, 2001).
This courtship strategy has been reported in other bird species, such as Circus pygargus (Lack, 1940; Mougeot et al., 2006). The gifts offered by males during courtship, which serve as nutritious food for females, are classified among the types of nuptial gifts as “exogenous oral gifts.” These gifts consist of food items that males capture or collect, increasing the likelihood of containing nutritious materials defined as substances that contribute to the metabolic reserves of female individuals. Most exogenous oral gifts are expected to provide significant benefits in terms of fitness, expressed as an increase in the females’ lifetime fecundity.
From the male perspective, these gifts are generally considered advantageous for fitness in various selection episodes (Gwynne, 2008; Vahed, 1998, 2007). Firstly, as they can be evaluated (visually or gustatively) before copulation, exogenous oral gifts may influence a male’s ability to attract and successfully copulate with females. Secondly, since females remain static while feeding, these food gifts facilitate the initiation of mating by males. Lastly, considering that females consume these gifts during copulation, it is expected that such items not only prolong the duration of copulation but also increase the amount of sperm transferred (Lewis & South, 2012).
Figure 1 – Ameivula ocellifera adult captured by adult male of Guira guira.
(A) Ameivula ocellifera trying to escape by wrapping itself around the beak of the Guira guira; (B) Ameivula ocellifera biting the Guira guira in an escape attempt; (C) Guira guira immobilizing the lizard by holding it by the middle of the body (D) Baby Guira guira approaching trying to feed on the lizard already captured by the adult male. (E) Guira guira perched on a tree with the Ameivula ocellifera already lifeless in its beak; (F) Copulation of Guira guira, with the lizard still present in the male’s beak.
Fonte: COUTO, R. M. P.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
With regard to trophic interaction, studies that investigate diets often result in the mortality of the animals studied, due to the analysis of stomach contents. However, species with high digestibility can be recorded based only on foods consumed in the last few hours or on the same day. In addition to expanding the list of prey consumed by the bird, these observations provide valuable information about behavior during the reproductive period and the strategies used by Guira guira in capturing prey. Such data are crucial for understanding the ecology and reproductive behavior of this species. This work describes the trophic interaction between Guira guira and Ameivula ocellifera, in addition to reporting the first record of reproductive behaviors related to nuptial gifts for that species.
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1 Mestrando em Ciência e Tecnologia Animal pelo Programa da. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). E-mail: couto.murillo@gmail.com | Orcid.org/ 0000-0001-6818-633X