AI Article Synopsis

  • Mineral licks in Amazonia are vital for birds and mammals, offering important nutrients and clays, yet little is known about the species that visit and their behaviors.
  • Researchers conducted a study using camera traps at 52 mineral licks in northeastern Peru, identifying 20 mammal and 13 bird species over a period of 6,255 camera nights.
  • The study found that visitation patterns were influenced by both seasonal changes and the lunar cycle, revealing significant behaviors of various species, including the previously unrecorded nighttime visits of nocturnal curassows.

Article Abstract

Mineral licks are key ecological resources for many species of birds and mammals in Amazonia, providing essential dietary nutrients and clays, yet little is known about which species visit and their behaviors at the mineral licks. Studying visitation and behavior at mineral licks can provide insight into the lives of otherwise secretive and elusive species. We assessed which species visited mineral licks, when they visited, and whether visits and the probability of recording groups at mineral licks were seasonal or related to the lunar cycle. We camera trapped at 52 mineral licks in the northeastern Peruvian Amazon and detected 20 mammal and 13 bird species over 6,255 camera nights. Generalized linear models assessed visitation patterns and records of groups in association with seasonality and the lunar cycle. We report nocturnal curassows () visiting mineral licks for the first time. We found seasonal trends in visitation for the black agouti (), red howler monkey (), blue-throated piping guan (), red brocket deer (), collared peccary (), and tapir (). Lunar trends in visitation occurred for the paca (), Brazilian porcupine (), and red brocket deer. The probability of recording groups (>1 individual) at mineral licks was seasonal and related to lunar brightness for tapir. Overall, our results provide important context for how elusive species of birds and mammals interact with these key ecological resources on a landscape scale. The ecological importance of mineral licks for these species can provide context to seasonal changes in species occupancy and movement.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7771178PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7006DOI Listing

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