Dietary habits of the endangered Okinawa Rail
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- Kobayashi Shun
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus
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- Morita Yuya
- Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus
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- Nakaya Yumiko
- Conservation & Animal Welfare Trust
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- Nagamine Takashi
- Conservation & Animal Welfare Trust
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- Onuma Manabu
- National Institute for Environmental Studies
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- Okano Tsukasa
- National Institute for Environmental Studies
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- Haga Atsushi
- National Institute for Environmental Studies
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- Yamamoto Ichihito
- Yambaru Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment
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- Higa Mizuki
- Yambaru Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment
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- Naruse Tohru
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Iriomote Station, University of the Ryukyus
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- Nakamura Yasuyuki
- Ryukyu University Museum
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- Denda Tetsuo
- Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus
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- Izawa Masako
- Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus
Abstract
Many species of flightless rail are endemic to small islands and endangered, or have become extinct during historical times. However, our understanding of their basic ecological knowledge remains limited. The Okinawa Rail Hypotaenidia okinawae is a flightless species of rail endemic to Okinawajima Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. In this study we have quantified the dietary components of the Okinawa Rail using gizzard contents classified by the frequency of occurrence and wet weight. The Okinawa Rail feeds on a wide variety of animals and plants throughout the year, but the frequency of occurrence and wet weight of animal matter significantly exceeds those of plant matter. The number of items present in the gizzard did not differ among seasons, ages and between sexes. Grit was present in almost all individuals and the wet weight did not differ between sexes or among age groups. Although the diet was observed to be diverse, the primary dietary component of both sexes, all ages, and throughout the year appears to be land snails, indicating their great significance as a source of food.
Journal
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- ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
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ORNITHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 17 (1), 19-35, 2018
The Ornithological Society of Japan
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Keywords
Details 詳細情報について
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- CRID
- 1390001205188595328
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- NII Article ID
- 130006627540
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- ISSN
- 13470558
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- Text Lang
- en
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- Data Source
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- JaLC
- Crossref
- CiNii Articles
- KAKEN
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- Abstract License Flag
- Disallowed