Sains Malaysiana 50(10)(2021): 2885-2898

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5010-04

 

The Diet of a Roosting Population of Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

(Diet bagi Populasi Bermalam Perling Mata Merah Aplonis panayensis di Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia)

 

NOORUL EZYAN NOR HASHIM1, MOHAMMAD SAIFUL MANSOR2, NURUL ASHIKIN ABDULLAH1 & ROSLI RAMLI1*

 

1Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

2Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Received: 16 July 2020/Accepted: 5 February 2021

 

ABSTRACT  

 

Communal roosting by urban birds, such as crows, mynas, and starlings, can be a public nuisance due to excessive noise and fouling of the surroundings with droppings. Food availability within proximity to the roosting area is one of the key factors influencing roosting site preference and fidelity. The diets of roosting mynas and crows have been well-studied, yet little is known about the diet of the Asian glossy starling (AGS), Aplonis panayensis. This study focused on assessing the diet of roosting AGS and food resource availability around the roosting area. The AGS diet was assessed through microscopic analysis of stomach contents and droppings. The diet mainly consisted of fruits (76%) with a minor component of animal materials, i.e. ants, snails, and beetle larvae. Intact seeds found in the samples were identified using DNA barcoding. Seven out of the nine plant species detected were new records for the AGS diet. The most common fruit found in the samples was Trema orientalis, which grows extensively along roadsides within foraging areas of AGS. The availability of fruits of different fast-growing pioneer species around the roosting site ensured a continuous supply of food to the birds. Animal materials, which were consumed by chance during foraging, supplemented the fruit in the bird’s diet. Hence, the birds’ preference for the roosting site may have been influenced by the availability of various food resources around it.

 

Keywords: Dietary variation; DNA barcoding; pest bird; roosting; starlings

 

ABSTRAK

 

Bermalam secara berkumpulan oleh burung bandar seperti gagak, tiong dan perling boleh mengganggu orang awam dengan bunyi bising dan mencemarkan persekitaran dengan najis burung. Sumber makanan yang banyak di sekitar kawasan bermalam menjadi satu faktor penarik kepada burung untuk bermalam di sesuatu kawasan. Kajian diet burung gagak dan tiong bermalam telah banyak dilakukan tetapi hanya sedikit maklumat pemakanan Perling Mata Merah Aplonis panayensis yang dikaji. Kajian ini menumpukan kepada penilaian diet Perling Mata Merah yang bermalam di kawasan kajian untuk mengenal pasti sumber makanan yang ada di sekitarnya. Penilaian diet burung ini dilakukan melalui analisis mikroskopik kandungan perut dan najis. Diet utama Perling Mata Merah adalah buah-buahan (76%) di samping sejumlah kecil kandungan haiwan seperti semut, siput dan larva kumbang. Pengecaman lanjut biji benih buah yang dijumpai di dalam sampel diet dilakukan melalui teknik pengekodan DNA. Daripada sembilan spesies tumbuhan yang dikenal pasti, tujuh spesies merupakan rekod baharu untuk diet Perling Mata Merah. Buah daripada pokokTrema orientalis adalah yang paling banyak dijumpai di dalam diet dan tumbuhan ini didapati tumbuh secara meluas di pinggir jalan dalam jarak pencarian makanan oleh Perling Mata Merah. Pokok-pokok perintis ini mempunyai pertumbuhan yang cepat dan menghasilkan sumber buah-buahan yang banyak kepada Perling Mata Merah. Sumber haiwan yang diambil secara kebetulan oleh Perling Mata Merah semasa memakan buah adalah diet tambahan kepada burung ini. Oleh itu, pemilihan kawasan bermalam oleh Perling Mata Merah boleh dipengaruhi oleh ketersediaan pelbagai sumber makanan di sekitar kawasan tersebut.

 

Kata kunci: Bermalam; burung perosak; perling; pengekodan DNA; variasi diet

 

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*Corresponding author; email: rosliramli@um.edu.my

   

 

 

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