Prey selection by nesting House Martins Delichon urbica Linné, 1758 (Aves: Hirundinidae) in Algiers suburbs (Algeria).
The diet of the House Martin Delichon urbica was analyzed in a suburban area in Pins maritimes, northeast of Algiers (Algeria). The diet was determined by analyzing 120 faecal samples collected from a breeding colony between April and September 2007. Insects were the most numerous prey types (99.86%). Hymenopterans were the dominant preys (56.99%), followed by Coleopterans (20.14%), Homopterans (14.22%), Heteropterans (5.45%), and Dipterans (3.10%). Division of the prey items into families demonstrated that the highest relative frequency was large Hymenopterans in the family Formicidae (54.0%). The dominant species in the diet was Tetramorium biskrensis, which comprised 32.6% of the diet. It was followed by Camponotus barbaricus (6.9%) and Monomorium salomonis (5.6%). Comparison between diet and availability of preys using the Savage index showed that T. biskrensis, Crematogaster scutelaris, Pheidole pallidula, Diptera sp. unident. and Aphidae sp. unident. were positively selected by D. urbica.
Faculty of Natural Science and Life, University of Bordj Bou Arreridj, 34000 Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria. Electronic address: youcef.merzouki@yahoo.fr.
Youcef
Y
Merzouki
Faculty of Natural Science and Life, University Ziane Achour Djelfa, 17000 Djelfa, Algeria. Electronic address: kasouttou@yahoo.fr.
Karim
K
Souttou
Department of Agronomic Sciences, University Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria.
Makhlouf
M
Sekour
Laboratory of Ornithology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Agronomy, Hacen badi, El Harrach, 16200 Algiers, Algeria.
Samia
S
Daoudi-Hacini
Laboratory of Ornithology, Department of Zoology, Institute of Agronomy, Hacen badi, El Harrach, 16200 Algiers, Algeria.
Salaheddine
S
Doumandji
D000462:Algeria; D000818:Animals; D001097:Arachnida; D004032:Diet; D049851:Gastropoda; D007313:Insecta; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D046388:Swallows / Q000502:physiology*
Alger; Algiers; Delichon urbica; Diet; Hirondelle de cheminée; House Martin; Milieu suburbain; Régime alimentaire; Suburban area