Ecological Energetics of an Abundant Aerial Insectivore, the Purple Martin

摘要: The atmospheric boundary layer and lower free atmosphere, or aerosphere, is increasingly important for human transportation, communication, environmental monitoring, energy production. impacts of anthropogenic encroachment into aerial habitats are not well understood. Insectivorous birds bats inherently valuable components biodiversity play an integral role in trophic dynamics. Many these insectivores experiencing range-wide population declines. As a first step toward gaging the potential declines on aerosphere’s system, estimates biomass consumed by needed. We developed suite energetics models one largest most common avian North America, Purple Martin (Progne subis). base model estimated that Martins 412 (± 104) billion insects*y-1 with 115,860 29,192) metric tonnes*y-1. During breeding season consume 10.3 (+ 3.0) kg prey per km3 habitat, equal to about 36,000 individual insects*km-3. Based calculations, cumulative seasonal consumption insects*km-3 greater America during than other phases annual cycle, however maximum daily insect consumption*km-3 occurs fall migration. This analysis provides quantitative estimate magnitude impact this large insectivore. Future studies could use similar modeling approach entire guild at variety temporal spatial scales. These analyses would inform our understanding among