Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula

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dc.contributor.advisorAmar, Arjunen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBaigrie, Bruceen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-22T12:00:21Z
dc.date.available2014-09-22T12:00:21Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis study investigates the diet of breeding Black Sparrowhawks (Accipiter melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. Macro-remains of prey were collected from below and around the vicinity of nests throughout the breeding seasons of 2012 and 2013. These prey items were then identified down to species where possible through the use of a museum reference collection. In both years 85.9% of the individual remains were those of Columbidae, which corresponds with the only other diet study on Black Sparrowhawks. Redeyed Doves were the most common prey species, accounting for around 35% of the diet’s biomass and 45% of the prey items. Helmeted Guineafowl were also an important component of the diet for certain nests, making up on average 26.4% biomass of the diet. I found very little difference in diet between the different stages of breeding (pre-lay, incubation and nestling), despite the fact that females only contribute significantly during the nestling state and are considerably larger than the males. I also found little difference in the diet composition between pairs which bred either earlier or later in the year, despite productivity being significantly higher for earlier breeding pairs. However, a crude analysis of the overall diet per month revealed increased diet breadth in the early lay months as opposed to the later months. This was a result of fluctuations in the presence of Laughing Doves, Feral Pigeons and Helmeted Guineafowl, probably driven by those species breeding behaviour. Lastly, I also found no difference in the diet composition between pairs with either pure or mixed plumage morph compositions in this polymorphic species. This study provides further evidence to the claim that Black Sparrowhawks on the Cape Peninsula are benefiting from man-altered environments that provide perfect habitat for suitable prey.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationBaigrie, B. (2013). <i>Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7637en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBaigrie, Bruce. <i>"Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7637en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBaigrie, B. 2013. Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Baigrie, Bruce AB - This study investigates the diet of breeding Black Sparrowhawks (Accipiter melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. Macro-remains of prey were collected from below and around the vicinity of nests throughout the breeding seasons of 2012 and 2013. These prey items were then identified down to species where possible through the use of a museum reference collection. In both years 85.9% of the individual remains were those of Columbidae, which corresponds with the only other diet study on Black Sparrowhawks. Redeyed Doves were the most common prey species, accounting for around 35% of the diet’s biomass and 45% of the prey items. Helmeted Guineafowl were also an important component of the diet for certain nests, making up on average 26.4% biomass of the diet. I found very little difference in diet between the different stages of breeding (pre-lay, incubation and nestling), despite the fact that females only contribute significantly during the nestling state and are considerably larger than the males. I also found little difference in the diet composition between pairs which bred either earlier or later in the year, despite productivity being significantly higher for earlier breeding pairs. However, a crude analysis of the overall diet per month revealed increased diet breadth in the early lay months as opposed to the later months. This was a result of fluctuations in the presence of Laughing Doves, Feral Pigeons and Helmeted Guineafowl, probably driven by those species breeding behaviour. Lastly, I also found no difference in the diet composition between pairs with either pure or mixed plumage morph compositions in this polymorphic species. This study provides further evidence to the claim that Black Sparrowhawks on the Cape Peninsula are benefiting from man-altered environments that provide perfect habitat for suitable prey. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula TI - Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7637 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/7637
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBaigrie B. Exploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsula. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7637en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titleExploring the breeding diet of the Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter Melanoleucus) on the Cape Peninsulaen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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