Body size, energetic and foraging mode of raptors in central Chile - An inference

Abstract

An inferential analysis of the foraging mode (opportunist or mediate by prey selection) of a taxonomic assemblage of raptors in central Chile was conducted. The analysis of energetic aspects such as daily requirements of predators and energy supplied by the preys, with estimations of prey relative abundances and their incidence in the diet of raptors, led us to conclude that contrarly to the opportunistic hunting mode suggested by others authors, these predators apparently present prey selection (on a biomass basis). This phenomenon is particularly evident in raptors of small body size. © 1988 Springer-Verlag.