Foraging behaviour of coypus Myocastor coypus: why do coypus consume aquatic plants?

Guichón, M. Laura; Benítez, Verónica; Abba, Agustín M.; Borgnia, Mariela; Cassini, Marcelo H.

doi:10.1016/j.actao.2003.08.001

Cited by 42 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…The consumption of aquatic plants by the coypus is advantageous, once it has digestive mechanisms that is suitable for the ingestion of these plants (Guichón et al 2003). The higher consumption of aquatic vegetation, as observed in this study, is related to the type of environment in which this species occurs, where the foraging of aquatic plants is represented more as a process of habitat selection than of food choice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…The ingestion of aquatic plants by the coypus, besides being a great source of nutrients, prevents energetic costs associated with others behaviors, like the escape from predators (Guichón et al 2003). The consumption of aquatic plants by the coypus is advantageous, once it has digestive mechanisms that is suitable for the ingestion of these plants (Guichón et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides, the adaptation of the coypus to the aquatic environment allows for the use of an advantageous alimentary supply, since most of aquatic plants lack alkaloids, tannin and lignin (Lebreton 1982). In general, the consumption of terrestrial vegetation by the coypus has been observed only when aquatic vegetation is scarce (Abbas 1991, Guichón et al 2003, Prigioni et al 2005. Young individuals of coypus use terrestrial vegetation in their diet as an integrative resource, fulfilling their nutritional requirements with lower energy investment (Prigioni et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since then, it has been used by many authors with different species of herbivores, including aquatic herbivores, like the Amazon manatee (Colares and Colares 2002), and semi-aquatic ones, like the capybara (Borges and Colares 2007). Studies of coypus' alimentary habits have been done in Argentina (Borgnia et al 2000, D'adamo 672 IONI G. COLARES, RAQUEL N. V. OLIVEIRA, RAFAEL M. OLIVEIRA and ELTON P. COLARES et al , Guichón et al 2003, France (Abbas 1988, 1991, and Italy (Prigioni et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The species was introduced in North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Japan, living in the same habitat (Abbas 1991(Abbas , D'adamo et al 2000. In some of these regions, the coypu is an exotic animal; it causes damage to crops, native flora and fauna, and drainage systems (Abbas 1988, Borgnia et al 2000, Guichón et al 2003. They are herbivores with nocturnal habits, with high foraging activity near burrow exits, where they feed on grasses, roots and aquatic plants (Abbas 1988, 1991, Borgnia et al 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feeding habits of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina 1978) in the wetlands of the Southern region of Brazil

Colares

Oliveira

Liveira

et al. 2010

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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The aim of this study was to determine the diet of coypu (Myocastor coypus) in two areas (Santa Isabel do Sul wetlands -Area 1, and Santa Marta Farm -Area 2) in the Southern region of Brazil, using microhistological analyses of feces. Twenty-four plant species were identified from collected feces samples. Among the identified species, nine are common in the animals' diet in both areas; the presence of Oriza sativa was not detected in any of the samples. Among the identified species, 84% and 54% of the coypu's diet from Areas 1 and 2, respectively, are aquatic plants. Poaceae family was most common, being found in 82% of the samples from both areas. Paspalum disthichum (Area 1) and Panicum tricholaenoides (Area 2) were the most frequent species on the coypu's diet. The diet comparison for both areas indicates that feeding habits vary depending on the type of habitat, environmental conditions and food availability. The absence of rice in our analysis may be an indication for the preservation of native areas around watercourses, so as to prevent coypu from invading irrigated crops.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Feeding habits of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina 1978) in the wetlands of the Southern region of Brazil

Colares

Oliveira

Liveira

et al. 2010

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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Mercury speciation and biomagnification in the food web of Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana, USA, a subtropical freshwater ecosystem

Chumchal

Rainwater

Osborn

et al. 2011

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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We studied the biomagnification of total mercury and methylmercury in a subtropical freshwater lake, Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana, USA. The present study is unique in that it not only included invertebrates (seven species) and fish (six species) but also an amphibian (one species), reptiles (three species), and mammals (three species). Nonfish vertebrates such as those included in the present study are often not included in assessments of trophic transfer of Hg. Mean trophic position (determined using stable isotopes of nitrogen) ranged from 2.0 (indicative of a primary consumer) to 3.8 (indicative of a tertiary consumer). Mean total Hg concentrations ranged from 36 to 3,292 ng/g dry weight in muscle and whole body and from 150 to 30,171 ng/g dry weight in liver. Most of the Hg in muscle and whole-body tissue was found as methylmercury, and at least 50% of the Hg found in liver was in the inorganic form (with the exception of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides). Mercury concentrations were positively correlated with trophic position, indicating that biomagnification occurs in the food web of Caddo Lake. The food web magnification factors (FWMFs; slope of the relationship between mean Hg concentration and trophic position) for both total Hg and methylmercury were similar to those observed in other studies. Because most of the total Hg in consumers was methylmercury, the FWMF for methylmercury was not significantly different from the FWMF for total Hg. Some vertebrates examined in the present study had low Hg concentrations in their tissues similar to those observed in invertebrates, whereas others had concentrations of Hg in their tissues that in previous studies have been associated with negative health consequences in fish.

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Scaling and adaptations of incisors and cheek teeth in caviomorph rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

Becerra

Vassallo

Echeverría

et al. 2012

Journal of Morphology

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The South American hystricognath rodents are one of the most diverse mammalian clades considering their occupied habitats, locomotor modes and body sizes. This might have been partly evolved by diversification of their masticatory apparatus' structure and its ecological commitment, for example, chisel-tooth digging. In this phylogeny-based comparative study, we test the relationship between ecological behavior and mechanical features of their incisors and molariforms. In 33 species of nine families of caviomorph rodents, we analyze incisor attributes related to structural stress resistance and molar features related with grinding capacity, for example, second moment of inertia and enamel index (EI) (enamel band length/occlusal surface area), respectively. Most of these variables scaled isometrically to body mass, with a strong phylogenetic effect. A principal component analysis discrimination on the EI clustered the species according to their geographic distribution. We presume that selective pressures in Andean-Patagonian regions, on particular feeding habits and chisel-tooth digging behaviors, have modeled the morphological characteristics of the teeth. Subterranean/burrower ctenomyids, coruros, and plains viscachas showed the highest bending/torsion strength and anchorage values for incisors; a simplified enamel pattern in molariforms would be associated with a better grinding of the more abrasive vegetation present in more open and drier biomes.

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Foraging behaviour of coypus Myocastor coypus: why do coypus consume aquatic plants?

Cited by 42 publications

References 13 publications

Feeding habits of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina 1978) in the wetlands of the Southern region of Brazil

Feeding habits of coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina 1978) in the wetlands of the Southern region of Brazil

Mercury speciation and biomagnification in the food web of Caddo Lake, Texas and Louisiana, USA, a subtropical freshwater ecosystem

Scaling and adaptations of incisors and cheek teeth in caviomorph rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi)

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