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dc.contributor.authorFrancis, R.J.
dc.contributor.authorKingsford, R.T.
dc.contributor.authorMurray-Hudson, M.
dc.contributor.authorBrandis, K.J.
dc.date.accessioned2024-09-19T08:16:59Z
dc.date.available2024-09-19T08:16:59Z
dc.date.issued2021-01-16
dc.identifier.citationFrancis, R.J. et al. (2021) Urban waste no replacement for natural foods—Marabou storks in Botswana. Journal of Urban Ecology, Vol. 5, No. 1, 10pen_US
dc.identifier.issn2058-5543 (Online)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/2544
dc.descriptionMain articleen_US
dc.description.abstractWe compared diets of marabou storks Leptoptilos crumenifer foraging from urban landfills and natural areas in northern Botswana using stable isotope analyses and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on moulted feathers. There were significant differences in the diet of marabous foraging from natural areas compared to urban waste sites, reflected by lower δ13C and less enriched δ15N concentrations in those feeding at landfills, suggesting a shift in trophic niche. Feathers from birds foraging at landfills also had significantly higher concentrations of chromium, lead, nickel, and zinc and lower levels of cadmium and potassium than feathers sampled from natural areas. We also analysed marabou regurgitant (42 kg, naturally expelled indigestible food resources) from the Kasane landfill site. More than half was plastic, with single regurgitants weighing up to 125 g. Urban waste stored in open air landfills is altering some marabou diets, affecting their natural trophic niche, resulting in the consumption (and regurgitation) of large amounts of plastic, and exposing marabou to potentially chronic levels of trace metals. Despite the marabou’s apparent resilience to this behavioural shift, it could have long-term effects on the population of the marabou stork, particularly considering Botswana has some of the few regular marabou breeding colonies in southern Africa.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherOxford University Press, https://academic.oup.comen_US
dc.subjectICP-MSen_US
dc.subjectstable isotope analysisen_US
dc.subjectwaterbirden_US
dc.subjectAfricaen_US
dc.subjectrefuseen_US
dc.subjectgarbageen_US
dc.titleUrban waste no replacement for natural foods-Marabou storks in Botswanaen_US
dc.typePublished Articleen_US
dc.rights.holderThe authorsen_US
dc.linkhttps://academic.oup.com/jue/article/7/1/juab003/6153991en_US
workflow.date.added2024-08-28T08:40:05Z


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