Mycorrhizal diversity of five different study localities of thiruvarur district

Abstract :

The paper deals with foraging and nesting behaviours of Scarlet Minivet Pericrcatus flammeus, Small Minivet   P.cinnamomeus and White-bellied Minivet P.erythropygius in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamilnadu, India. Our objective was to determine if foraging and nesting niche segregation exist among the three species of minivets. Regardless of species, minivets concentrated much of their foraging activities on a few available plant species and frequently sallied and gleaned for prey largely obtained from above the ground level. Foraging niche segregation between sexes of the same species was not pronounced as pair members typically foraged close together in the breeding season. On the other hand, foraging niche segregation was statistically well pronounced at the interspecies level, and is believed to be  a strategy to avoid competition. In general, male and female conspecifics were more similar to each other in their behaviour than to either sex of the other species. In the study area, minivets were observed in breeding activities during April and May. Although the Scarlet Minivet may construct nests slightly higher than the other two minivets, our sample size was not enough to determine if nesting niche segregation exists among minivet species in the study site.