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First published online October 19, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 3757-3762 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.007690
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The use of distal rhynchokinesis by birds feeding in water

Sora M. Estrella1,* and José A. Masero2

1 Centro Andaluz de Ciencias y Tecnologías Marinas, Universidad de Cádiz, E-11510, Puerto Real, Spain
2 Grupo de Investigación en Conservación, Área de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, E-06071, Badajoz, Spain


Figure 1
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  		Fig. 1. (A) Schematic drawing of the rhynchokinesis protraction angle ({gamma}) and bill gape (G). (B) Schematic drawing describing the measurement method for the rhynchokinesis protraction angle. The angle vertex (torsion area) is indicated by an arrow.

 

Figure 2
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  		Fig. 2. Observed occurrence (mean ± s.e.m.) of the use of distal rhynchokinesis in curlew sandpiper (CS), dunlin (Dun), sanderling (San) and little stint (LS) feeding on small prey suspended in the water column in the field during prey strike, capture and transport.

 

Figure 3
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  		Fig. 3. Digital images showing the use of distal rhynchokinesis during the strike of a prey suspended in the water column (A) and in the transport of a small prey by a Sanderling in the field (C). (B) Use of distal rhynchokinesis to grip a prey in the water column by a dunlin in the laboratory (B). A digital image of a captive dunlin with its bill in the resting position is shown for comparison (D).

 

Figure 4
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  		Fig. 4. Observed occurrence (mean ± s.e.m.) of the use of distal rhynchokinesis in prey transport by dunlins in the laboratory. Values with different letters are significantly different (Tukey's test).

 

Figure 5
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  		Fig. 5. (A) Effect of prey size and phase (strike or transport) on the rhynchokinesis protraction angle (mean ± s.e.m.). Values with different letters are significantly different (Tukey's test). (B) Relationship between bill gape (mean ± s.e.m.) and rhynchokinesis protraction angle. Filled circles represent prey strike and open squares represent prey transport.

 

Figure 6
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  		Fig. 6. Effect of the use of distal rhynchokinesis on the intra-oral transport time (mean ± s.e.m.) when small prey items are transported using surface tension transport (STT).

 




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