FORAGING PREFERENCE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED FRUITS CONSUMED BY THE YELLOW-FOOTED GREEN PIGEON (Treron phoenicoptera) IN A SEMI-ARID ECOSYSTEM OF RAJASTHAN
Abstract
Frugivorous birds are important ecological agents involved in seed dispersal and maintenance of vegetation dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (Treron phoenicoptera) is one of the dominant frugivorous birds inhabiting semi-arid landscapes of India. The present study investigated the foraging preference and phytochemical composition of selected fruits consumed by the species in the semi-arid ecosystem of Rajasthan, India. Field observations were conducted between October 2022 to March 2026 in village groves, agricultural landscapes, and scrub forest habitats. Feeding frequency, feeding duration, fruit-handling behaviour, and seasonal fruit preference were recorded using focal and scan sampling techniques. Simultaneously, selected fruits were analysed for major phytochemical constituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, and saponins.
The results indicated that Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Ziziphus mauritiana, and Cordia dichotoma were among the most preferred fruit species. Fruits with high moisture and phenolic compound content were consumed more frequently. Phytochemical screening revealed considerable variation in secondary metabolite composition across fruits. The present study also demonstrated the ecological significance of native fruit-bearing trees in sustaining frugivorous bird populations in semi-arid ecosystems. Conservation of traditional agroforestry systems and native vegetation is therefore essential for maintaining ecological stability and avian diversity in Rajasthan.
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