Flora species as a source of food for populations of the Yellow-naped Parrot (Amazona auropalliata) in El Salvador

Abstract

The yellow-naped parrot (Amazona auropalliata) has been listed as a Critically Endangered species worldwide. Recently, the National Conservation Program was developed, which includes measures to favor interaction with floristic species. Due to its generalist nature, this bird feeds on flowers, fruits, seeds and leaves. The objective of this publication is to present a list of flora species as a food source, in order to contribute systematized information to the development of the Program. A bibliographic review of publications on the feeding of parrots of the Amazona genus in Mesoamerica was made. In addition, documents for reforestation and ecosystem restoration were included, as well as environmental impact studies, to learn how environmental measures propose reforestation with food source species. A low number of studies on parrot food sources were found. The review yielded a total of 105 species, the Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rutaceae and Myrtaceae families being the most used. Seeds (51.42 %) and fruits (47.61 %) are the most used resources. A total of 27 species proposed for ecosystem restoration are a source of bird food. A review of the environmental impact studies showed that public works projects comply with the initiative, while private projects do not. The use of 10 species as a food source is recorded for the first time in the literature: Jacaranda obtusifolia (Bignoniaceae), Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae), Sapium macrocarpum (Euphorbiaceae), Inga oerstediana (Fabaceae), Myroxylon balsamum var. pereirae (Fabaceae), Senna siamea (Fabaceae), Syzygium cumini (Myrtaceae), Eucalyptus deglupta (Mirtaceae), Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae) and Chrysophyllum cainito (Sapotaceae).