Sabiás: motivos para utilizá-los em ensaios de ecologia animal

Abstract

Considering the trials necessary to establish new ecological models and hypotheses, this review aims to propose the use of birds from genus Turdus as an animal model in animal ecology studies. Research with this group could be conducted at various locations worldwide, resulting in new methods of animal ecology, with systematic information obtained by several research groups throughout the area of occurrence of species from this group. Among some of the attributes that ecological studies of these birds provide are the facts that: i) these birds abound in urban and forest environments, ii) some species of this group are sensitive to habitat disturbance; iii) others have plasticity and resistance to environmental disturbances; iv) reasonable catchability; v) most birds of this group have territorial habits; vi) most species have migratory and partially migratory habits; and vii) the species have diverse feeding habits. In that sense, ecological studies on this group could even support conservation strategies for species under certain degrees of endangerment.