Los cathartidos y su rol protagónico en los ecosistemas naturales

Abstract

Maintaining the balance of ecosystems allows them to function properly in order to sustain the coexistence of living organisms and maintain a healthy environment. The alteration in some of the components of the ecosystem can cause serious consequences, for example, the extinction of a species. The objective of the research was to determine the leading role of Cathartids in natural ecosystems. The data were obtained from bibliographic information sources. Cathartids are birds of prey, belonging to the Falconiformes family, composed of five genera and seven species, known in South America as vultures, with names such as guala, golero moneca, jote, chulo, aura, urubú, cóndor, zamuro and gallinazo; distributed from Tierra del Fuego to southern Canada. These animals feed on carrion, but also on legumes, fish and decaying fruits, and sometimes on convalescent animals, newborns and sick animals. Cathartes aura is one of the species found in our region and is recognized by the fact that it has no feathers on its neck, upper part or head. In addition, it is a key ecosystemic species due to its scavenger function, since, having dead animals as food, it contributes to prevent these remains from constituting a source of permanent accumulation of organic matter that brings with it contamination, the proliferation of microorganisms and insect vectors or, in the worst case, the appearance of diseases or epidemics, causing death to the populations of the different species in the area, including human beings.