Spatial distribution and physical characteristics of clay licks in Madre de Dios, Peru at Texas A&M Spatial distribution and physical characteristics of clay licks in Madre de Dios, Peru July 2009 Final report to: Sea World Busch Gardens Conservation Fund The Amazon Conservation Association Authors: Donald J. Brightsmith, Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843-4467,
[email protected] Gabriela Vigo, Tambopata Macaw Project, 3300 Wildrye Dr., College Station, Texas, 77845,
[email protected] Armando Valdés-Velásquez, Laboratory for Biodiversity Studies (LEB), Cayetano Heredia University, Honorio Delgado 430, San Martín de Porres, Lima, Perú,
[email protected] Suggested Reference: Brightsmith, D, G Vigo, and A Valdés-Velásquez. 2009. Spatial distribution and physical characteristics of clay licks in Madre de Dios, Peru. Unpublished report. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Copyright Donald J. Brightsmith 2009. Reproduction of any part of the text or images contained in this document is prohibited without the written consent of Donald J. Brightsmith. 1 Executive summary Many birds and mammals throughout the world consume soil. Recent studies have suggested that the western Amazon basin and specifically the Department of Madre de Dios, Peru have very high numbers of these soil consumption sites. In this region, soil consumption is common among birds (parrots, guans, and pigeons) and mammals (ungulates, rodents, and primates). Many of these species belong to families with large numbers of threatened and endangered species (parrots, guans, and primates). Other species play important roles in seed dispersal or play keystone roles in tropical forest dynamics (ungulates and large primates).