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The interactions with the Spix macaw and its environment & surrounding organisms have been crucial to their existence.
Although they are now extinct in the wild, the lives of the last known flocks of this species were complex.
The Spix macaw's native region of Brazil is filled with species richness, and the countless organisms that interact with each other throughout their existence. Predators such as larger birds of prey, snakes, rats, feral cats, mongooses, and even monkeys caused these parrots to stay alert. Some of these predators have only become threats to the species over the last few centuries as non-native species were introduced.
Fight or Flight: In the event of one of these predators, these macaws flap their wings and make loud noises to scare and deter their enemies. They may also take to the air to escape.
Eggs and young chicks are even more vulnerable to threats due to the inability to fly, so they rely heavily on the adults until they learn to save themselves. To protect their young, adults have been known to lay on their sides in a mock version of distress to divert their predators away from the babies.
Another large threat to these birds is humans. Environmental disturbance and habitat loss at the hands of humans have been another harsh reality for the species, due to people migrating into their native regions, hunting by settlers and indigenous people, and construction.
The Spix macaw, along with many other species of exotic parrots, has been captured, and nests robbed of their precious eggs, to be sold in the illegal pet trade.
Spix Macaws most commonly consume vegetation, seeds, and nuts. There are countless flora organisms that these birds rely on for survival. For example, one plant that macaws often frequent for meals is Spondias tuberosa, aka Brazil Plum. This small tree is native to northeast Brazil where it grows wildly across the dry lands of the caatinga (an ecoregion characterized by its white-ish vegetation and forests.)
These trees provide small round fruit that appear light red and orange when young, and the peels eventually turning green or yellow as they ripen. These trees provided the Spix Macaw with fruits of juicy flavorful flesh, as well as a large pit to eat at the center.
Juvenile (Right), Ripe (Below)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clades: Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Eudicots, and Rosids.
Order: Sapindales.
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Spondias
Species: S. Tuberosa
Another organism that resides in the Spix's native region is the boa constrictor, a large non-venomous snake found commonly throughout Brazil and most of South America. They can reach between three to thirteen feet in length, and up to 60 lbs. in weight.
Their diets consist of a wide variety of small to medium sized mammals and birds. The species can climb shrubs and trees however as they get older and much heavier, they tend to remain terrestrial, which is trouble for any species of bird or tree dwelling mammal in the area.
These ambush predators often await prey to come to them, but even in places with a low concentration of suitable prey, these apex consumers can easily become hunters, particularly at night when birds are asleep.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Boa
Species: B. Constrictor
Tabebuia Aurea, also known as the Caribbean Trumpet Tree or the Tree of Gold, is a small flowering and fruit bearing tree native to Brazil and across South America.
These yellow-flowered trees can reach up to 26 feet tall and produces slender fruits about 4 inches in length.
This species of tree is a crucial resource for the Spix macaw not just for food, but as their preferred nesting trees.
Although there is no shortage of this tree globally, the species population has declined in the local region of the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil due to logging for timber and other factors.
Kingdom: Plantae
Clades: Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Tabebuia
Species: T. Aurea
The Spix Macaw's "Niche" in the Environment:
Within the northeastern region of Brazil, the Spix Macaw (used to) be at home amongst thousands of organisms and species of all kinds, coexisting both peacefully and chaotically as do most creatures in nature. To paint a picture of the role they play is also to understand their coexistence with other species, like the ones previously mentioned, in their shared ecosystem.
For the most part however, they usually eat over 80% fruits and seeds. Although toucans are predators to many smaller species, they are also often made prey to hawks.
The Aracari Toucan, as well as most other species of toucan, are both predators and competitors for the Spix macaw’s food resources. Toucans are technically omnivores because they eat invertebrates and arthropods and are even predatory towards other small birds. They have been known to eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds such as blackbirds, flycatchers, and doves.
Both the Macaws and Toucans are largely responsible for the dispersal of seeds throughout the Amazonian ecosystem. Macaws in generally are the main dispersers of many fruits and seeds to their perching trees up to a mile away. This contributes to much needed forest regeneration and connectivity between distant forests islands without the need to ingest and defecate the seeds as many other birds to. In the long run they help shape the landscape structure and functioning of their home for generations to come.
An Example of Seed Dispersion; Blue-And-Gold Macaws:
A: Macaws flock to a palm tree to gather palm seeds.
B: The bird flies to their home tree or nearby areas they deem safe.
C: Once comfortable, the birds will eat the fruits, nuts and seeds, dropping some scraps in the process.
D: Seeds & nuts fall to the forest floor, where over time they sink into soil and have the requirements needed to grow.
The Tarantula diet consists of many kinds of small rodents, arthropods, large insects, and other invertebrates such as bees, including the regions native “stingless bee,” (scientifically known as Plebeia Remota). With no form of protection, even as a dying effort to defend their hive, this makes them prey to countless insect eating organisms in their environment.
Tarantulas, like the local goliath bird-eater for example, are prey to toucans as well. Unlike macaws with short beaks, the long beak of the aracari toucan saves the bird from potential spider bites by ensuring the tarantula is dead or incapacitated before eating.
Tarantulas still are predators to many organisms in its environment.
Their diet consists of leaves, fruits, and small fresh plant roots & twigs. They also eat seed and nuts, like the Wood based vegetation tends to be a favorite of their as well, which is why they have large sharp front teeth designed to chew through touch tree bark.
Another animal the Spix macaw lives along-side are Brazilian-native porcupines. Although these creatures have the ability to get rather large (up to 9 lbs. and 40 inches, however that includes the tail) and have thick spikes covering its body, they are gentle tree-dwelling mammals. These nocturnal porcupines are not aggressive but will defend themselves when attacked.
Something the Macaw, Toucan, and Porcupine all have in common- they are all prey in the food web of the boa constrictor.
Because of the Boa’s large size and ability to unhinge their jaw in a way to swallow large prey, most birds and mammals are at risk of becoming this snake's dinner.
Lastly, all of the species mentioned are united in that they are all at risk for habitat loss.
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