An evaluation of intertidal feeding habitats from a shorebird perspective: Towards relevant comparisons between temperate and tropical mudflats |
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| Institution: | 1. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel The Netherlands;2. Zoological Laboratory, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands;1. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 2-8050, Ikarashi, Niigata950-2181, Japan;2. National Bird Banding Center, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China;3. Key Open Laboratory of Forest Protection of State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China;4. Shaanxi Hanzhong Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, Hanzhong 723300, China;5. Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, 115 Konoyama, Abiko, Chiba 270-1145, Japan;6. Center for Toki and Ecological Restoration, 1101-1, Niibo-katagami, Sado, Niigata952-0103, Japan;7. Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, 2-8050, Ikarashi, Niigata 950-2181, Japan;8. Landscape and Ecology Division, National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management, 1, Asahi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0804, Japan;9. Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork, 128, Shouunji, Toyooka, Hyogo 668-0814, Japan;1. Department of Marine Ecology, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands;2. Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands;1. Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, Unidad La Paz, Miraflores 334, Col. Bella Vista, La Paz, Baja California Sur 23050, Mexico;2. Terra Peninsular, A.C., Calle Tercera No. 1282, entre Espinoza y Castillo, Ensenada, Baja California 22800, Mexico;3. Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Suite #11, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA |
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| Abstract: | Macrozoobenthic communities of intertidal soft sediments are reviewed worldwide from the perspective of a mollusc-eating shorebird species. Based on 19 sites, total biomass figures varied between 5 and 80 g AFDM per m2 (average 24 g AFDM per m2); no latitudinal trends are apparent. The contribution made by bivalves and gastropods varies between 1% and 99%, north-temperate intertidal flats having relatively more molluscs than tropical flats. Intertidal flats in the tropics contain a greater variety of taxa, with brachiopods in Indonesia and echinoderms in northwest Australia contributing significantly to biomass only there. Limits to the occurrence of avian predators of intertidal benthos are set by the harvestable fraction of the biomass on offer and the costs of living at a particular site. No systematic differences in the harvestable fraction of the total mollusc-biomass for a worldwide occurring shorebird species specializing on molluscs (knots Calidris canutus) were apparent between temperate and tropical intertidal areas, in spite of large differences in maintenance metabolism incurred by these birds. The harvestable fractions of bivalves in the two West African areas (Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau) tended to be high (23–84% of total biomass in six species), they were relatively low (2–52% in five species) in the temperate Wadden Sea and the tropical northwest Australian site. Harvestable biomass determines the intake rate of shorebirds, as illustrated by functional-response curves of knots feeding on two bivalves species. We argue that the collection of information on size-depth relationships along with faunal and biomass surveys at a range of sites is bound to greatly increase our understanding of both the biology of tidal-flat invertebrates and the resource base underpinning the spectacular seasonal migrations of shorebirds. |
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