An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans
We investigated the role of prey size, prey depth, prey microdistribution, and substrate penetrability in affecting prey availability to sanderlings (Calidris alba Pallas). Five experiments were performed in the laboratory manipulating these availability factors and prey density in beach sand. The e...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1980
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z80-216 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z80-216 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z80-216 2024-09-30T14:33:22+00:00 An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans Myers, J. P. Williams, S. L. Pitelka, F. A. 1980 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z80-216 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z80-216 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 58, issue 9, page 1564-1574 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1980 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z80-216 2024-09-05T04:11:13Z We investigated the role of prey size, prey depth, prey microdistribution, and substrate penetrability in affecting prey availability to sanderlings (Calidris alba Pallas). Five experiments were performed in the laboratory manipulating these availability factors and prey density in beach sand. The effects on prey risk and sanderling prey capture rate were measured.Prey risk increased linearly with prey size. Prey within 10 mm of the surface were vulnerable to predation but their risk decreased sharply below that depth. Substrate penetrability affected prey risk by controlling how deeply a sanderling could probe beneath the sand surface while searching for prey.Prey capture rates varied between 0.01 and 0.84 captures per second of search time over a range of prey density between 60 and 1200 prey per square metre. Prey size and substrate penetrability affected capture rate through their effect on prey risk, and substrate penetrability also influenced capture rate directly. Prey density had the strongest effect on prey capture rate. Measurements in the field around Bodega Bay, California, indicate that prey density, prey size, prey depth, and substrate penetrability can have significant impact on sanderling foraging under field conditions. Article in Journal/Newspaper Calidris alba Sanderling Canadian Science Publishing Sandy Beach ENVELOPE(-55.731,-55.731,49.917,49.917) Canadian Journal of Zoology 58 9 1564 1574 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
We investigated the role of prey size, prey depth, prey microdistribution, and substrate penetrability in affecting prey availability to sanderlings (Calidris alba Pallas). Five experiments were performed in the laboratory manipulating these availability factors and prey density in beach sand. The effects on prey risk and sanderling prey capture rate were measured.Prey risk increased linearly with prey size. Prey within 10 mm of the surface were vulnerable to predation but their risk decreased sharply below that depth. Substrate penetrability affected prey risk by controlling how deeply a sanderling could probe beneath the sand surface while searching for prey.Prey capture rates varied between 0.01 and 0.84 captures per second of search time over a range of prey density between 60 and 1200 prey per square metre. Prey size and substrate penetrability affected capture rate through their effect on prey risk, and substrate penetrability also influenced capture rate directly. Prey density had the strongest effect on prey capture rate. Measurements in the field around Bodega Bay, California, indicate that prey density, prey size, prey depth, and substrate penetrability can have significant impact on sanderling foraging under field conditions. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Myers, J. P. Williams, S. L. Pitelka, F. A. |
spellingShingle |
Myers, J. P. Williams, S. L. Pitelka, F. A. An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
author_facet |
Myers, J. P. Williams, S. L. Pitelka, F. A. |
author_sort |
Myers, J. P. |
title |
An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
title_short |
An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
title_full |
An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
title_fullStr |
An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
title_full_unstemmed |
An experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (Aves: Scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
title_sort |
experimental analysis of prey availability for sanderlings (aves: scolopacidae) feeding on sandy beach crustaceans |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1980 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z80-216 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z80-216 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-55.731,-55.731,49.917,49.917) |
geographic |
Sandy Beach |
geographic_facet |
Sandy Beach |
genre |
Calidris alba Sanderling |
genre_facet |
Calidris alba Sanderling |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 58, issue 9, page 1564-1574 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z80-216 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
58 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
1564 |
op_container_end_page |
1574 |
_version_ |
1811637271432003584 |