Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds
Each spring great numbers of shorebirds gather in Delaware Bay, USA during the reproductive season of Horseshoe Crabs Limulus polyphemus to capitalize on crab eggs. Due to overharvesting, the abundance of both crabs and their eggs has significantly declined in the last two decades, and little is kno...
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ftkeanuniv:oai:digitalcommons.kean.edu:keanpublications-2701 2023-12-17T10:28:28+01:00 Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds Novcic, Ivana Veit, Richard R. Mizrahi, David S. Symondson, William O.C. 2016-12-01T08:00:00Z https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/keanpublications/1702 https://doi.org/10.18194/ws.00043 unknown Kean Digital Learning Commons https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/keanpublications/1702 doi:10.18194/ws.00043 Kean Publications Amphipods Delaware Bay Diet Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus Molecular scatology PCR Waders text 2016 ftkeanuniv https://doi.org/10.18194/ws.00043 2023-11-23T19:05:21Z Each spring great numbers of shorebirds gather in Delaware Bay, USA during the reproductive season of Horseshoe Crabs Limulus polyphemus to capitalize on crab eggs. Due to overharvesting, the abundance of both crabs and their eggs has significantly declined in the last two decades, and little is known about alternative food types. We examined potential consumption of amphipods by Dunlins Calidris alpina, Semipalmated Sandpipers C. pusilla, Least Sandpipers C. minutilla and Short-billed Dowitchers Limnodromus griseus during spring migration through Delaware Bay, by amplification of prey DNA fragments in feces with amphipod-specific primers. Our analysis shows that amphipods contributed to the diet of shorebirds and we found significant differences in utilization of these crustaceans among species. Over 80% of Least Sandpipers tested positive for amphipod DNA, implying that these birds may rely heavily on amphipods, and possibly other benthic invertebrates, rather than Horseshoe Crab eggs. A considerable proportion of Semipalmated Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitchers consumed amphipods as well. Together with previously documented use of tidal mudflats and marshes by shorebirds in Delaware Bay, this may suggest new conservation strategies regarding these habitats. Text Calidris alpina Kean Digital Learning Commons Wader Study 123 3 |
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Open Polar |
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Kean Digital Learning Commons |
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ftkeanuniv |
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Amphipods Delaware Bay Diet Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus Molecular scatology PCR Waders |
spellingShingle |
Amphipods Delaware Bay Diet Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus Molecular scatology PCR Waders Novcic, Ivana Veit, Richard R. Mizrahi, David S. Symondson, William O.C. Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
topic_facet |
Amphipods Delaware Bay Diet Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus Molecular scatology PCR Waders |
description |
Each spring great numbers of shorebirds gather in Delaware Bay, USA during the reproductive season of Horseshoe Crabs Limulus polyphemus to capitalize on crab eggs. Due to overharvesting, the abundance of both crabs and their eggs has significantly declined in the last two decades, and little is known about alternative food types. We examined potential consumption of amphipods by Dunlins Calidris alpina, Semipalmated Sandpipers C. pusilla, Least Sandpipers C. minutilla and Short-billed Dowitchers Limnodromus griseus during spring migration through Delaware Bay, by amplification of prey DNA fragments in feces with amphipod-specific primers. Our analysis shows that amphipods contributed to the diet of shorebirds and we found significant differences in utilization of these crustaceans among species. Over 80% of Least Sandpipers tested positive for amphipod DNA, implying that these birds may rely heavily on amphipods, and possibly other benthic invertebrates, rather than Horseshoe Crab eggs. A considerable proportion of Semipalmated Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitchers consumed amphipods as well. Together with previously documented use of tidal mudflats and marshes by shorebirds in Delaware Bay, this may suggest new conservation strategies regarding these habitats. |
format |
Text |
author |
Novcic, Ivana Veit, Richard R. Mizrahi, David S. Symondson, William O.C. |
author_facet |
Novcic, Ivana Veit, Richard R. Mizrahi, David S. Symondson, William O.C. |
author_sort |
Novcic, Ivana |
title |
Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
title_short |
Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
title_full |
Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
title_fullStr |
Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
title_full_unstemmed |
Molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
title_sort |
molecular analysis of amphipods in the diets of migrating shorebirds |
publisher |
Kean Digital Learning Commons |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/keanpublications/1702 https://doi.org/10.18194/ws.00043 |
genre |
Calidris alpina |
genre_facet |
Calidris alpina |
op_source |
Kean Publications |
op_relation |
https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/keanpublications/1702 doi:10.18194/ws.00043 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.18194/ws.00043 |
container_title |
Wader Study |
container_volume |
123 |
container_issue |
3 |
_version_ |
1785580587207098368 |