Habitat heterogeneity and behavior of the Sanderling (Calidris alba) in an urban neotropical coastal wetland

• Main Authors: Barona,Daniel, Podestá,Jorge
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Pensoft Publishers 2023
• Subjects: Bird behavior patterns; Coastal wetlands; Migratory birds; Food availability regarding tidal level; spatial distribution; Bray; Calidris alba; Sanderling
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e115629; https://preprints.arphahub.com/article/115629/

Sanderling Calidris alba is a migratory coastal bird species whose populations are affected by climatic and anthropogenic issues. Additionally, its behavioral patterns depend on habitat heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation in the frequency and duration of C. alba behavior in relation to habitat heterogeneity in a Peruvian coastal wetland. Based on behaviors recorded in a previous study of C. alba during August and September 2019 at low, mid, and high tide periods in three habitats of the Coastal Wetland Poza La Arenilla (HCPA) (La Punta, Callao, Peru), differences and diversity in the frequencies and durations of such behaviors between habitats were assessed according to tide condition using the Kruskal-Wallis test, Bray-Curtis similarity index, and the number equivalent of behaviors (1D) based on the Shannon-Wiener entropy index. Additionally, a Spearman correlation analysis between the duration and frequency of behaviors for each habitat according to tide condition was conducted. General differences in behaviors (frequency and duration) between habitats were evident based on tide condition, although there was a high similarity of behaviors between areas particularly when mid and high tide levels were present. The greatest diversity of behaviors, both in frequency and duration, was observed generally during mid-tide conditions in rocky habitats. In most cases, there was a high correlation between the frequency and duration of behaviors for habitats according to tide condition. It is concluded that mid-tide conditions are associated with greater availability of soft substrates, favoring a wide variety of behaviors for C. alba, including behaviors related to foraging and locomotion.