Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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De Boer W.F. (2002) The shorebird community structure at an intertidal mudflat in southern Mozambique. ARDEA 90 (1): 81-92
To analyse the importance of biotic and abiotic variables and human presence in structuring an intertidal bird community shorebirds were counted at different sites at Inhaca Island, southern Mozambique. It was expected that, due to the greater minimum approach distance of larger birds, human presence would decrease the abundance of larger birds. In a shore count of the island, shorebird numbers were actually higher on shore sections with humans. Nevertheless, human presence decreased the bird abundance in their vicinity. Larger birds were affected more than smaller birds by human presence. Bird numbers increased in a control area inaccessible to people. However, the mean bird mass was lower in this area, contrary to predictions. Species composition was significantly different between the area with and without human presence. A non-parametric sample ordination was carried out, after which structuring community variables were identified. Discriminant analysis indicated that substrate penetrability, human presence, biomass and abundance of benthic organisms, and bird pecking rate were structuring community factors. The larger abundance of heavier birds in areas with human presence is thought to be related to their energy budget which, unlike that of smaller species, permits human disturbance to take up some time


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