Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Zwarts L., Blomert A.M., Ens B.J., Hupkes R. & Van Spanje T.M. (1990) Why do waders reach high feeding densities on the intertidal flats of the Banc d'Arguin Mauritania. ARDEA 78 (1-2): 39-52
Waders wintering on the Banc d'Arguin feed on the intertidal flats at the extremely high average density of 40 birds per ha. The distribution of some wader species can be related to that of their main prey. Most species eat remarkably small prey at a very high rate. Small wader species select size classes of prey that are ignored by conspecifics when feeding in European estuaries. A previous estimate of predation pressure indicated that without production the food supply might be depleted in two months. Present data indicate that predation pressure may be 14% of this improbable level. Predation pressure is nonetheless high relative to the food supply, compared to other wintering sites along the East Atlantic coast.


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