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waders and their estuarine food supplies - Vlaams Instituut voor de ...

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this was in<strong>de</strong>ed so (Table 2): in Macoma the ratio was<br />

3.3. Thus, faecal analysis confirmed the visual observations<br />

of prey seleciion.<br />

Size selection<br />

Estimates of prey size ma<strong>de</strong> by eye in me field suggesied<br />

Knot took Macoma between 3/4 <strong>and</strong> 2 cm long,<br />

but faecal analysis showed that the size range was narrower<br />

(0.9 to 1.6 em: Fig. 4). It appears lhat the observers<br />

overestimated the sizes of the larger prey <strong>and</strong><br />

un<strong>de</strong>restimated those of the smaller ones. In or<strong>de</strong>r to<br />

correct ihe visual estimates, a cumulative frequency<br />

distribution was ma<strong>de</strong> of the size classes found in the<br />

faeces. This allowed the average size of the six categories<br />

used for estimating prey size visually in the field<br />

to be superimposed on the frequency distribution of<br />

the actual size classes taken (inset in Fig. 4). To increase<br />

the sample size for the smallest prey categories,<br />

the few prey classified in the field as 0.75.1 or 1.25 cm<br />

long are combined for purposes of this study.<br />

10 5 5)<br />

estimated size (mm)<br />

10 15<br />

shell length (mm)<br />

WHY KNOT TAKE MEDIUM-SIZED MACOMA<br />

FIELD ESTIMATES<br />

n-63 prey<br />

FIR. 4. Macoma. Size Ircquency distribution of prey laken hy the<br />

same Knot according to A. faecal analysis <strong>and</strong> B. visual estimates in<br />

the field Inset gives the function used lo correct the »isnal estimates<br />

ol prey size.<br />

20<br />

274<br />

A quarter of all Macoma h<strong>and</strong>led by Knot were not<br />

swallowed. Although occasionally small Macoma<br />

were lost during h<strong>and</strong>ling, most rejections concerned<br />

large prey, refused after a 5 to 6 s frantic h<strong>and</strong>ling effort.<br />

The larger the prey, the more were rejected (Fig.<br />

5A). Since half of the Macoma 16 mm long were re-<br />

•<br />

a* /<br />

s 40 /<br />

- «. / 1 2 20 ^-N. J<br />

o V*. y/s<br />

lost<br />

3<br />

"40<br />

i i i i i<br />

s<br />

Q<br />

U- 20r- MGr4.M7*aJ s - a * B<br />

a<br />

g* 4<br />

2<br />

12<br />

ALL PREY<br />

.MAKE P.ATE 7 C7-ng s '<br />

13<br />

—I—<br />

14<br />

— I<br />

15<br />

shell lengih (mm)<br />

-<br />

©<br />

ONLY PREV<br />

INGESTED<br />

— 1 —<br />

16<br />

Fig. 5. Macoma. The h<strong>and</strong>ling ol dillerenl sizes by Knot. A. Percent<br />

prev lost or rejected. B. H<strong>and</strong>ling lime of prey swallowed by Knot<br />

<strong>and</strong> lost or rejected. C Ash-free dry weight (AFDW i as <strong>de</strong>termined<br />

in 1062 specimens collected, r = 0.999 I). Profitability ling AFDW<br />

s ' h<strong>and</strong>ling) of prey swallowed. The upper line represents only the<br />

prey lhat were swallowed: the lower line reflects ihe profitability after<br />

taking into account the lime lost during h<strong>and</strong>ling of rejected prey<br />

isee panel Al: the intake ratelmg AFDW s 'i during feeding is indicated<br />

by grey shading.

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