On the tip of the tongue: natural history observations that transformed shorebird ecology

Abstract

Citation: Beninger, P. G., and R. W. Elner. 2020. On the tip of the tongue: natural history observations that transformed shorebird ecology. Ecosphere 11(5):Abstract. A new field of shorebird feeding ecology has been opened, stemming directly from natural history observations of previously overlooked morphological and behavioral features. We describe how the pieces of this puzzle were assembled to reveal a fascinating story of small shorebird migration, trophic level shift, and direct feeding upon mudflat superficial biofilm just prior to breeding. Many unexplored avenues of research have arisen, including a trampoline effect of resource timing, the potential trade-off between trophic imperatives and toxic co-products, and the particular utilization of this resource in small, as opposed to large, shorebirds.

Food transport in Reptilia: a comparative viewpoint

“…Some Aves are adapted to catch and transport prey (mainly arthropods) living on the water surface by virtue of surface tension [13,14]. It is salient to note that some shorebirds are able to feed on and therefore to transport superficial biofilms of mudflats at some stages of their migratory history [15]. All other Reptilia (e.g.…”

Assessing diatom-mediated fatty acids in intertidal biofilm: a new conservation concern

“…Reduced fatty acid production by diatoms in aquatic systems worldwide has emerged as an overarching issue exacerbated by global climate change, with major ramifications to both terrestrial systems and human health (Hixson and Arts 2016;Colombo et al 2017). Concomitantly, threats to diatomaceous biofilm on intertidal mudflats from climate change and anthropogenic stressors are raising new conservation concerns related to shorebirds (Beninger 2018). Worldwide declines in the abundance of most migratory shorebird species (Clemens et al 2016;Studds et al 2017;Rosenberg et al 2019;Canham et al 2021) have occurred in tandem with average losses to their intertidal flat habitats at 16% of their total area between 1984 and 2016 (Murray et al 2019).…”

“…Worldwide declines in the abundance of most migratory shorebird species (Clemens et al 2016;Studds et al 2017;Rosenberg et al 2019;Canham et al 2021) have occurred in tandem with average losses to their intertidal flat habitats at 16% of their total area between 1984 and 2016 (Murray et al 2019). Mudflat habitats have long been known to provide wide-ranging ecosystem services that support fish and wildlife (Beninger 2018) but have assumed even more importance in recent years with the discovery that many shorebird species consume intertidal biofilm rich in fatty acids produced by diatoms to support their long-distance migration (Schnurr et al 2019(Schnurr et al , 2020. Analysis of fatty acids from intertidal biofilm provides critical information on the value of mudflats as habitats for birds, as well as autecological insights into the microbial communities that compose intertidal biofilm (Schnurr et al 2020;Passarelli et al 2014).…”