Biofilm Grazing in a Higher Vertebrate: The Western Sandpiper, Calidris Mauri

We show that a higher vertebrate can graze surficial intertidal biofilm, previously only considered a food source for rasping invertebrates and a few specialized fish. Using evidence from video recordings, stomach contents, and stable isotopes, we describe for the first time the grazing behavior of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology (Durham) 2008-03, Vol.89 (3), p.599-606
Main Authors: Kuwae, Tomohiro, Beninger, Peter G., Decottignies, Priscilla, Mathot, Kimberley J., Lund, Dieta R., Elner, Robert W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal Feed
Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Biofilms
Biological and medical sciences
Birds
Calidris mauri
Charadriiformes - growth & development
Charadriiformes - physiology
Conservation of Natural Resources
Diet
Ecology
Ecosystem
Feeding Behavior
Food Chain
Foraging
foraging behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gastrointestinal secretions
General aspects
grazing behavior
intertidal ecosystems
Invertebrates
Marine
Marine ecology
natural diet
Nitrogen
Population Density
Population Dynamics
Sandpipers
Sediments
shorebirds
Stomach
surficial intertidal biofilm
Synecology
trophic ecology
Western Sandpiper
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:We show that a higher vertebrate can graze surficial intertidal biofilm, previously only considered a food source for rasping invertebrates and a few specialized fish. Using evidence from video recordings, stomach contents, and stable isotopes, we describe for the first time the grazing behavior of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) and estimate that biofilm accounts for 45—59% of their total diet or 50% of their daily energy budget. Our finding of shorebirds as herbivores extends the trophic range of shorebirds to primary consumers and potential competitors with grazing invertebrates. Also, given individual grazing rates estimated at seven times body mass per day and flock sizes into the tens of thousands, biofilm-feeding shorebirds could have major impacts on sediment dynamics. We stress the importance of the physical and biological processes maintaining biofilm to shorebird and intertidal conservation.
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
DOI:10.1890/07-1442.1