Analysing Faecal Samples of Ragworm Predators: Not Just a Matter of Counting Mandibles
[摘要] RagwormsHedistediversicolorareanimportantpreyiteminthedietofmanyestuarybirds.ThestandardmethodforestimatingthenumberofRagwormsinfaecesorpelletsissimplydividingthecountednumberofRagwormmandiblesbytwo,whichcaneasilyleadtoanunderestimationoftherealnumberofRagwormspresent.Here,Ipresenttwoalternativemethods,whichavoidsbiasinestimatesofthenumberofRagwormsinsamples.IcomparedthethreemethodsbyapplyingthemtofaecalsamplesofGreyPloverPluvialissquatarolaandRedshankTringatotanusfromtheTagusestuary,Portugal.ThealternativemethodsyieldedsignificantlyhigherestimatesofthenumberofRagwormspresentineachsample,adifferencethatcanhaverepercussionsontheoutcomeofdietarystudiesofRagwormpredators.Theprosandconsofeachmethodarediscussedwithregardtotheuseoffaecesandpelletsforecologicalresearch,andthesituationinwhicheachmethodcouldbeappliedisdiscussed.
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[效力级别] [学科分类] 动物科学
[关键词] Waders [时效性]
