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. 2024 Apr 17;14(8):1208.
doi: 10.3390/ani14081208.

Use of Stable Isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to Infer Post-Breeding Dispersal Strategies in Iberian Populations of the Kentish Plover

Andrea Gestoso  1 , María Vidal  1 , Jesús Domínguez  1
Affiliations

Use of Stable Isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) to Infer Post-Breeding Dispersal Strategies in Iberian Populations of the Kentish Plover

Andrea Gestoso et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Beaches are among the habitats most frequented by migratory birds for breeding and/or wintering. However, threats such as human pressure and sea level rise can reduce the availability of these habitats for different species. The presence of alternative areas, such as salt pans and brackish habitats, is essential for many migratory shorebird populations. This study addresses the post-breeding dispersal of the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in the Iberian Peninsula by analysing C and N isotopes in feathers. The study was conducted at six locations along the Iberian coast, which were categorized into three areas: the NW Atlantic coast, the Atlantic coast of Andalusia, and the Mediterranean coast. Although linear mixed models did not reveal any significant effects of sex or coastal area on isotopic levels, the variability in the data suggests different habitat-use strategies in the post-reproductive period. Isotopic levels in birds from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula exhibit greater fidelity to a single habitat type, while those from the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic coast of Andalusia show greater variability, indicating different individual dispersal strategies. The lack of alternative habitats for the northwest Iberian population, the reduction in available habitat due to rising sea levels, and human pressure together pose a serious threat to the survival of this species, already with an unfavourable conservation status.

Keywords: Charadrius alexandrinus; available habitat; post-breeding dispersal; stable isotopes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Kentish plover sampling sites used in this study. Locations: 1, Galician beaches (Rostro, Carnota, and Balieiros beaches); 2, Carreço and Ancora beaches; 3; Tinto-Odiel estuary; 4, Laguna de la Mata; 5, Serradal beach; 6, Delta del Ebro. Sample size by sex is shown for each locality.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Stable isotope Bayesian ellipses encompassing 95% of δ13C and δ15N data for Kentish plover by coastal section.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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