Diet of the Two-banded Plover (Charadrius falklandicus) in Península Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diet of the Two-banded Plover (Charadrius falklandicus) in Playa Colombo (Golfo Nuevo, Península Valdés), and to compare it with the diet recorded in previous studies in Playa Fracasso (Golfo San José), a site with similar characteristics 21 km away. In February and March 2003, we collected 49 faeces that were conserved individually. The diet was reconstructed based on the identification of key structures present in the faeces. Seven prey items were identified, with the most important components being, in decreasing order, the polychaete Travisia olens, the clam Darina solenoides and insects. We recorded 1.3 clams per sample, with a mean size of 10.6 mm and an equivalent biomass (expressed as ash-free dry weight) of 6.4 mg. We estimated benthic invertebrate abundance in order to measure the trophic offer. Plovers selected clam sizes of 4–12 mm. The diet was similar between months. The most important prey in Playa Fracasso is Darina solenoides, followed by Travisia olens. Plovers eat a lower quantity of clams, but with higher size and biomass, in Playa Colombo than in Playa Fracasso.