European Ocean Biodiversity Information System
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page
Feeding grounds for waders in the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel (France): the Lanice conchilega reef serves as an oasis in the tidal flats
De Smet, B.; Godet, L.; Fournier, J.; Desroy, N.; Jaffré, M.; Vincx, M.; Rabaut, M. (2013). Feeding grounds for waders in the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel (France): the Lanice conchilega reef serves as an oasis in the tidal flats. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 160(4): 751-761. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2130-3
In: Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0025-3162; e-ISSN 1432-1793
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 241121 [ download pdf ]
Keywords
    Abundance
    Feeding ground
    Reefs
    Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766) [WoRMS]
    ANE, France, Breton Gulf [Marine Regions]; ANE, France, Mont-St. Michel Bay [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Authors  Top 
  • De Smet, B.
  • Godet, L.
  • Fournier, J.
  • Desroy, N.
  • Jaffré, M.
  • Vincx, M.
  • Rabaut, M.
Abstract
    The tube-building polychaete Lanice conchilega can form dense populations, often called reefs, which promote benthic community change and constitute feeding grounds for secondary consumers. The aim of this study was to quantify the role of the L. conchilega reef of the Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel (BMSM) for feeding waders, by combining macrobenthos data, bird counts and bird diet information. Wader densities in the reef were on average 46.6 times higher than in non-reef areas. According to faecal analyses, waders in the reef mainly selected the accompanying fauna and especially crustaceans. The attractiveness of the reef to feeding birds may be largely explained by the high abundance, richness and biomass of macrobenthic species in the reef compared with the rest of the BMSM.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors