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The Impact of Bird Predation on Marine and Estuarine Bivalve Populations: A Selective Review of Patterns and Underlying Causes

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Bivalve Filter Feeders

Part of the book series: Nato ASI Series ((ASIG,volume 33))

Abstract

Throughout the world, estuaries and coastal seas are important for many species of waders, ducks and geese either as a refueling site on migration or as wintering areas (see Davidson and Pienkowski 1987; Boyd and Pirot 1989 and references therein). For some species they also form important breeding sites. Birds are attracted to these habitats because of the huge amount of food present that can be exploited easily as the tidal flats are exposed at low water or in the shallow parts of the coastal seas. This food source includes plants (seaweeds and seagrasses) but consists mainly of benthic animals, the majority being molluscs, polychaetes and crustaceans.

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  1. Institute of Nature Conservation, Kiewitdreef 5, B3500, Hasselt, Belgium

    Patrick M. Meire

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  1. Marine Science Department, Coastal Carolina University, P. O. Box 1954, Conway, SC, 29526, USA

    Richard F. Dame

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Meire, P.M. (1993). The Impact of Bird Predation on Marine and Estuarine Bivalve Populations: A Selective Review of Patterns and Underlying Causes. In: Dame, R.F. (eds) Bivalve Filter Feeders. Nato ASI Series, vol 33. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78353-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78353-1_6

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