| Titre : | Differential reactions to anthropogenic disturbance by two ground-nesting shorebirds (2015) |
| Auteurs : | Shirley Van de Voorde, Auteur ; Minke Witteveen, Auteur ; Mark Brown, Auteur |
| Type de document : | Article |
| Dans : | Ostrich (86(1-2) May 2015) |
| Article en page(s) : | 43-52 |
| Résumé : | Many ground-nesting shorebirds experience a high level of anthropogenic disturbance, often to the detriment of their breeding success. This study investigated the responses of the Near-Threatened African Black Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini (ABO) and the Least Concern Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus vetula (KG) to anthropogenic disturbance during the pre-breeding and breeding season at three locations differing in levels of anthropogenic disturbance and colony size. Birds were directly approached from over 100 m away and markers were dropped at each behavioural reaction to the approach. Measuring back allowed a quantitative measure of the effects of disturbance. Stand response distances in breeding ABO were location sensitive, which related to disturbance level, showing that they stood up earlier in a highly disturbed location. Neither ambient conditions (wind speed and ambient temperature) nor nesting condition (egg age and clutch size) played a significant role in responses. Interestingly, breeding KG behaviour was affected by location, to a lesser extent by clutch size, but not by ambient conditions. Both ABO and KG significantly altered their behavioural responses to disturbance from pre-breeding to breeding. These results emphasise the need to have a buffer zone surrounding breeding areas excluding human presence to allow for the successful breeding of ABO. |
| En ligne : | http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/00306525.2015.1029558 |



