Impacts of Birds vs. Invertebrate Predators on Rocky Intertidal Community Structure.

ABSTRACT: Most studies of species interactions in rocky intertidal communities focus on invertebrate predators and herbivores interacting with sessile invertebrates and macrophytes. However, shorebirds are usually a conspicuous presence on rocky shores and eat sessile and mobile invertebrate prey, often including invertebrate predators and herbivores. Inspired by classic studies of strong bird predation effects in rocky intertidal habitats in Washington state (USA) and South Africa, I tested the effects of bird and invertebrate (sea stars, whelks) predation at multiple sites, wave exposures, and zones on the central Oregon coast from spring 1996 to fall 1997. To gain insight into the effects of birds relative to the effects of invertebrate predators, I used a crossed design, with bird exclusions (pr

SUBMITTER: Menge BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11919729 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature