Some aspects of feeding ecology of the Lesser Sand Plover Chardrius mongolus in three different zones in the Kadalundy Estuary, Kerala, South India

The study on feeding ecology of the Lesser Sand Plover (LSP) at Kadalundyestuary from July 2007 to December 2008, revealed that there were 13 species ofcrustaceans and 16 species of polychaete worms identified in the study area of which allidentified small crab species(4 species) and polychaete worms (4 species) were consumedby LSPs. The highest number of crustacean species was found in mangroves (11 species).In contrast the highest species number of polychaete worms (13 species) was seen in themudflats while no polychaete worm was identified in the sandy beds. Of the Crustaceans,Sesarma quadrata and Ocypoda sp. occurred in all the habitats. Sampling polychaeteworms undertaken once a month showed that the number peaked at 39 in December 2008 in mudflats. Using direct observations once a week, the number of feeding birds was at its highest in December and January. Pearson correlation test showed significant relationship between the number of polychaete worms and feeding LSPs both at mudflats and mangroves (p<0.05) and the Scheffe univariate test (ANOVA) showed significant differences between the three habitat zones (p<0.01). The highest number of average total pecks at prey was seen at mudflats (82.1 in the morning and 128.0 in the afternoon). Out of 128 pecks, 61.6 were for crustaceans and 12.9 for polychaete worms.