Seleção de habitat reprodutivo: descrição do micro-habitat dos ninhos de piru-piru (Haematopus palliatus TEMMINCK, 1820) no Sítio WHSRN Banco dos Cajuaís, em Icapuí/CE

Abstract

Nesting habitat selection determines the preferences of birds when building their nests, which in turn dictates the level of exposure of their offspring to certain threats. The Piru-piru (Haematopus palliatus Temminck, 1820) is a wader resident at the WHSRN Banco dos Cajuais Site. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between reproductive success and the distance of sixteen nests found in 2021 in the Ponta Grossa Beach and Barra Grande Mangrove Environmental Protection Areas (APA) in Icapuí. These distances were from foraging areas (in coastal lagoons or intertidal zones), high-tide lines, canal mouths, human dwellings, and nests of other pairs, as well as the percentage of litter composition, undergrowth, shells/organic debris, and bare substrate. Distance to the intertidal zone was associated with greater reproductive success, with higher values for nests that produced at least one chick. Unlike proximity to rural dwellings, trash, and vegetation, which were not associated with reproductive success, the distance to nests in Icapuí was lower than in other Brazilian populations (17.8% ± 16.7%), as was the distance to conspecific nests (66.6 ± 41.7 m). The greatest threats to the site's population have been predation and flooding of nests, making it essential to implement actions to reduce disturbance to adults. These actions are prioritized in the Management Plan for the Environmental Protection Areas (APAs) that comprise the Banco dos Cajuais. However, concerns arise regarding habitat loss caused by the advance of the sea on Icapuí's beaches.