Ecology of a Vulnerable Shorebird across a Gradient of Habitat Alteration: Bristle-Thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis) (Aves: Charadriiformes) on Palmyra Atoll1

Bristle-thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis), a vulnerable migratory shorebird, show habitat preferences driven more by prey availability than the degree of historical anthropogenic impact on Palmyra Atoll's lagoon sand flats. Despite the persistence of Navy modifications affecting benthic habitat quality post-World War II, curlew abundance was strongly correlated with the presence of key prey items like spionid polychaetes (Malacoceros sp.). The study used camera trapping, focal individual observations, and sediment analysis to assess curlew behavior across a gradient of habitat alteration. While land reclamation did not determine habitat preferences, two highly impacted sites were among the most preferred, highlighting the importance of prey availability in shaping curlew distribution. This research provides critical insights for habitat management at Palmyra Atoll and similar wintering grounds.

Guerra, A. S., Micheli, F., & Wood, C. L. (2016). Ecology of a Vulnerable Shorebird across a Gradient of Habitat Alteration: Bristle-Thighed Curlews (Numenius tahitiensis) (Aves: Charadriiformes) on Palmyra Atoll¹. Pacific Science, 70(2), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.2984/70.2.3