Banca de DEFESA: TAMIRIS PEREIRA LIMA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : TAMIRIS PEREIRA LIMA
DATE: 24/02/2026
TIME: 09:30
LOCAL: Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/rx w-xyxp-sgz)
TITLE:

Resource partitioning and trophic niche differentiation of migratory shorebirds in the semiarid equatorial coast of the Northeast Atlantic in South America

KEY WORDS:

Benthic macroinvertebrates; Coexistence; Ecology; Foraging Behavior; Migratory birds ; Occupancy models ; Stable isotopes

PAGES: 70
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUMMARY:

Understanding how ecologically similar species coexist in shared environments is a central topic in Community Ecology. This dissertation investigates patterns of habitat use and trophic niche partitioning among five species of migratory shorebirds at the WHSRN site Banco dos Cajuais, on the semi-arid northeastern coast of Brazil, one of the most important wintering areas in the South Atlantic. In the first chapter, we used occupancy models accounting for imperfect detection to evaluate how these species use the intertidal plain across tidal gradients and under varying environmental conditions. Results show that species use the habitat non-randomly, with spatial differentiation among intertidal strata and distinct responses to benthic macroinvertebrate richness, suggesting mechanisms of spatial and temporal segregation during foraging. In the second chapter, we analyzed diet and trophic niche overlap using stable isotopes of carbon (δ¹³C), nitrogen (δ¹⁵N), and sulfur (δ³⁴S) from blood samples. The analyses revealed trophic segregation among species, with differences in niche position and breadth, reflecting distinct feeding strategies ranging from generalist diets to greater specialization on particular resources. Taken together, the results demonstrate that coexistence among species is supported by multidimensional resource partitioning, involving both differential habitat use and exploitation of distinct food sources. Beyond advancing our understanding of the ecological mechanisms structuring migratory bird communities, this study highlights the importance of intertidal habitat heterogeneity for maintaining biodiversity and reinforces the relevance of Banco dos Cajuais as a strategic conservation area for shorebirds in the South Atlantic.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - LEANDRO NOLÉ EDUARDO
Presidente - 1439088 - MAURO PICHORIM
Externo à Instituição - RODRIGO LIMA MASSARA - UFMG