AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Habitat Selection of Little Terns in the Evros Delta, Greece

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1990
Authors:Goutner, V
Journal:Colonial Waterbirds
Volume:13
Issue:2
Date Published:1990
ISBN Number:07386028
Keywords:Charadriiformes, Gelochelidon nilotica, Glareola, Glareola maldivarum, Glareola pratincola, Glareolidae, Greece, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, Larus melanocephalus, Recurvirostra, Recurvirostra avosetta, Recurvirostridae, Sterna albifrons, Sterna hirundo, Sterna nilotica, Sternula albifrons
Abstract:Habitat used by Little Terns was studied from 1984 to 1986 in the Evros Delta, Thrace, northern Greece. The two types of major available habitat (coastal and saltmarsh) supported 10 and 12 colonies respectively. Coastal colonies were larger and more isolated from access to ground predators. Most nests in all colonies were close to water. Three substrates were used: sand (coastal), sand-mud and shells (saltmarsh). Except for one colony on sand, nest density was generally higher on shells and most nests were in low vegetation cover (≤ 40%, average 15%). Although predation and flooding varied yearly, their impact was generally greater in the coastal habitat. Five other colonial Charadriiformes species (Avocets, Collared Pratincoles, Common Terns, Gull-billed Terns and Mediterranean Gulls) nested in or close to a number of Little Tern colonies. None of the association coefficients were significant.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1521576
Short Title:Colonial Waterbirds
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