A model describing the exchange of individuals between turnstone Arenaria interpres roosts on the North Wales coast

Abstract

A recent study of the dispersal of wader species using ringing data from the Wash, modelled the movements of three estuarine species. Using similar methods, the movements of Turnstone Arenaria interpres along the North Wales coast are modelled to provide a rocky shore comparison. Survival rates are also estimated, and shown to be similar to other studies, at 86%. The degree of exchange between Turnstone roosts was strongly influenced by distance, with very little movement between roosts more than 3km apart. Compared to results from the Wash, the modelled dispersal of Turnstones was similar to that of Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola and Dunlin Calidris alpina, but less than Redshank Tringa totanus, although Turnstones appear to show the most rapid decline in capture probability with distance.