How does bill efficiency directly correlate with foraging success during the coastal staging period?

Answer

Efficiency of extracting buried shellfish correlates with bill length and curvature

The specialized structure of the whimbrel's bill is central to its success as a coastal stager, especially when feeding on buried shellfish. The effectiveness of extracting these calorie-rich resources is directly proportional to both the length of the bill and its curvature. If a bird possesses a bill that is slightly too short for the local sediment depth, it will be unable to reach the deepest, most energy-dense crustaceans. Conversely, a bill whose shape is ill-suited for the local substrate makes the bird less competitive in prime feeding spots. This intense selective pressure ensures that the physical traits optimizing deep probing are preferentially passed down through generations, as feeding efficiency directly impacts survival.

How does bill efficiency directly correlate with foraging success during the coastal staging period?

Related Questions

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