SEASONAL ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF SHOREBIRDS IN AN ANTHROPOGENIC COASTAL AREA, SÃO LUÍS, MARANHÃO

Abstract

Coastal environments play a key role for migratory shorebirds, serving as feeding, resting, and, for some species, breeding sites. This study assessed the seasonal abundance and diversity of shorebirds at the Ponta D’Areia Peninsula, Maranhão, Brazil, between
August 2022 and July 2023, using population censuses. A total of 12 species were recorded, including three resident and nine Nearctic migratory species, with predominance of Calidris pusilla and Charadrius semipalmatus. The highest abundance occurred between August and December, coinciding with the arrival of birds at wintering sites, while the highest diversity values were observed during northward migration. Both periods exhibited low
evenness, reflecting the dominance of a few numerically abundant species. These results highlight the ecological importance of Ponta D’Areia as a strategic wintering and resting site for migratory shorebirds and underscore the need for habitat conservation in the face of anthropogenic pressures.