| The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) is a federally threatened species and California Species of Special Concern. Habitat choice and prey availability are vital to wintering Western Snowy Plovers. Since 2014, they have overwintered at Robert Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda, CA. The East Bay Regional Park District, which manages the site, implemented a plover protection zone (PPZ), to minimize disturbances to roosting and foraging plovers. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential prey abundance within the PPZ, and in areas directly north and south. Horizontal transects were set up to collect macro-invertebrates in core samples and sticky traps. A total of 71 organisms (amphipods, beetles, unidentified worms) were found in the core samples. The percent of organisms found within the PPZ and areas north and south were 50.7%, 21.1% and 28.2%, respectively. A total of 533 organisms were caught in the sticky traps. Organisms caught within the PPZ and areas north and south were 55.5%, 26.5% and 18.0%, respectively. Using a one-way ANOVA, macro-invertebrate abundance in the core samples and in the sticky traps showed no significant statistical difference. The fact that the PPZ had greater than 50% of organisms shows that macro-invertebrate prey availability is one of many important factors for wintering Western Snowy Plover habitat choice. |