Resource partitioning promotes species coexistence and ecosystem stability by reducing interspecific competition. However, diet-based resource partitioning among co-occurring Hawaiian shorebirds remains poorly understood. In Hawaiʻi, wetland loss and patchy coastal habitats influence the foraging ecology of native and migratory birds, yet the Aeʻo (Hawaiian Stilt; Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) diet has only been visually assessed. In this study, we aimed to identify Aeʻo diet and evaluate resource partitioning with ʻAkekeke (Ruddy Turnstone; Arenaria interpres), ʻŪlili (Wandering Tattler; Tringa incana), and Kōlea (Pacific Golden-Plover; Pluvialis fulva) using fecal eDNA metabarcoding. To address this, fecal samples collected from Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, with taxonomic assignments via MIDORI2 and dietary overlap quantified using Pianka’s index, Jaccard, and Bray-Curtis dissimilarities. We found that Aeʻo diets included both small (e.g., true bugs, flies) and larger prey (e.g., crabs, fishes), overlapping partially with the other species depending on foraging habitat. Findings will inform conservation by clarifying trophic relationships and guiding restoration strategies that sustain coexistence of native shorebirds in Hawaiian wetlands.

I am a senior at the University of Hawai‘i Mānoa aspiring to become an environmental consultant. My research experiences span marine, terrestrial, and conservation fields. As a volunteer in Dr. Bentlage’s Lab at the University of Guam, I co-authored a manuscript on Cassiopea and presented it at the 2022 National Diversity in STEM Conference. I interned with NAVFAC Marianas (2023) surveying wildlife and vegetation, and at Bishop Museum (2024) supporting native snail recovery and education. In 2025, I pioneered a White Tern motion-activated camera project on UH campus. Now, I aim to strengthen my analytical skills in genetic data analysis.