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Predation has been a central theme in marine ecological research. However, little is known about plasticity displayed by predators and its consequences for prey assemblages in marine soft-sediment ecosystems. Here, we test the repercussions of 2 different foraging behaviours exhibited by greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus on benthic assemblages in intertidal sandflat ecosystems in South Africa. P. roseus feeds by either (1) creating pits, which involves flamingos stirring up deep sediments with their feet; or (2) creating channels, in which their inverted bills are swept from side to side on the sediment surface. Comparisons of assemblages in newly formed foraging structures (pits and channels) with adjacent non-foraged sediments (controls) indicated that the foraging behaviours generate differential effects on benthic communities. Contrary to our hypothesis, channel foraging elicited a stronger negative …