The distribution of shorebirds and their benthic food underscore the importance of heterogeneity in habitat conservation
(2021) BIOM02 20202Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Distribution patterns of resources and their role in determining species distribution are not only fundamental to the understanding of ecological patterns, but also of practical significance in conservation management. Shorebirds are experiencing precipitous declines globally, especially along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), where the major threats include the loss and degradation of tidal flat habitat at the staging sites of these birds in the Yellow Sea region. Understanding the detailed distribution patterns of resources and their roles in determining shorebird distribution is essential to identify priority measurements for the conservation of shorebirds and their staging habitat. In this study, we illustrated the spatial... (More)
- Distribution patterns of resources and their role in determining species distribution are not only fundamental to the understanding of ecological patterns, but also of practical significance in conservation management. Shorebirds are experiencing precipitous declines globally, especially along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), where the major threats include the loss and degradation of tidal flat habitat at the staging sites of these birds in the Yellow Sea region. Understanding the detailed distribution patterns of resources and their roles in determining shorebird distribution is essential to identify priority measurements for the conservation of shorebirds and their staging habitat. In this study, we illustrated the spatial distribution patterns of both biotic (benthic invertebrates) and abiotic (sediment characters) environmental factors on the tidal flat, and investigated their roles in determining the distribution of shorebird species at Nanpu, China, one of the best known and most important staging sites in the Yellow Sea region. We found that the benthic invertebrates and sediment characters both demonstrated considerable spatial heterogeneity on the tidal flat, and most benthic invertebrates were concentrated on the upper and/or middle zone of the tidal flat. Of the three shorebird species that we focused on, their distribution patterns on the tidal flat, which also showed considerable heterogeneity, could be largely and jointly explained by the biotic and abiotic environmental factors. The results indicate that the tidal flats are indeed spatially heterogeneous. Habitat loss of tidal flats may not only reduce the size but also disproportionately affect the quality of the remaining habitat. Effective conservation of the tidal flats as critical staging habitat for migratory shorebirds along the EAAF, and other species in such heterogeneous habitat, needs to consider such within-habitat heterogeneity and prioritize the protection or management of the portion of habitat that is of higher quality, more frequently used by focal species, and/or more vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Importance of heterogeneity in habitat conservation
The distribution pattern of resources and its role in determining shorebird distribution is essential to their conservation planning. We illustrated the benthic, sediment character, and shorebird distribution patterns and found the presence of spatial heterogeneity. It is important to consider heterogeneity during habitat conservation work.
Understanding distribution patterns of resources and the resulting species are fundamental to ecology and conservation management. Migratory shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) have declined rapidly due to habitat loss, thus comprehensive knowledge of habitat quality is urgently needed to guide conservation work to cease... (More) - Importance of heterogeneity in habitat conservation
The distribution pattern of resources and its role in determining shorebird distribution is essential to their conservation planning. We illustrated the benthic, sediment character, and shorebird distribution patterns and found the presence of spatial heterogeneity. It is important to consider heterogeneity during habitat conservation work.
Understanding distribution patterns of resources and the resulting species are fundamental to ecology and conservation management. Migratory shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) have declined rapidly due to habitat loss, thus comprehensive knowledge of habitat quality is urgently needed to guide conservation work to cease the decline. In this study, we illustrated the distribution pattern of benthic invertebrate and sediment characters for migratory shorebirds on the tidal flat at a major staging site along the EAAF. The heterogeneous distribution of resources and shorebirds underlines the consideration of heterogeneity in habitat conservation.
Fieldwork was conducted on intertidal mudflats at Nanpu, an important shorebird staging site in the Yellow Sea region of China. Benthic invertebrates and sediment characters were collected as biotic and abiotic environmental factors during April – May 2017. Distribution patterns of the environmental factors and the foraging shorebirds concerning environmental factors were modeled using (generalized) linear models in the R program.
Conclusions and conservation implications
We found that benthic and sediment characters both demonstrated considerable spatial heterogeneity on the tidal flat. Three benthic invertebrates (Potamocorbula laevis, Magelona cincta, and Polychaeta) showed higher concentrations closer to the seawall. The other two benthic species (Mactra veneriformis, Moerella iridescens) concentrated in the middle portion of the tidal flat. The sum of two invertebrates, Cumacea and Amphipoda, increased approximately along the direction of the tidal movement. Three shorebird species that we had sufficient data points, i.e. Red Knots (Calidris canutus), Sanderlings (Calidris alba), and Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica), also showed heterogeneous distribution patterns which could be jointly explained by the heterogeneously distributed biotic and abiotic environmental factors.
The results indicate that the tidal flats are spatially heterogeneous. Habitat loss of tidal flats may not only reduce the size but may also disproportionately affect the quality of the remaining habitat. Effective conservation of the tidal flats as critical staging habitat for migratory shorebirds along the EAAF, and other species in such heterogeneous habitat, needs to consider the habitat-scale heterogeneity and prioritize the protection or management of the portion that is of high quality and/or more frequently used by the focal species.
Master’s Degree Project in Biology 30 credits 2021
Department of Biology, Lund University
Advisor: Åke Lindström
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University and Department of Biology, Lund University (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9066068
- author
- Cai, Shangxiao
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BIOM02 20202
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9066068
- date added to LUP
- 2021-09-24 10:16:03
- date last changed
- 2021-09-24 10:16:03
@misc{9066068,
abstract = {{Distribution patterns of resources and their role in determining species distribution are not only fundamental to the understanding of ecological patterns, but also of practical significance in conservation management. Shorebirds are experiencing precipitous declines globally, especially along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), where the major threats include the loss and degradation of tidal flat habitat at the staging sites of these birds in the Yellow Sea region. Understanding the detailed distribution patterns of resources and their roles in determining shorebird distribution is essential to identify priority measurements for the conservation of shorebirds and their staging habitat. In this study, we illustrated the spatial distribution patterns of both biotic (benthic invertebrates) and abiotic (sediment characters) environmental factors on the tidal flat, and investigated their roles in determining the distribution of shorebird species at Nanpu, China, one of the best known and most important staging sites in the Yellow Sea region. We found that the benthic invertebrates and sediment characters both demonstrated considerable spatial heterogeneity on the tidal flat, and most benthic invertebrates were concentrated on the upper and/or middle zone of the tidal flat. Of the three shorebird species that we focused on, their distribution patterns on the tidal flat, which also showed considerable heterogeneity, could be largely and jointly explained by the biotic and abiotic environmental factors. The results indicate that the tidal flats are indeed spatially heterogeneous. Habitat loss of tidal flats may not only reduce the size but also disproportionately affect the quality of the remaining habitat. Effective conservation of the tidal flats as critical staging habitat for migratory shorebirds along the EAAF, and other species in such heterogeneous habitat, needs to consider such within-habitat heterogeneity and prioritize the protection or management of the portion of habitat that is of higher quality, more frequently used by focal species, and/or more vulnerable to anthropogenic threats.}},
author = {{Cai, Shangxiao}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The distribution of shorebirds and their benthic food underscore the importance of heterogeneity in habitat conservation}},
year = {{2021}},
}