Are declining populations of wild geese in China ‘prisoners’ of their natural habitats?

Yu, Hui; Wang, Xin; Cao, Lei; Zhang, Lu; Jia, Qiang; Lee, Hansoo; Xu, Zhenggang; Liu, Guanhua; Xu, Wenbin; Bin-hua, HU; Fox, Anthony D.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.037

Cited by 60 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…This confirmed that the East Asian population of Anatidae wintering in China is confined to natural wetlands (Yu et al, 2017), distinguishing them from the European and North American populations, which heavily exploit croplands (Fox & Abraham, 2017;Jankowiak et al, 2015). This confirmed that the East Asian population of Anatidae wintering in China is confined to natural wetlands (Yu et al, 2017), distinguishing them from the European and North American populations, which heavily exploit croplands (Fox & Abraham, 2017;Jankowiak et al, 2015).…”

Section: Differences In Trophic Nichesupporting

confidence: 69%

Behavioural plasticity and trophic niche shift: How wintering geese respond to habitat alteration

et al. 2019

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The accelerated rate of human‐induced environmental change poses a significant challenge for wildlife. The ability of wild animals to adapt to environmental changes has important consequences for their fitness, survival, and reproduction. Behavioural flexibility, an immediate adjustment of behaviour in response to environmental variability, may be particularly important for coping with anthropogenic change. The main aim of this study was to quantify the response of two wintering goose species (bean goose Anser fabalis and lesser white‐fronted goose Anser erythropus) to poor habitat condition at population level by studying foraging behaviour. In addition, we tested whether behavioural plasticity could alter trophic niche. We characterised foraging behaviours and calculated daily home range (HR) of the geese using global positioning system tracking data. We calculated standard ellipse areas to quantify niche width using the δ13C and δ15N values of individual geese. We linked behavioural plasticity with habitat quality using ANCOVA (analysis of covariance) models. We also tested the correlation between standard ellipse areas and HR using ANCOVA model. We found significant differences in geese foraging behaviours between years in their daily foraging area, travel distance and speed, and turning angle. Specifically, the birds increased their foraging area to satisfy their daily energy intake requirement in response to poor habitat conditions. They flew more sinuously and travelled faster and longer distances on a daily basis. For the endangered lesser white‐fronted goose, all behaviour variables were associated with habitat quality. For bean goose, only HR and turning angle were correlated with habitat quality. The birds, especially the lesser white‐fronted goose, may have had a higher trophic position under poor conditions. Our findings indicate that wintering geese showed a high degree of behavioural plasticity. However, more active foraging behaviours under poor habitat condition did not lead to a broader trophic niche. Habitat availability could be responsible to the divergent responses of foraging HR and isotopic niche to human‐induced environmental change. Therefore, maintaining natural hydrological regimes during the critical period (i.e. September–November) to ensure that quality food resources are available is central to the future of populations of geese within the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.

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Section: Differences In Trophic Nichesupporting

confidence: 69%

Behavioural plasticity and trophic niche shift: How wintering geese respond to habitat alteration

et al. 2019

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“…Migratory geese in China have declined in the past 50 years (Cao et al., ; Zhang, Jia, Prins, Cao, & de Boer, ). Their decline has been attributed to their confinement to natural habitats in China (Yu et al., ), which are currently subject to serious loss and degradation (Fang et al., ; Jia et al., ). In contrast to their conspecific elsewhere, geese in China are missing out on the energetic benefits of feeding on agricultural land (Fox & Abraham, ), probably due to human activities and hunting (Yu et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their decline has been attributed to their confinement to natural habitats in China (Yu et al, 2017), which are currently subject to serious loss and degradation (Fang et al, 2006;Jia et al, 2016). In contrast to their conspecific elsewhere, geese in China are missing out on the energetic benefits of feeding on agricultural land (Fox & Abraham, 2017), probably due to human activities and hunting (Yu et al, 2017). Failure of individuals to satisfy their energetic requirements on wintering sites may have immediate survival consequences, but also affect subsequent survival and reproduction ("carryover effects") (Harrison, Blount, Inger, Norris, & Bearhop, 2011) such that habitat loss impacts demography.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water level affects availability of optimal feeding habitats for threatened migratory waterbirds

Aharon‐Rotman

McEvoy

Zheng

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Extensive ephemeral wetlands at Poyang Lake, created by dramatic seasonal changes in water level, constitute the main wintering site for migratory Anatidae in China. Reductions in wetland area during the last 15 years have led to proposals to build a Poyang Dam to retain high winter water levels within the lake. Changing the natural hydrological system will affect waterbirds dependent on water level changes for food availability and accessibility. We tracked two goose species with different feeding behaviors (greater white‐fronted geese Anser albifrons [grazing species] and swan geese Anser cygnoides [tuber‐feeding species]) during two winters with contrasting water levels (continuous recession in 2015; sustained high water in 2016, similar to those predicted post‐Poyang Dam), investigating the effects of water level change on their habitat selection based on vegetation and elevation. In 2015, white‐fronted geese extensively exploited sequentially created mudflats, feeding on short nutritious graminoid swards, while swan geese excavated substrates along the water edge for tubers. This critical dynamic ecotone successively exposes subaquatic food and supports early‐stage graminoid growth during water level recession. During sustained high water levels in 2016, both species selected mudflats, but also to a greater degree of habitats with longer established seasonal graminoid swards because access to tubers and new graminoid growth was restricted under high‐water conditions. Longer established graminoid swards offer less energetically profitable forage for both species. Substantial reduction in suitable habitat and confinement to less profitable forage by higher water levels is likely to reduce the ability of geese to accumulate sufficient fat stores for migration, with potential carryover effects on subsequent survival and reproduction. Our results suggest that high water levels in Poyang Lake should be retained during summer, but permitted to gradually recede, exposing new areas throughout winter to provide access for waterbirds from all feeding guilds.

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“…Despite its importance for migratory waterbirds, the Northeast China Plain experienced a considerable loss of natural waterbodies and wetlands in the period from 1990 to 2000 (Gong et al., ), with inland marshes in particular being converted into other land use types (Niu et al., ). The deterioration of the crucial stopover sites in the Northeast China Plain, together with the natural habitat loss in the wintering sites (Yu et al., ), is probably a main reason for the dramatic decline of waterfowl wintering in China. There are regular waterfowl surveys along the Yangtze River Floodplain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, intensive human activities can reduce foraging effectiveness. Geese wintering along the Yangtze are confined to natural habitats and avoid the surrounding farmlands (Aharon‐Rotman et al., ; Yu et al., ). Migratory geese in their wintering and staging sites in China particularly select areas with a low level of human disturbance (Li, Si, Ji, & Gong, ; Zhang et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring migration patterns, habitat use, and stopover site protection status for two declining waterfowl species wintering in China as revealed by satellite tracking

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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East Asian migratory waterfowl have greatly declined since the 1950s, especially the populations that winter in China. Conservation is severely hampered by the lack of primary information about migration patterns and stopover sites. This study utilizes satellite tracking techniques and advanced spatial analyses to investigate spring migration of the greater white‐fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and tundra bean goose (Anser serrirostris) wintering along the Yangtze River Floodplain. Based on 24 tracks obtained from 21 individuals during the spring of 2015 and 2016, we found that the Northeast China Plain is far‐out the most intensively used stopover site during migration, with geese staying for over 1 month. This region has also been intensely developed for agriculture, suggesting a causal link to the decline in East Asian waterfowl wintering in China. The protection of waterbodies used as roosting area, especially those surrounded by intensive foraging land, is critical for waterfowl survival. Over 90% of the core area used during spring migration is not protected. We suggest that future ground surveys should target these areas to confirm their relevance for migratory waterfowl at the population level, and core roosting area at critical spring‐staging sites should be integrated in the network of protected areas along the flyway. Moreover, the potential bird–human conflict in core stopover area needs to be further studied. Our study illustrates how satellite tracking combined with spatial analyses can provide crucial insights necessary to improve the conservation of declining Migratory species.

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Are declining populations of wild geese in China ‘prisoners’ of their natural habitats?

Cited by 60 publications

References 7 publications

Behavioural plasticity and trophic niche shift: How wintering geese respond to habitat alteration

Behavioural plasticity and trophic niche shift: How wintering geese respond to habitat alteration

Water level affects availability of optimal feeding habitats for threatened migratory waterbirds

Spring migration patterns, habitat use, and stopover site protection status for two declining waterfowl species wintering in China as revealed by satellite tracking

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