Low nest survival of a breeding shorebird in Bohai Bay, China

SummaryThe natural coastal wetlands of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) are disappearing at alarming rates, leading to rapid declines of many populations of waterbirds in the most species-rich flyway in the world. The identification and assessment of possible alternative habitats that may buffer the loss of natural wetlands should, therefore, be a priority for the conservation of migratory waterbirds using this flyway. Coastal saltpans are functional wetlands that support large numbers of waterbirds worldwide. The Nanpu Saltpans in the northern Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea in China are one of the largest (290 km2) saltpan complexes in the world. In this paper, we document the value of the Nanpu Saltpans for supporting waterbirds. The surveys, carried out from 2013 to 2016, included waterbird counts in the saltpans (93 km2) at high and low tide and on the adjacent natural tidal flats (57 km2) at low tide. Of the 89 waterbird species recorded, 27 had maximum counts exceeding the 1% threshold value of estimated flyway populations. The maximum counts of waterbirds in northward migration and southward migration in the Nanpu Saltpans were 96,000 and 93,500, respectively, including both foraging and roosting birds; these figures do not account for turnover, so the total number of birds using the site is likely to be higher. The maximum counts on the adjacent tidal flats at low tide amounted to 73,000 and 20,000 waterbirds during northward and southward migration, respectively, and most of them were foraging birds. In the boreal winter, few birds fed in the saltpans, but several thousand fed on the tidal flats. Waterbirds used the inland ponds (2.0–18.0 km from the intertidal area) mainly for feeding both during low tide and high tide and used the nearshore ponds (0.3–4.3 km from the intertidal area) mainly for high-tide roosting. Some species, such as Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, and Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, occurred mainly in the saltpans; other species preferred tidal flats, such as Red Knot Calidris canutus, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Relict Gull Larus relictus, and Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola. This study clearly demonstrates the joint ecological function of the Nanpu Saltpan complex and adjacent tidal flats as a key staging area for waterbirds in the EAAF, and as such both urgently warrant protected status.

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“…obs. ), as well as on illegal eggs collection of breeding shorebirds such as Kentish Plover and Pied Avocet (Que et al 2015, Lei 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative habitat: the importance of the Nanpu Saltpans for migratory waterbirds in the Chinese Yellow Sea

Lei

Masero

Piersma

et al. 2018

Bird Conservation International

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“…Disturbance by humans can affect shorebirds during the winter (Lafferty 2001, Gibson et al 2018, during migration (Thomas et al 2003, Burger et al 2007, and on the breeding grounds (e.g., Flemming et al 1988, Lord et al 1997, Goldin and Regosin 1998, Ruhlen et al 2003, Weston and Elgar 2005. During the breeding season, human recreational activities have crushed nests and chicks (Buick and Paton 1989, Patterson et al 1991, Colwell et al 2005, Que et al 2015, lowered chick survival (Flemming et al 1988, Ruhlen et al 2003), reduced foraging rates, and excluded pre-fledged chicks from preferred foraging habitats (Burger 1991(Burger , 1994Lord et al 1997;Weston and Elgar 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

Piping plover chick survival negatively correlated with beach recreation

DeRose-Wilson¹,

Hunt²,

Monk³

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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Shorebird populations worldwide are declining because of habitat loss from sea‐level rise, accelerated erosion, development, and recreational land use. To better understand the consequences of human recreational activity, we monitored survival, habitat use, condition, and behavior of pre‐fledged piping plover (Charadrius melodus) chicks on Fire Island and Westhampton Island, New York, 2013–2015. Broods experienced varying levels of recreational land use (low‐use, moderate‐use, high‐use, and high off‐road vehicle‐use), and recreational use was higher on weekends (Friday–Sunday) than weekdays. Chick daily survival rates were lowest on weekends and increased with time since weekend. Chicks that hatched in areas with low recreational use were more likely to survive to fledging (25 days; truex¯ = 0.82 ± 0.08 SE) than those that hatched in areas of high recreational use (truex¯ = 0.19 ± 0.05). In addition, chicks hatched in areas of high recreational use fledged at a later age than those hatched in areas of low or moderate recreational use. On weekends, chicks spent less time in foraging habitat (with higher prey abundance), less time foraging, and made fewer foraging attempts per minute than they did on weekdays. These results suggest that recreational activity on beaches pushed foraging plover chicks into habitats with lower food availability, resulting in lower feeding rates, slower growth, and decreased survival. Recreational use of coastal areas can limit the functional availability of shorebird foraging habitat, particularly intertidal foraging habitat, resulting in demographic consequences. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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“…Second, hatching success was 48.1%, a high figure, compared with many shorebird populations, especially compared with the resident population of Kentish plovers Charadrius alexandrinus in Maio. This population was monitored using the same protocol, and had a lower hatching success of 23.0% (Que et al 2015). Perhaps camouflage of the courser eggs or incubating adults offers an advantage in avoiding predation, compared with neighbouring species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%