Satellite tracking a wide-ranging endangered vulture species to target conservation actions in the Middle East and East Africa

Buechley, Evan R.; McGrady, Michael; Çoban, Emrah; Şekercioğlu, Çağan H.

doi:10.1007/s10531-018-1538-6

Cited by 38 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Since scavengers feed on organic waste, they are often found in human-dominated areas where anthropogenic waste is prevalent. Indeed, avian scavengers in the Middle East and Africa strongly select for habitats associated with humans, such as highways, power distribution lines and towns (Buechley et al 2018). Apex scavenger persistence in shared landscapes will therefore require tolerance from local people who live alongside these species.…”

Section: Apex Scavenger Conservation In the 21st Centurymentioning

confidence: 99%

The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well‐being

2019

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Many apex scavenger species, including nearly all obligate scavengers, are in a state of rapid decline and there is growing evidence these declines can drastically alter ecological food webs. Our understanding of how apex scavengers regulate populations of mesoscavengers, those less‐efficient scavengers occupying mid‐trophic levels, is improving; yet, there has been no comprehensive evaluation of the evidence around the competitive release of these species by the loss of apex scavengers. Here we present current evidence that supports the mesoscavenger release hypothesis, the increase in mesoscavengers and increase in carrion in the face of declining apex scavengers. We provide two models of scavenger dynamics to demonstrate that the mesoscavenger release hypothesis is consistent with ecological theory. We further examine the ecological and human well‐being implications of apex scavenger decline, including carrion removal and disease regulation services.

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Section: Apex Scavenger Conservation In the 21st Centurymentioning

confidence: 99%

The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well‐being

2019

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“…A potential approach to resolve such differences would be more intensive study of resident populations of Egyptian Vultures in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, and quantification of the trade-offs and benefits of migratory vs. resident lifestyles (Sanz-Aguilar et al, 2015). With recent tagging of Egyptian Vultures within wintering ranges (Buechley et al, 2018a;McGrady et al, 2018) this may soon be possible to explore in more detail, enabling a comprehensive comparison of movement strategies in relation to human activity (Tucker et al, 2018). Furthermore, although our dataset did not enable the investigation of the ontogeny of migration in Egyptian Vultures [e.g., Scott et al (2014)], future analysis of movement data derived from individuals tracked from juvenile to breeding adult status will provide a clearer understanding of the development of migration strategies and the variation within and among individuals as they age.…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and Temporal Variability in Migration of a Soaring Raptor Across Three Continents

Phipps¹,

López‐López

Buechley

et al. 2019

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Disentangling individual-and population-level variation in migratory movements is necessary for understanding migration at the species level. However, very few studies have analyzed these patterns across large portions of species' distributions. We compiled a large telemetry dataset on the globally endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus (94 individuals, 188 completed migratory journeys), tracked across ∼70% of the species' global range, to analyze spatial and temporal variability of migratory movements within and among individuals and populations. We found high migratory connectivity at large spatial scales (i.e., different subpopulations showed little overlap in wintering areas), but very diffuse migratory connectivity within subpopulations, with wintering ranges up to 4,000 km apart for birds breeding in the same region and each subpopulation visiting up to 28 countries (44 in total). Additionally, Egyptian Phipps et al. Egyptian Vulture Migration Flexibility Vultures exhibited a high level of variability at the subpopulation level and flexibility at the individual level in basic migration parameters. Subpopulations differed significantly in travel distance and straightness of migratory movements, while differences in migration speed and duration differed as much between seasons and among individuals within subpopulations as between subpopulations. The total distances of the migrations completed by individuals from the Balkans and Caucasus were up to twice as long and less direct than those in Western Europe, and consequently were longer in duration, despite faster migration speeds. These differences appear to be largely attributable to more numerous and wider geographic barriers (water bodies) along the eastern flyway. We also found that adult spring migrations to Western Europe and the Balkans were longer and slower than fall migrations. We encourage further research to assess the underlying mechanisms for these differences and the extent to which environmental change could affect Egyptian Vulture movement ecology and population trends.

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“…Allouse (1960) mentioned that this species is frequent in plains of central and southern Iraq in winter without giving further details on exact localities. Recent satellite tracking showed that tagged Egyptian vultures are probably migrating through the northern edge of the Mesopotamian marshes (Buechley et al, 2018;Karyakin et al, 2018b).…”

Section: Egyptian Vulture Neophron Percnopterus (Linnaeus 1758) (En)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Allouse (1960) mentioned that the Egyptian Vulture is widespread in open dry plains and steppes in central and southern Iraq in winter without providing further details on wintering localities. Recent satellite tracking showed that tagged Egyptian vultures are probably distributed throughout the geographical zone of the Mesopotamian marshes during their migration (Buechley et al, 2018;Karyakin et al, 2018b). We regarded this species as vagrant to the Mesopotamian marshes, but it might be a regular winter visitor and passage migrant; therefore, further field observations are required to verify such claim.…”

Section: Barbary Falconmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Diurnal Birds of Prey (Raptors) in the Mesopotamian Marshes of Southern Iraq With Notes on Their Conservation Status

Al-Sheikhly

Al-Azawi

2019

BINHM

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Birds of prey (Raptors) are top predator avian species that many migrate annually through Mesopotamian marshes in southern Iraq toward their wintering grounds in Arabia and Africa, while others are breeding residents; however, information on their current status is scarce. From January 2016 to April 2019, a total of 20 field expeditions were conducted in the geographical zone of the Mesopotamian marshes, wetlands of international importance. The survey covered the Central Marshes, Al-Hammar and Hawizeh Marsh. One of the objectives of the field surveys is to list the raptors species that wintering and/or migrating through the Mesopotamian marshes and to understand their current spatial and temporal distribution. In the present study, a total of 32 species of diurnal raptors are recorded through intensive field observations, reviewing literature records, and personal communications of unpublished data. Moreover, eight species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Red List are recorded which highlight the ecological importance of the Mesopotamian marshes as a major stopover site for globally threatened raptors. Besides species persecution, observed threats such as habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution were severely influencing birds of prey communities in the Mesopotamian marshes which warrant further conservation actions.

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Satellite tracking a wide-ranging endangered vulture species to target conservation actions in the Middle East and East Africa

Cited by 38 publications

References 46 publications

The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well‐being

The mesoscavenger release hypothesis and implications for ecosystem and human well‐being

Spatial and Temporal Variability in Migration of a Soaring Raptor Across Three Continents

The Diurnal Birds of Prey (Raptors) in the Mesopotamian Marshes of Southern Iraq With Notes on Their Conservation Status

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