Unravelling the response of diurnal raptors to land use change in a highly dynamic landscape in northwestern Spain: an approach based on satellite earth observation data

Tapia, Luis; Regos, Adrián; Gil-Carrera, Alberto; Domínguez, Jesús

doi:10.1007/s10344-017-1097-2

Cited by 32 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…), but have yet to be applied to ecological niche shift studies (but see Tapia et al. ). We calculated the Relative Area of Overlap (RAO), which was adapted from Maruca and Jacquez (), as:

RAO i - j = \frac{a (i \cap j)}{a (i \cup j)}

where a ( i ∩ j ) is the area of intersection and a ( i ∪ j ) the union of species’ distributions at the beginning ( i ) (1984–1989) and at the end ( j ) of the time interval (2010–2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hindcasting the impacts of land‐use changes on bird communities with species distribution models of Bird Atlas data

Regos

Imbeau

Desrochers

et al. 2018

Ecological Applications

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Habitat loss and degradation induced by human development are among the major threats to biodiversity worldwide. In this study, we tested our ability to predict the response of bird communities (128 species) to land-use changes in southern Quebec (~483,100 km ) over the last 30 yr (between 1984-1989 and 2010-2014) by using species distribution models (299,302 occurrences in 30,408 locations) from a hindcasting perspective. Results were grouped by functional guilds to infer potential impacts on ecosystem services, and to relate model transferability (i.e., ability of our models to be generalized to other times and scales) to specific functional and life-history traits. Overall, our models were able to accurately predict, both in space and time, habitat suitability for 69% of species, especially for granivorous, nonmigrant, tree-nesting species, and species that are tied to agricultural areas under intensive use. These findings indicate that model transferability depends upon specific functional and life-history traits, providing further evidence that species' ecologies affect the ability of models to accurately predict bird distributions. Declining bird species were mostly short-distance migrants that were associated with open habitats (agricultural and nonproductive forest) with aerial insectivorous or granivorous diets, which may be related to agricultural intensification and land abandonment. Land-use changes were positive for some forest bird species that were mainly associated with mixed and deciduous forests, generalist diets and tree-nesting strategies. Yet cavity-nesting birds have suffered substantial reductions in their distributions, suggesting that cumulative effects of intensive logging and wildfires on mature forests pose a threat for forest-specialist species. Habitat suitability changes predicted by our coarse-scale species distribution models partially agreed with the long-term trends reported by the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Our findings confirm land-use change as a key driving force for shaping bird communities in southern Quebec, together with the need to explicitly incorporate it into global change scenarios that better inform decision-makers on conservation and management.

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“…), but have yet to be applied to ecological niche shift studies (but see Tapia et al. ). We calculated the Relative Area of Overlap (RAO), which was adapted from Maruca and Jacquez (), as:

RAO i - j = \frac{a (i \cap j)}{a (i \cup j)}

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hindcasting the impacts of land‐use changes on bird communities with species distribution models of Bird Atlas data

Regos

Imbeau

Desrochers

et al. 2018

Ecological Applications

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“…(Calviño-Cancela et al 2012, Morán-Ordóñez et al 2012, 2013, Ramil-Rego et al 2013). In the context of ongoing land use change, the loss and fragmentation of heathlands may lead to difficult-to-reverse tipping points for species tightly linked to these habitats (Regos et al 2015, 2016, Brambilla et al 2017, Tapia et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, Montagu´s Harrier Circus pygargus has sharply declined in recent years in Europe (BirdLife International 2004, PECBMS 2011), including different parts of the Iberian Peninsula (SEO/Birdlife 2014, Pinilla 2015). In Galicia (NW Spain), the population of this migratory raptor is considered ‘vulnerable’, and a decrease in the population of around 50% has been estimated along with a decrease from 500–700 to 280–390 breeding pairs in the last decade (Tapia et al 2015, 2017, Vázquez-Pumariño 2016). This population presents a high percentage of melanism (up to 50%) and usually breeds in heathlands and semi-natural areas (Tapia et al 2004, Vázquez-Pumariño 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This population presents a high percentage of melanism (up to 50%) and usually breeds in heathlands and semi-natural areas (Tapia et al 2004, Vázquez-Pumariño 2014). Thus, one of the main threats to the species is the destruction of these habitats for forest management purposes and abandonment of traditional land management practices (Tapia et al 2004, 2015, 2017). In the case of the Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus , the available data indicate a decline in breeding and wintering populations in Spain as well as in the rest of Europe (SEO/Birdlife 2010, 2014, PECBMS 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of the Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus , the available data indicate a decline in breeding and wintering populations in Spain as well as in the rest of Europe (SEO/Birdlife 2010, 2014, PECBMS 2011). The decline in numbers of both species appears to be linked to human activities, direct persecution and habitat loss due to the effects of agricultural intensification and forest management (Martínez Padilla 2003, Laiolo et al 2004, Tapia et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the temporal transferability of raptor distribution models: Implications for conservation

Tapia

Regos

Gil-Carrera³

et al. 2017

Bird Conservation International

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SummaryThe aim of this study was to assess the temporal transferability of species distribution models (SDMs) and their potential implications for bird conservation. We quantified the loss and fragmentation of Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus and Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus habitats over 13 years (2001–2014) in a highly dynamic landscape in north-western Spain. For this purpose, priority habitats for the target species were modelled at four different spatial scales using an ensemble forecasting framework. To explore the temporal transferability of our ensemble predictions, the models were back-projected to the land cover conditions in 2001 and evaluated using historical occurrence data. In addition, models calibrated with historical data were projected to the land cover conditions in 2014 and evaluated using updated occurrence data. Changes in availability and connectivity of suitable habitats between both years were estimated at four spatial scales from a set of widely-used indicators. SDMs showed a good predictive accuracy but with limited temporal transferability due to changes in the species-habitat relationships between 2001 and 2014. The results showed a decrease in the avaliability of suitable habitats of 33.4% and 47.7% for Montagu’s Harrier and Common Kestrel, respectively; with the subsequent increase in their fragmentation. However, our estimates were found to be strongly dependent on the scale of analysis and model transferability. Changes in habitat availability and connectivity ranged from -48% to +54% for Montagu’s Harrier, and from +116% to +5.6% for Common Kestrel. We call for caution when using SDMs beyond the model calibration time period to guide bird conservation. This is especially important for raptors, often characterised by low population sizes and large home ranges, and particularly sensitive to unstable, highly dynamic environmental conditions. In light of these results, specific, long-standing monitoring protocols remain essential to ensure accurate modelling performance and reliable future projections.

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Remotely sensed variables explain microhabitat selection and reveal buffering behaviours against warming in a climate‐sensitive bird species

Alessandrini

Scridel

Boitani

et al. 2022

Remote Sens Ecol Conserv

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Fine-scale habitat selection modelling can allow a mechanistic understanding of habitat selection processes, enabling better assessments of the effects of climate and habitat changes on biodiversity. Remotely sensed data provide an everincreasing amount of environmental and climatic variables at high spatiotemporal resolutions, and a unique opportunity to produce fine-scale habitat models particularly useful in challenging environments, such as high-elevation areas. Working at a 10-m spatial resolution, we assessed the value of remotely sensed data for investigating foraging habitat selection (in relation to topography, microclimate, land cover) in nestling-rearing white-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), a high-elevation species highly sensitive to climate change. Adult snowfinches foraged at locations with intermediate vegetation cover and higher habitat heterogeneity, also avoiding extremely warm or extremely cold microclimates. Temperature interacted with other environmental drivers in defining habitat selection, highlighting trade-offs between habitat profitability and thermoregulation: snowfinches likely adopted mechanisms of behavioural buffering against physiologically stressful conditions by selecting for cooler, shaded and more snowy foraging grounds at higher temperatures. Our results matched those from previous studies based on accurate field measurements, confirming the species' reliance on climate-sensitive microhabitats (snow patches and low-sward grassland, in heterogeneous patches) and the usefulness of satellite-derived finescale modelling. Habitat suitability models built on remotely sensed predictors can provide a cost-effective method for periodic monitoring of species' habitats both at fine grain and over large extents. Fine-scale models also enhance our understanding of the actual drivers of (micro)habitat selection and of possible buffering behaviours against warming, allowing more accurate and robust distribution models, finer predictions of potential future changes and carefully targeted conservation strategies and habitat management.

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Unravelling the response of diurnal raptors to land use change in a highly dynamic landscape in northwestern Spain: an approach based on satellite earth observation data

Cited by 32 publications

References 73 publications

Hindcasting the impacts of land‐use changes on bird communities with species distribution models of Bird Atlas data

Hindcasting the impacts of land‐use changes on bird communities with species distribution models of Bird Atlas data

Assessing the temporal transferability of raptor distribution models: Implications for conservation

Remotely sensed variables explain microhabitat selection and reveal buffering behaviours against warming in a climate‐sensitive bird species

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