Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations?
Understanding the migratory strategies of plateau-endemic species is essential for informing effective conservation, especially under climate change. The Black-necked Crane (<i>Grus nigricollis</i>), a high-altitude specialist, has shown notable population growth in recent years. We anal...
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| author | Le Yang Lei Xu Waner Liang Jia Guo Yongbing Yang Cai Lyu Shengling Zhou Qing Zeng Yifei Jia Guangchun Lei |
| author_facet | Le Yang Lei Xu Waner Liang Jia Guo Yongbing Yang Cai Lyu Shengling Zhou Qing Zeng Yifei Jia Guangchun Lei |
| author_sort | Le Yang |
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| description | Understanding the migratory strategies of plateau-endemic species is essential for informing effective conservation, especially under climate change. The Black-necked Crane (<i>Grus nigricollis</i>), a high-altitude specialist, has shown notable population growth in recent years. We analysed satellite tracking data from 16 individuals of a western subpopulation in the lake basin region of northern Tibet (2021–2024), focusing on migration patterns, stopover use, and habitat selection. This subpopulation exhibited short-distance (mean: 284.21 km), intra-Tibet migrations with low reliance on stopover sites. Autumn migration was shorter, more direct, higher in altitude, and slower in speed than spring migration. Juveniles used smaller, more fragmented habitats than subadults, and their spatial range expanded over time. Given these patterns, we infer that the short-distance migration strategy may reduce energetic demands and mortality risks while increasing route flexibility—characteristics that may benefit population growth. We refer to this as a low-energy, high-efficiency migration strategy, which we hypothesise could support faster population growth and enhance resilience to environmental change. We recommend prioritizing the conservation of short-distance migration corridors, such as the typical lake basin area in northern Tibet–Yarlung Tsangpo River system, which may help sustain plateau-endemic migratory populations under future climate scenarios. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9eca372b9d1b404aa90cc1af9590afe3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9eca372b9d1b404aa90cc1af9590afe32025-08-20T03:36:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-08-011515230410.3390/ani15152304Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations?Le Yang0Lei Xu1Waner Liang2Jia Guo3Yongbing Yang4Cai Lyu5Shengling Zhou6Qing Zeng7Yifei Jia8Guangchun Lei9School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Biosafety, Institute of Plateau Biology Research of Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa 850000, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Biosafety, Institute of Plateau Biology Research of Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa 850000, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaUnderstanding the migratory strategies of plateau-endemic species is essential for informing effective conservation, especially under climate change. The Black-necked Crane (<i>Grus nigricollis</i>), a high-altitude specialist, has shown notable population growth in recent years. We analysed satellite tracking data from 16 individuals of a western subpopulation in the lake basin region of northern Tibet (2021–2024), focusing on migration patterns, stopover use, and habitat selection. This subpopulation exhibited short-distance (mean: 284.21 km), intra-Tibet migrations with low reliance on stopover sites. Autumn migration was shorter, more direct, higher in altitude, and slower in speed than spring migration. Juveniles used smaller, more fragmented habitats than subadults, and their spatial range expanded over time. Given these patterns, we infer that the short-distance migration strategy may reduce energetic demands and mortality risks while increasing route flexibility—characteristics that may benefit population growth. We refer to this as a low-energy, high-efficiency migration strategy, which we hypothesise could support faster population growth and enhance resilience to environmental change. We recommend prioritizing the conservation of short-distance migration corridors, such as the typical lake basin area in northern Tibet–Yarlung Tsangpo River system, which may help sustain plateau-endemic migratory populations under future climate scenarios.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2304<i>Grus nigricollis</i>migration strategysatellite trackinghabitat useTibetan PlateauCentral Asian Flyway |
| spellingShingle | Le Yang Lei Xu Waner Liang Jia Guo Yongbing Yang Cai Lyu Shengling Zhou Qing Zeng Yifei Jia Guangchun Lei Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations? Animals <i>Grus nigricollis</i> migration strategy satellite tracking habitat use Tibetan Plateau Central Asian Flyway |
| title | Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations? |
| title_full | Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations? |
| title_fullStr | Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations? |
| title_short | Does Short-Distance Migration Facilitate the Recovery of Black-Necked Crane Populations? |
| title_sort | does short distance migration facilitate the recovery of black necked crane populations |
| topic | <i>Grus nigricollis</i> migration strategy satellite tracking habitat use Tibetan Plateau Central Asian Flyway |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2304 |
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