The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation
Understanding the preference of migratory waterbirds to inhabit key habitats is crucial for mapping out effective management strategies to maintain migration network connectivity. This study investigated the attractiveness of Shenzhen Bay in southern China, a key site on the East Asian-Australasian...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Ecological Informatics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124004771 |
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| author | Shuangliang Dai Yanyan Zhou Jingsi Gao Guowei Cheng Linlin Wang Haiyan Bai Xiaoyu Lei Hualin Xu Xian-zhong Mao |
| author_facet | Shuangliang Dai Yanyan Zhou Jingsi Gao Guowei Cheng Linlin Wang Haiyan Bai Xiaoyu Lei Hualin Xu Xian-zhong Mao |
| author_sort | Shuangliang Dai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the preference of migratory waterbirds to inhabit key habitats is crucial for mapping out effective management strategies to maintain migration network connectivity. This study investigated the attractiveness of Shenzhen Bay in southern China, a key site on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network, to migratory waterbirds. The abundance of migratory waterbirds in January remained stable at around 45,000 from 1996 to 2015, with fluctuations of about ±5000, and decreased after 2015, with an average annual decrease of around 2130 until 2021. The preference of waterbirds to inhabit Shenzhen Bay was primarily affected by local human activities and the climate in southern China. When the proportion of freezing weather (FP) in southern China exceeded 10 % (indicative of normal and harsh winter), the abundance of migratory waterbirds in Shenzhen Bay varied exponentially with FP. When the FP exceeded 36 % (harsh winter), freezing weather became the dominant factor influencing waterbird wintering. Consequently, Shenzhen Bay served as a crucial refuge for migratory waterbirds from higher latitudes. However, compared to other waterbirds, the black-faced spoonbill demonstrated stronger adaptability to harsh winters. In warmer and normal winters (FP < 36 %), protected areas were effective in resisting high anthropogenic pressure. However, when the human population density and relative nighttime light intensity in the Shenzhen Bay area exceeded certain thresholds, the effectiveness of protected areas declined. This was the main reason for the decline in migratory waterbird abundance in Shenzhen Bay after 2015. Therefore, to protect and maintain the attractiveness of Shenzhen Bay to migratory birds, it is necessary to implement more effective management and control human activities, for example, by establishing a 2-km buffer zone around the habitat. Our findings are significant for the protection of crucial habitats for migratory waterbirds in Shenzhen Bay, as well as in other similar key habitats within migratory waterbird flyway site networks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc7595940b1c4c1db9178818296b4c82 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1574-9541 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Informatics |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc7595940b1c4c1db9178818296b4c822025-01-19T06:24:35ZengElsevierEcological Informatics1574-95412025-03-0185102935The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservationShuangliang Dai0Yanyan Zhou1Jingsi Gao2Guowei Cheng3Linlin Wang4Haiyan Bai5Xiaoyu Lei6Hualin Xu7Xian-zhong Mao8Institute of Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR ChinaFujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, PR ChinaShenzhen Polytechnic University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Corresponding authors.Institute of Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR ChinaInstitute of Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR ChinaInstitute of Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR ChinaInstitute of Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR ChinaNeilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve, Administration Bureau of Guangdong, Shenzhen 518040, PR ChinaInstitute of Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; Corresponding authors.Understanding the preference of migratory waterbirds to inhabit key habitats is crucial for mapping out effective management strategies to maintain migration network connectivity. This study investigated the attractiveness of Shenzhen Bay in southern China, a key site on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Site Network, to migratory waterbirds. The abundance of migratory waterbirds in January remained stable at around 45,000 from 1996 to 2015, with fluctuations of about ±5000, and decreased after 2015, with an average annual decrease of around 2130 until 2021. The preference of waterbirds to inhabit Shenzhen Bay was primarily affected by local human activities and the climate in southern China. When the proportion of freezing weather (FP) in southern China exceeded 10 % (indicative of normal and harsh winter), the abundance of migratory waterbirds in Shenzhen Bay varied exponentially with FP. When the FP exceeded 36 % (harsh winter), freezing weather became the dominant factor influencing waterbird wintering. Consequently, Shenzhen Bay served as a crucial refuge for migratory waterbirds from higher latitudes. However, compared to other waterbirds, the black-faced spoonbill demonstrated stronger adaptability to harsh winters. In warmer and normal winters (FP < 36 %), protected areas were effective in resisting high anthropogenic pressure. However, when the human population density and relative nighttime light intensity in the Shenzhen Bay area exceeded certain thresholds, the effectiveness of protected areas declined. This was the main reason for the decline in migratory waterbird abundance in Shenzhen Bay after 2015. Therefore, to protect and maintain the attractiveness of Shenzhen Bay to migratory birds, it is necessary to implement more effective management and control human activities, for example, by establishing a 2-km buffer zone around the habitat. Our findings are significant for the protection of crucial habitats for migratory waterbirds in Shenzhen Bay, as well as in other similar key habitats within migratory waterbird flyway site networks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124004771Migratory waterbirdsHabitat managementHuman activityWeather conditionsProtected areasShenzhen Bay |
| spellingShingle | Shuangliang Dai Yanyan Zhou Jingsi Gao Guowei Cheng Linlin Wang Haiyan Bai Xiaoyu Lei Hualin Xu Xian-zhong Mao The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation Ecological Informatics Migratory waterbirds Habitat management Human activity Weather conditions Protected areas Shenzhen Bay |
| title | The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation |
| title_full | The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation |
| title_fullStr | The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation |
| title_short | The preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the East Asian-Australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation |
| title_sort | preference of migratory waterbirds to winter at a key location on the east asian australasian flyway and its implications for habitat conservation |
| topic | Migratory waterbirds Habitat management Human activity Weather conditions Protected areas Shenzhen Bay |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124004771 |
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