Hungry wintering birds and angry farmers: Crop damage and management implications in a protected wetland in China

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 57, P. e03402 - e03402

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Environmental correlates of breeding outcomes in Endangered Grey Crowned Cranes Balearica regulorum in agricultural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Bird Conservation International, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 35

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Summary Birds are often used as ecological indicators because they widely distributed across diverse habitats and display distinct behavioural responses to environmental changes. The Endangered Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum is regarded a flagship species of Africa’s wetland grassland habitats, both which undergoing substantial transformation alternative land uses. delayed reproductive strategies habitat specialisation this crane makes them more vulnerable extinction, but risk further compounded by data paucity. We employed traditional contemporary survey methods collect breeding metrics calculate stage transition probabilities (i.e. egg–hatchling, hatchling–juvenile) identify possible macro-environmental factors that either promote or hinder their output in key agricultural area KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. found Cranes have low hatching rate 38.4% (95% confidence interval 29.3–48.4%) show exacerbated under high rainfall intensity. Multivariate analyses multi-model inference revealed successful nest-sites were generally associated with larger open water-bodies, greater distances from shore, increased proximity secondary roads, buildings, natural grasslands. Although activities might foraging opportunities, the overall outcomes poor region. Our findings stress urgent need for fine-scale collection monitoring better inform conservation species. also encourage future studies focus on aspects affecting regions where human inevitable.

Language: Английский

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Winners and losers of land use change: A systematic review of interactions between the world’s crane species (Gruidae) and the agricultural sector

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(3)

Published: March 1, 2022

While agricultural intensification and expansion are major factors driving loss degradation of natural habitat species decline, some wildlife also benefit from agriculturally managed habitats. This may lead to high population densities with impacts on both human livelihoods conservation. Cranes a group 15 worldwide, affected negatively positively by practices. eleven face critical declines, numbers common cranes (

Language: Английский

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Drones as a tool to study and monitor endangered Grey Crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorum): Behavioural responses and recommended guidelines

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Crane populations are declining worldwide, with anthropogenically exacerbated habitat loss emerging as the primary causal threat. The endangered Grey Crowned ( Balearica regulorum ) is least studied of three crane species that reside in southern Africa. This data paucity hinders essential conservation planning and primarily due to ineffective monitoring methods this species' use inaccessible habitats. In study, we compared behavioural responses different social groupings traditional on‐foot pioneering drones. Cranes demonstrated a lower tolerance for approaches, allowing closer proximity drones (22.72 (95% confidence intervals ‐ 13.75, 37.52) m) than (97.59 (86.13, 110.59) before displaying evasive behaviours. response flocks was minimal at flight heights above 50 m, whilst larger were more likely display behaviours by either method. Families displayed flights, whereas nesting birds sensitive angles drone approaches. Altogether, our findings confirm usefulness wetland‐nesting provide valuable species‐specific guidelines Cranes. However, caution future studies on wetland breeding develop protocols implementing methodologies.

Language: Английский

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Heterogeneous agroecosystems may have greater bird diversity than other land uses: a study case in Southern Chile

Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 15

Published: March 18, 2025

Language: Английский

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The influence of the abundance and availability of alternative food on the foraging behavior of wintering Siberian Cranes (Leucogeranus leucogeranus)

Avian Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100254 - 100254

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Red deer grazing pressure on agricultural grass meadows from broad to local scale

Wildlife Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 10, 2024

Grazing by wildlife on agricultural land is widespread across geographical regions, and can cause human–wildlife conflicts due to reduced crop yield when the grazing pressure high. Growing red deer Cervus elaphus populations in Europe call for an increased understanding of their patterns mitigate damages. We quantified how (grazing presence level) grass meadows (n = 60) Norway varied multiple spatial scales. used a nested, hierarchical study design transcending from broad scale (meadows landscape) intermediate (between nearby meadows) local (within‐meadow) scales, allowing us identify at which variation was strongest. estimated determined broad‐scale factors influencing forage availability quality through population density, distance coastline, differences between first versus second harvest, intermediate‐scale terms meadow management causing botanical composition quality, local‐scale perceived predation risk disturbance. At scale, higher densities were associated with pressure, more occurred before compared harvest. Intermediate‐scale explained most deer, newly renewed other meadows. On closer forest edge, providing cover, further away infrastructure, Overall, our highlights drivers vary Population reductions broader may have some effect reducing but will nevertheless attract neighbouring This insight crucial determining effective mitigation strategies facing rising Europe.

Language: Английский

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Effects of diet shift on the gut microbiota of the critically endangered Siberian Crane

Avian Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14, P. 100108 - 100108

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Wetlands worldwide have suffered from serious degradation and transformation, leading to waterbirds increasingly dependent on agricultural fields for feeding. Although gut microbiota is an essential component of host health, the impacts feeding microbial community pathogen transmission remain poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, we used 16S rRNA sequencing characterize fecal bacterial Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus), a Critically Endangered species, that recently has shifted its foraging largely Vallisneria tubers in Poyang Lake natural wetlands crops (i.e., rice seeds lotus rhizomes) fields. We compared communities between tuber cranes crop cranes. Our results indicate diet shift greatly modified diversity, composition function. Crop had higher diversity than The alteration function were correlated with change food nutrition. Tuber high fiber) enriched Clostridiaceae fiber digestion ability, carbohydrate) taxa functions related carbohydrate metabolism. flexibility might enhance Cranes' ability adapt novel environment. However, many families pathogenic bacteria, which increase susceptibility infection. Special caution should be taken Asia, where widespread poultry-keeping over-harvested probability pathogenetic bacteria among wild birds, domestic poultry humans.

Language: Английский

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Individual responses of GPS‐tagged geese scared off crops by drones or walking humans

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(4)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Abstract Scaring of wildlife is commonly used in attempts to reduce crop damage agricultural landscapes, but relatively few studies exist on its actual effect. We tracked GPS‐tagged greylag geese ( Anser anser ) south‐central Sweden, before and after scaring by approaching them either walking or drone. On the field level, we studied effect estimating return rate where scared. landscape tested if were less prone use fields being Geese immediately left when scared 5 min later they average 990 m (±56 SE) from position. The proportion GPS positions near position decreased significantly for at least 4 h scaring. showed a significant shift wetland habitats first However, soon levelled off; 24 had occurred was same extent as any other landscape, undisturbed geese. did not find differences response depending technique. probability higher morning compared afternoon. Moreover, spring than seasons. Practical implication . found that tend visit alone tends ‘to move problem around’. This suggests needs be repeated across also accommodation do cause may needed keep off conventional fields. our study presents glimpse promise rather simple drone covers large areas quickly minimizes growing crops. With technological advancement possible autonomous techniques, drones capable providing over future.

Language: Английский

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The cascading effects of submerged macrophyte collapse on geese at Poyang Lake, China

Freshwater Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 68(6), P. 926 - 939

Published: March 25, 2023

Abstract Wetland habitat degradation has become more common in recent decades, leading to an increasing occurrence of food shortages for wild animals. Although the direct effects on consumers have been well studied, cascading interspecific interactions remain poorly understood. Targeted research is required improve our understanding impacts shortage animals and facilitate development conservation plans. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding field observations goose foraging behaviour assess collapse tubers Vallisneria spp., dominant submerged macrophytes at Poyang Lake, China, diet swan ( Anser cygnoides ) competition among species, goose, bean fabalis ), greater white‐fronted albifrons ). The analyses were carried out faecal samples collected winter 2016/17 2018/19, behavioural conducted 2021/22. Our study elucidated dietary compositions three species detail than previously known. When became rare, geese switched their focus Carex spp. other grassland plants. tuber abundance rebounded, resumed foraging, suggesting superiority as geese. Swan , major foods geese, potentially increased species. pecking rates while time spent apparently cope with competition. Given severe collapses waterbirds important role Lake waterbird protection, advocate restoring provide high quality tuber‐foraging waterbirds. emphasises that, addition directly influencing consumers, may also influence through changes interactions. illustrates importance plasticity respond environment change.

Language: Английский

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