Sensitivity of North American grassland birds to weather and climate variability

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(1)

Published: July 10, 2023

Grassland birds in North America have declined sharply over the last 60 years, driven by widespread loss and degradation of grassland habitats. Climate change is occurring more rapidly grasslands relative to some other ecosystems, exposure extreme novel climate conditions may affect bird ecology demographics. To determine potential effects weather variability on birds, we conducted a systematic review relationships between temperature precipitation demographic responses species America. Based 124 independent studies, used vote-counting approach quantify frequency direction significant birds. tended experience positive negative higher temperatures altered precipitation. Moderate, sustained increases mean benefitted species, but heat, drought, heavy rainfall often reduced abundance nest success. These patterns varied among regions, temporal scales (<1 or ≥1 month), taxa. The sensitivity populations will likely be mediated regional climates, interaction with stressors, life-history strategies various species' tolerances for conditions.

Language: Английский

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Impacts of urban expansion on vegetation in drylands: A multiscale analysis based on the vegetation disturbance index

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 147, P. 109984 - 109984

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

The rapid urban expansion in drylands has threatened local fragile vegetation recent years. Evaluating the impacts on effectively is crucial for promoting regional sustainability. Taking Hohhot–Baotou–Ordos–Yulin (HBOY) agglomeration China as a case, we quantitatively evaluated positive and negative using disturbance index. results indicated that HBOY experienced significant from 2000 to 2020. land expanded 242 km2 1276 km2, an of 1034 with annual growth rate 8.7 %. far exceeded impacts. Urban negatively positively affected 404 169 vegetation, respectively. former was 2.4 times latter. are mainly caused by loss cropland grassland. Such further more than 80 % species HBOY. Therefore, cities should balance development conservation strictly controlling grassland occupancy intelligent growth.

Language: Английский

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Review of Conservation Challenges and Possible Solutions for Grassland Birds of the North American Great Plains

Rangeland Ecology & Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 90, P. 165 - 185

Published: Aug. 1, 2023

North America's grassland birds remain in crisis despite decades of conservation efforts. This review provides an overview factors contributing to these declines, as well strategies and resources available a diversity stakeholders help conserve bird communities with emphasis on the Great Plains—a region global ecological significance habitat stronghold for birds. Grassland declines are driven by historical continuing threats across full annual cycle including loss, agriculture intensification, woody encroachment, disruption fire grazing regimes. More recently, energy development activities, use neonicotinoid pesticides, anthropogenic climate change have emerged additional threats. While numerous often synergistic, possibilities also diverse multifaceted. Land set-aside programs, incentives voluntary practices producers, improved environmental management utility companies, policy regulation can all contribute unique species. We suggest that future research should focus poorly studied aspects cycle, such overwinter survival use, migratory period, which remains completely unexplored many Filling knowledge gaps may facilitate more sophisticated population modeling identify limiting effectively guide investment conservation.

Language: Английский

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Long-term effects of combined land-use and climate changes on local bird communities in mosaic agricultural landscapes

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 289, P. 106722 - 106722

Published: Nov. 7, 2019

Language: Английский

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A comparison of approaches for including connectivity in systematic conservation planning

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 59(10), P. 2507 - 2519

Published: July 9, 2022

Abstract Plans for expanding protected area systems (prioritizations) often aim to facilitate connectivity. To achieve this, many approaches—based on different assumptions and datasets—have been developed. However, little is known about how such approaches influence prioritizations. We examine eight that promote connectivity in Using Washington State (USA) its avifauna as a case study, we generated prioritizations aimed meet species' representation targets by (a) maximizing total area; (b) further species representation; (c) minimizing boundary length; connecting areas based (d) human pressure, (e) naturalness‐based landscape resistance, (f) focal (g) habitat heterogeneity (h) environmental similarity. controlled expenditure, representation, existing land use policies enable comparisons among then used hierarchical cluster analysis compare prioritizations, which they selected. also evaluated well each approach facilitated measured the other approaches. found promoting can lead very or similar depending their underlying assumptions. In particular, length approach—which widely systematic conservation planning—resulted prioritization was highly dissimilar all Surprisingly, produced resistance Moreover, when comparing level of could facilitate, none high Synthesis applications . recommend carefully considering limitations underpin Our findings demonstrate produce marked differences priorities and, turn, trade‐offs between Indeed, despite ubiquity approach, practitioners might find better objectives. Practitioners our methodology help navigate them.

Language: Английский

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