An artificial site provides valuable additional habitat to migratory shorebirds in a tropical harbour
Amanda Lilleyman
A E , Danny I. Rogers A B , Micha V. Jackson C , Richard A. Fuller C , Gavin O'Brien D and Stephen T. Garnett A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0909, Australia.
B Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia.
C School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
D BirdLife Top End, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0909, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: amanda.lilleyman@cdu.edu.au
Pacific Conservation Biology 26(3) 249-257 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC19036
Submitted: 17 September 2019 Accepted: 27 January 2020 Published: 5 March 2020
Abstract
Migratory shorebirds are declining in all transequatorial flyways, most rapidly in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Population trends for shorebirds have been derived at a flyway and continental scale, but changes at the local scale are less well understood. Here we compare trends in migratory shorebird populations using natural and artificial roost sites within a tropical harbour, examine possible drivers of change, and identify appropriate conservation management responses. Counts of 19 migratory shorebird species from 2010 and 2018 showed that total abundance increased at an average annual rate of 3.3% (95% CI = 1.3–5.4%, P = 0.001) across five natural roost sites. This was driven largely by increases in great knot, with most other species declining. At an artificial site in an adjacent shorebird area, total abundance increased at an average annual rate of 14.5% (95% CI = 10.5–18.6%, P ≤ 0.000), with few species declining. These results suggest that there is a need to include both natural and artificial sites within shorebird conservation and management planning and that trends in different species can be driven by a combination of local and external drivers.
Additional Keywords: non-breeding grounds, population change, tropical ecology, waders
References
Aharon‐Rotman, Y., Gosbell, K., Minton, C., and Klaassen, M. (2016). Why fly the extra mile? Latitudinal trend in migratory fuel deposition rate as driver of trans‐equatorial long‐distance migration. Ecology and Evolution 6, 6616–6624.| Why fly the extra mile? Latitudinal trend in migratory fuel deposition rate as driver of trans‐equatorial long‐distance migration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27777734PubMed |
Amano, T., Székely, T., Koyama, K., Amano, H., and Sutherland, W. J. (2010). A framework for monitoring the status of populations: an example from wader populations in the East Asian–Australasian flyway. Biological Conservation 143, 2238–2247.
| A framework for monitoring the status of populations: an example from wader populations in the East Asian–Australasian flyway.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Battley, P. F., Rogers, D. I., Piersma, T., and Koolhaas, A. (2003). Behavioural evidence for heat-load problems in great knots in tropical Australia fuelling for long-distance flight. Emu 103, 97–103.
| Behavioural evidence for heat-load problems in great knots in tropical Australia fuelling for long-distance flight.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
BirdLife International (2017). Numenius madagascariensis (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22693199A118601473. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22693199A118601473.en
Chatto, R. (2012). Status of Northern Territory migratory shorebirds. Final report to Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Darwin.
Choi, C., Gan, X., Hua, N., Wang, Y., and Ma, Z. J. W. (2014). The habitat use and home range analysis of dunlin (Calidris alpina) in Chongming Dongtan, China and their conservation implications. Wetlands 34, 255–266.
Clemens, R. S., Rogers, D. I., Hansen, B. D., Gosbell, K., Minton, C. D., Straw, P., Bamford, M., Woehler, E. J., Milton, D. A., and Weston, M. A. (2016). Continental-scale decreases in shorebird populations in Australia. Emu 116, 119–135.
| Continental-scale decreases in shorebird populations in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Commonwealth of Australia (2015). Wildlife conservation plan for migratory shorebirds. (Ed. Department of the Environment.) (Commonwealth of Australia.)
Dias, M. P., Granadeiro, J. P., Lecoq, M., Santos, C. D., and Palmeirim, J. M. (2006). Distance to high-tide roosts constrains the use of foraging areas by dunlins: implications for the management of estuarine wetlands. Biological Conservation 131, 446–452.
| Distance to high-tide roosts constrains the use of foraging areas by dunlins: implications for the management of estuarine wetlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fox, J. and Weisberg, S. (2018). ‘An R Companion to Applied Regression.’ 3rd edn. (Sage.)
Hansen, B. (2011). A brief overview of literature on waders in decline. Stilt 60, 6–8.
Hansen, B. D., Menkhorst, P., Moloney, P., and Loyn, R. H. (2015). Long-term declines in multiple waterbird species in a tidal embayment, south-east Australia. Austral Ecology 40, 515–527.
| Long-term declines in multiple waterbird species in a tidal embayment, south-east Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hansen, B., Fuller, R., Watkins, D., Rogers, D., Clemens, R., Newman, M., Woehler, E., and Weller, D. (2016). Revision of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway population estimates for 37 listed migratory shorebird species. Unpublished report for the Department of the Environment, Melbourne.
Houston, W., Black, R., Elder, R., Black, L., and Segal, R. (2012). Conservation value of solar salt ponds in coastal tropical eastern Australia to waterbirds and migratory shorebirds. Pacific Conservation Biology 18, 100–122.
| Conservation value of solar salt ponds in coastal tropical eastern Australia to waterbirds and migratory shorebirds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hu, S., Niu, Z., Chen, Y., Li, L., and Zhang, H. (2017). Global wetlands: potential distribution, wetland loss, and status. The Science of the Total Environment 586, 319–327.
| Global wetlands: potential distribution, wetland loss, and status.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28190574PubMed |
Jackson, M. V., Carrasco, L. R., Choi, C. Y., Li, J., Ma, Z., Melville, D. S., Mu, T., Peng, H. B., Woodworth, B. K., and Yang, Z. (2019). Multiple habitat use by declining migratory birds necessitates joined‐up conservation. Ecology and Evolution 9, 2505–2515.
| 30891196PubMed |
Johnston‐González, R., and Abril, E. (2019). Predation risk and resource availability explain roost locations of whimbrel Numenius phaeopus in a tropical mangrove delta. The Ibis 161, 839–853.
| Predation risk and resource availability explain roost locations of whimbrel Numenius phaeopus in a tropical mangrove delta.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lee, J. K., Chung, O.-S., Park, J.-Y., Kim, H.-J., Hur, W.-H., Kim, S.-H., and Kim, J.-H. (2017). Effects of the Saemangeum Reclamation Project on migratory shorebird staging in the Saemangeum and Geum Estuaries, South Korea. Bird Conservation International 28, 238–250.
Lei, W., Masero, J. A., Piersma, T., Zhu, B., Yang, H.-Y., and Zhang, Z. J. B. C. I. (2018). Alternative habitat: the importance of the Nanpu Saltpans for migratory waterbirds in the Chinese Yellow Sea. Bird Conservation International 28, 549–566.
Lilleyman, A., Franklin, D. C., Szabo, J. K., and Lawes, M. J. (2016a). Behavioural responses of migratory shorebirds to disturbance at a high-tide roost. Emu 116, 111–118.
| Behavioural responses of migratory shorebirds to disturbance at a high-tide roost.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lilleyman, A., Garnett, S. T., Rogers, D. I., and Lawes, M. J. (2016b). Trends in relative abundance of the eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) in Darwin, Northern Territory. Stilt 68, 25–30.
Lilleyman, A., Alley, A., Jackson, D., O’Brien, G., and Garnett, S. T. (2018). Distribution and abundance of migratory shorebirds in Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. Northern Territory Naturalist 28, 31–43.
Ma, Z., Li, B., Zhao, B., Jing, K., Tang, S., and Chen, J. (2004). Are artificial wetlands good alternatives to natural wetlands for waterbirds? A case study on Chongming Island, China. Biodiversity and Conservation 13, 333–350.
| Are artificial wetlands good alternatives to natural wetlands for waterbirds? A case study on Chongming Island, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Melville, D. S., Peng, H. B., Chan, Y. C., Bai, Q. Q., He, P., Tan, K., and Ma, Z. J. (2016). Gaizhou, Liaodong Bay, Liaoning Province, China – A site of international importance for Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris and other shorebirds. Stilt 69, 57–61.
Moores, N., Rogers, D. I., Rogers, K., and Hansbro, P. M. (2016). Reclamation of tidal flats and shorebird declines in Saemangeum and elsewhere in the Republic of Korea. Emu 116, 136–146.
| Reclamation of tidal flats and shorebird declines in Saemangeum and elsewhere in the Republic of Korea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Munksgaard, N. C., Hutley, L. B., Metcalfe, K. N., Padovan, A. C., Palmer, C., and Gibb, K. S. (2018). Environmental challenges in a near-pristine mangrove estuary facing rapid urban and industrial development: Darwin Harbour, Northern Australia. Regional Studies in Marine Science 25, 100438.
| Environmental challenges in a near-pristine mangrove estuary facing rapid urban and industrial development: Darwin Harbour, Northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murray, N. J., Clemens, R. S., Phinn, S. R., Possingham, H. P., and Fuller, R. A. (2014). Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 12, 267–272.
| Tracking the rapid loss of tidal wetlands in the Yellow Sea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
National Environment Science Programme (2018). Threatened Species Index. St Lucia, Queensland. Available at: https://tsx.org.au/tbx2018/#/ [Accessed 16 March 2018].
Piersma, T., Lok, T., Chen, Y., Hassell, C. J., Yang, H.-Y., Boyle, A., Slaymaker, M., Chan, Y.-C., Melville, D. S., Zhang, Z.-W., and Ma, Z. (2016). Simultaneous declines in summer survival of three shorebird species signals a flyway at risk. Journal of Applied Ecology 53, 479–490.
| Simultaneous declines in summer survival of three shorebird species signals a flyway at risk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
R Core Team (2018). R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. Available at: https://www.R-project.org/
Rogers, D. I., Piersma, T., and Hassell, C. J. (2006). Roost availability may constrain shorebird distribution: exploring the energetic costs of roosting and disturbance around a tropical bay. Biological Conservation 133, 225–235.
| Roost availability may constrain shorebird distribution: exploring the energetic costs of roosting and disturbance around a tropical bay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rogers, D. I., Yang, H.-Y., Hassell, C. J., Boyle, A. N., Rogers, K. G., Chen, B., Zhang, Z.-W., and Piersma, T. (2010). Red knots (Calidris canutus piersmai and C. c. rogersi) depend on a small threatened staging area in Bohai Bay, China. Emu 110, 307–315.
| Red knots (Calidris canutus piersmai and C. c. rogersi) depend on a small threatened staging area in Bohai Bay, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Round, P. D. (2006). Shorebirds in the inner gulf of Thailand. Stilt 50, 96–102.
Studds, C. E., Kendall, B. E., Murray, N. J., Wilson, H. B., Rogers, D. I., Clemens, R. S., Gosbell, K., Hassell, C. J., Jessop, R., and Melville, D. S. (2017). Rapid population decline in migratory shorebirds relying on Yellow Sea tidal mudflats as stopover sites. Nature Communications 8, 14895.
| Rapid population decline in migratory shorebirds relying on Yellow Sea tidal mudflats as stopover sites.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28406155PubMed |
Valentine, E., and Tan, P. (2009). On the potential effects of sea level rise on salinity in Top End rivers. In ‘H2009: 32nd Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, Newcastle: Adapting to Change’. p. 998. (Engineers Australia.)
van Gils, J. A., Schenk, I. W., Bos, O., and Piersma, T. (2003). Incompletely informed shorebirds that face a digestive constraint maximize net energy gain when exploiting patches. American Naturalist 161, 777–793.
| Incompletely informed shorebirds that face a digestive constraint maximize net energy gain when exploiting patches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12858284PubMed |
Venables, W. N. and Ripley, B. D. (2002). ‘Modern Applied Statistics with S.’ 4th edn. (Springer: New York.)
Weston, M. A., McLeod, E. M., Blumstein, D. T., and Guay, P.-J. (2012). A review of flight-initiation distances and their application to managing disturbance to Australian birds. Emu 112, 269–286.
| A review of flight-initiation distances and their application to managing disturbance to Australian birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williamson, G. J., Boggs, G. S., and Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2011). Late 20th century mangrove encroachment in the coastal Australian monsoon tropics parallels the regional increase in woody biomass. Regional Environmental Change 11, 19–27.
| Late 20th century mangrove encroachment in the coastal Australian monsoon tropics parallels the regional increase in woody biomass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
