Article
Environmental Sciences
Houlang Duan, Xiubo Yu, Shaoxia Xia, Guangshuai Zhang
Summary: Natural wetlands along the coasts of the Yellow and Bohai Seas provide key stopover sites for migratory waterbirds, but between 2000 and 2015, 1794.8 km(2) (29.27%) of coastal wetland was lost to development, leading to a decrease in habitat for 73 of 80 waterbird species analyzed. The proportional loss of tidal flats formerly representing suitable habitat was significantly higher for shorebirds, herons and gulls than for ducks, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to prevent further reclamation of tidal flats and manage artificial wetlands.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Xu Shi, Cheng Hu, Joshua Soderholm, Jason Chapman, Huafeng Mao, Kai Cui, Zhijun Ma, Dongli Wu, Richard A. Fuller
Summary: Interpretation of weather radar signals has been used to monitor bird migration patterns in Europe and America, but not yet in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). This study discusses the feasibility and challenges of using weather radar to complement on-ground bird migration surveys in the EAAF. The authors conclude that the weather radar network could be a powerful resource for monitoring bird movements in the EAAF, especially in remote regions.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin J. Lagasse, Richard B. Lanctot, Stephen Brown, Alexei G. Dondua, Steve Kendall, Christopher J. Latty, Joseph R. Liebezeit, Egor Y. Loktionov, Konstantin S. Maslovsky, Alexander Matsyna, Ekaterina L. Matsyna, Rebecca L. McGuire, David C. Payer, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Jonathan C. Slaght, Diana Solovyeva, Pavel S. Tomkovich, Olga P. Valchuk, Michael B. Wunder
Summary: Determining the spatial and temporal dynamics of bird populations during migration is crucial for understanding population declines and conservation efforts. This study used geolocator data to construct a migratory network for Dunlin subspecies along the East Asian Australasian Flyway. The results showed unique spatial and temporal patterns of flyway use among the subspecies, indicating the potential differential impacts of habitat change and population declines. These migration dynamics provide valuable insights for guiding conservation actions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ningxin Tang, Yanju Ma, Sixin Li, Yizhu Yan, Cheng Cheng, Gang Lu, Fei Li, Liuxuan Lv, Peilin Qin, Hoai Bao Nguyen, Quang Hao Nguyen, Trong Trai Le, Shelby Qi Wei Wee, Tao He, Ding Li Yong, Chi-Yeung Choi
Summary: The Beibu Gulf is a crucial stopover and wintering region for migratory waterbirds. However, comprehensive assessments regarding waterbird abundances, distribution, key wetland habitats, and regional threats are lacking. This study synthesizes citizen science datasets and published records to provide a scientific baseline for waterbird conservation efforts in the Beibu Gulf.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mei-Ling Bai, Wen-Chieh Chih, Pei-Fen Lee, Yu-Yi Lien
Summary: Coastal wetlands along migratory flyways play a crucial role in supporting staging or wintering waterbirds, yet they are often targeted for wind energy development. Many bird species along the flyway are endangered in densely populated East and Southeast Asia, where wind energy projects are flourishing. Proper planning and monitoring are crucial in minimizing potential impacts of coastal wind farms on waterbirds.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
John A. Allcock, Timothy C. Bonebrake, Yik Hei Sung, Caroline Dingle
Summary: Climate change impacts bird migration phenology, causing changes in departure and arrival dates. Different bird species exhibit varied changes in migration phenology. Temperature is an important factor influencing migration phenology for some species, while wing length changes are unrelated to observed phenological changes. Continued monitoring and understanding of all sites in the migratory pathway are crucial for the conservation of these species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Houlang Duan, Xiubo Yu
Summary: The area and quality of shorebird stopover habitat along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway migratory route have decreased, with urbanization, industrial development, and wetland degradation being the main contributing factors.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Bing-Run Zhu, Yvonne I. Verkuil, Jesse R. Conklin, Ailin Yang, Weipan Lei, Jose A. Alves, Chris J. Hassell, Dmitry Dorofeev, Zhengwang Zhang, Theunis Piersma
Summary: Comparing the morphometrics and genetic population structuring of Black-tailed Godwits in northern Bohai Bay, China, with the known subspecies, it was found that Bohai Godwits are significantly larger than melanuroides and may belong to a distinct new subspecies.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dan Liang, Tong Mu, Ziyou Yang, Xingli Giam, Yudi Wang, Jing Li, Shangxiao Cai, Xuelian Zhang, Yixiao Wang, Yang Liu, David S. Wilcove
Summary: This study examines the conflict between razor clam aquaculture and declining shorebirds in southeastern China. It finds that the use of nets in razor clam farms leads to significant mortality of shorebirds, potentially impacting their populations. The study suggests the removal of nets after harvest to prevent bird entanglement and calls for government regulations or economic incentives to address the issue.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Genmei Lin, Xianbiao Lin
Summary: This study investigated the impacts of bait input on sediment microbial community, greenhouse gas (GHG) production, and physicochemical properties. The results showed that bait input significantly affected dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic carbon, and various sediment properties. Additionally, bait input led to changes in microbial community composition and increased GHG production. These findings highlight the importance of coastal aquaculture in global GHG emissions.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Lin Hao, Jiafang Huang
Summary: Land-use change significantly affects NOx- reduction processes in mangrove sediments, with aquaculture reclamation enhancing nitrogen loss and reducing nitrogen retention in sediments.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chunxiao Wang, Xiubo Yu, Shaoxia Xia, Yu Liu, Junlong Huang, Wei Zhao
Summary: This study used satellite tracking technology to investigate the potential habitat distribution of swan geese during their migration cycle. The results show that the wintering grounds of swan geese are mainly located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, while stopover sites are widely distributed and breeding grounds are mainly in Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia.
Article
Geography, Physical
Bingyan Zhao, Xianyu Huang, Jianfang Hu, Junwu Shu, Weiming Wang, Ping'an Peng
Summary: This study conducts spatial comparisons of hydroclimate changes in the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) region during the Mystery Interval (MI) by reconstructing the paleohydrology of the south of East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) region. The research reveals spatial differences in the hydroclimate variations during the MI and highlights the potential influence of coupling between the westerly jet and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) on rainfall in the ASM region.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jonas Wobker, Wieland Heim, Heiko Schmaljohann
Summary: The study focused on the spring and autumn phenologies of 36 migrant songbirds in the Russian Far East, finding that sex- and age-specific differences in migration are common, with molt strategy also playing a role in migration timing. Sex-differential migration is more pronounced in spring, while age-differences are more common in autumn, with adults molting before migration showing delayed phenology compared to first-year birds. These patterns align with those found in other migration flyways, suggesting similar driving forces for differential migration across different systems.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ju-Hyun Lee, In-Cheol Kim, Si-Wan Lee, Jong-Ju Son, Jae-Ung Jang, Ha-Cheol Sung
Summary: The tidal flats along the southwestern coast of Korea are important stopover sites for migratory shorebirds. The destruction of these habitats has led to population declines. The study investigated the population sizes and habitat use patterns of shorebirds, identifying internationally important stopover sites. The results showed the continued importance of Korean tidal flats as stopover sites for shorebirds, emphasizing the need for enhanced protection measures.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chi-Yeung Choi, Xu Shi, Jianbin Shi, Xiaojing Gan, Chujun Wen, Jiawei Zhang, Micha V. Jackson, Richard A. Fuller, Luke Gibson
Summary: Designating protected areas is crucial for biodiversity conservation, with China's new Ecological Conservation Redline policy offering innovative solutions to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services in critical areas. By considering the redline policy as an Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM), there is potential to expand the coverage of protected areas and conserve biodiversity outside of designated areas globally.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaodan Wang, Ying Chen, David S. Melville, Chi-Yeung Choi, Kun Tan, Jiajia Liu, Jing Li, Shoudong Zhang, Lei Cao, Zhijun Ma
Summary: Habitat loss at stopover sites has led to population declines for migratory birds, particularly shorebirds. This study compared shorebird surveys during migration between an earlier and a later period at 14 stopover sites on the Yellow Sea coast in China. Results show that while there was a decrease in tidal flat area and shorebird abundance, the changes in bird abundance were not significantly related to tidal flat area changes. However, the composition of bird communities varied among sites, indicating consistent differences in habitat conditions between study periods. These findings highlight the importance of protecting existing key stopover sites for the conservation of migratory birds.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chuyu Cheng, Jiajia Liu, Zhijun Ma
Summary: The global aquaculture industry is crucial for food security and waterbird habitat. In China, a study found that approximately one quarter of all waterbird species, including some threatened species, forage at aquafarms. Species with high aquafarm use did not show population declines over the past two decades, indicating the importance of aquafarms in maintaining waterbird populations. However, aquafarms are not a substitute for natural habitats, especially for threatened species. Integrated ecological and economic analysis is recommended to formulate management policies for aquafarms that consider both wildlife conservation and human livelihoods.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xu Shi, Cheng Hu, Joshua Soderholm, Jason Chapman, Huafeng Mao, Kai Cui, Zhijun Ma, Dongli Wu, Richard A. Fuller
Summary: Interpretation of weather radar signals has been used to monitor bird migration patterns in Europe and America, but not yet in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). This study discusses the feasibility and challenges of using weather radar to complement on-ground bird migration surveys in the EAAF. The authors conclude that the weather radar network could be a powerful resource for monitoring bird movements in the EAAF, especially in remote regions.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chuyu Cheng, Zhijun Ma
Summary: The expansion of artificial habitats provides alternative habitats for wildlife species, but whether the use of these habitats has fitness consequences is unclear. This study examined bird breeding performance in a variety of artificial wetlands and found that human-induced breeding failures are common in these habitats. There was no significant difference in breeding performance between birds in artificial and natural wetlands, but conservation interventions improved the breeding performance of ground-nesting species in artificial wetlands.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Shilu Zheng, Juntao Hu, Zhijun Ma, David Lindenmayer, Jiajia Liu
Summary: The authors used body size data from mammal and bird museum collections in North America to show that intraspecific variation in body size has increased over time, while mean body size has not changed. Previous studies have mainly focused on the declining average body size of animals, and less is known about long-term changes in intraspecific trait variation, which is crucial for understanding species' ability to cope with environmental challenges.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexandra Ashley Grossi, Myung-Bok Lee, Chunpo Tian, Fasheng Zou, Chi-Yeung Choi, Daniel Roland Gustafsson
Summary: Patterns of prevalence in chewing lice on wild birds are poorly understood, and this study aimed to analyze the factors that influence these patterns. The study used a data set of published and new prevalence data from shorebirds examined in several countries. The analysis revealed that host body size did not affect the prevalence of lice in the Charadriiformes, and migration variables showed no significant correlations with prevalence, except for one louse genus. The study also provided new records of chewing lice in China and Australia.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jianshe Chen, Chunming Li, Changlu Wu, Xuena Sun, Xuesong Feng, Jiayuan Zhao, Zhijun Ma, Jihua Wu, Mark D. Bertness, Bo Li, Qiang He
Summary: Large animals, including waterbirds, have long been considered as passengers in wetland ecosystems, but this study reveals that they play a more diverse and important role. Waterbirds were found to have both negative and positive effects on wetland macrofauna, influencing their abundance, biomass, and diversity. These findings suggest that the driver roles of waterbirds in shaping wetland ecosystems should be considered in conservation decisions.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shangxiao Cai, Tong Mu, He-Bo Peng, Zhijun Ma, David S. Wilcove
Summary: Understanding species distribution patterns and their determinants is crucial for effective conservation planning and management. Loss of stopover habitat in the Yellow Sea region is believed to be the main cause of population decline in shorebirds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). This study reveals that the heterogeneity of sediment characteristics and invertebrate prey plays a significant role in explaining the distribution patterns of shorebird species in a key stopover site in eastern China.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
He-Bo Peng, Zhijun Ma, Eldar Rakhimberdiev, Jan A. van Gils, Phil F. Battley, Danny I. Rogers, Chi-Yeung Choi, Wei Wu, Xuesong Feng, Qiang Ma, Ning Hua, Clive Minton, Chris J. Hassell, Theunis Piersma
Summary: Loss and/or deterioration of refuelling habitats may cause population declines in migratory bird species, and there may be unequal mortality among individuals with different migration traits. Through analyzing 13 years of body mass and size data of great knots at a stopover site in the Yellow Sea, combined with observations of marked individuals along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the study found that the annual apparent survival rates of great knots rapidly declined, with late-arriving individuals with small fuel stores exhibiting the lowest apparent survival rate. This suggests that habitat loss and/or deterioration can result in changes in the composition of migratory phenotypes at the population-level.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Yanlin Cui, Yanan Tang, Sen Yang, Wei Wu, Xuesong Feng, Qiang Ma, Dongliang Niu, Jun Ma, Zhijun Ma
Summary: This study investigated the population and habitat changes of wintering Hooded Cranes in Chongming Dongtan, China from 2000 to 2021. The results showed that the tidal wetland has undergone significant changes, affecting the food availability and habitat quality for the cranes. It is suggested that active intervention measures be taken to restore the food source on the tidal wetland and reduce human disturbance in farmland to improve the habitat quality for the wintering Hooded Crane.
Correction
Ornithology
Zhijun Ma, Chi-Yeung Choi, Xiaojing Gan, Jing Li, Yang Liu, David S. Melville, Tong Mu, Theunis Piersma, Zhengwang Zhang
Article
Ornithology
Zhijun Ma, Chi-Yeung Choi, Xiaojing Gan, Jing Li, Yang Liu, David S. Melville, Tong Mu, Theunis Piersma, Zhengwang Zhang
Summary: This article reviews the conservation measures taken to protect waterbirds in China's coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future actions. While progress has been made with the implementation of conservation legislation and regulations, there are still critical issues related to habitat conservation and management. Protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are emphasized as crucial for the conservation of coastal waterbirds.
