Filling knowledge gaps in a threatened shorebird flyway through satellite tracking

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology Vol. 56; no. 10; pp. 2305 - 2315
• Main Authors: Chan, Ying‐Chi, Tibbitts, T. Lee, Lok, Tamar, Hassell, Chris J., Peng, He‐Bo, Ma, Zhijun, Zhang, Zhengwang, Piersma, Theunis, Choi, Chi‐Yeung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Aquatic birds; Birds; Breeding; Breeding seasons; Calidris tenuirostris; Coastal ecology; Coasts; Conservation; East Asian–Australasian Flyway; Endangered species; Foraging habitats; great knot; Habitats; intertidal mudflats; Knots; Mapping; migration; Remote regions; satellite telemetry; Satellite tracking; Solar power; Southeast Asia; stopover site; Transmitters; Yellow Sea; Southeast Asia; China
• ISSN: 0021-8901; 1365-2664
• DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13474

Satellite‐based technologies that track individual animal movements enable the mapping of their spatial and temporal patterns of occurrence. This is particularly useful in poorly studied or remote regions where there is a need for the rapid gathering of relevant ecological knowledge to inform management actions. One such region is East Asia, where many intertidal habitats are being degraded at unprecedented rates and shorebird populations relying on these habitats show rapid declines. We examine the utility of satellite tracking to accelerate the identification of coastal sites of conservation importance in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. In 2015–2017, we used solar‐powered satellite transmitters to track the migration of 32 great knots (Calidris tenuirostris), an “Endangered” shorebird species widely distributed in the Flyway and fully dependent on intertidal habitats for foraging during the non‐breeding season. From the great knot tracks, a total of 92 stopping sites along the Flyway were identified. Surprisingly, 63% of these sites were not known as important shorebird sites before our study; in fact, every one of the tracked individuals used sites that were previously unrecognized. Site knowledge from on‐ground studies in the Flyway is most complete for the Yellow Sea and generally lacking for Southeast Asia, Southern China and Eastern Russia. Synthesis and applications. Satellite tracking highlighted coastal habitats that are potentially important for shorebirds but lack ecological information and conservation recognition, such as those in Southern China and Southeast Asia. At the same time, the distributional data of tracked individuals can direct on‐ground surveys at the lesser known sites to collect information on bird numbers and habitat characteristics. To recognize and subsequently protect valuable coastal habitats, filling knowledge gaps by integrating bird tracking with ground‐based methods should be prioritized. 摘要 基于卫星技术追踪动物个体的移动，能展示其时空分布格局。这种方法尤其适用于偏远或缺乏相关研究的地区，用于快速收集对生境管理和保护有用的生态学信息。东亚地区的潮间带湿地正受到大规模的破坏，依赖这些湿地的涉禽种群数量亦急剧下降, 而有关涉禽对这个区域的利用却所知甚少。 我们检验能否使用卫星追踪技术来快速识别东亚─澳大利西亚迁飞路线上具有重要保护意义的地点。2015–2017年间，我们使用太阳能卫星发射器追踪了32只大滨鹬 (Calidris tenuirostris)的迁徙活动。大滨鹬是一种广泛分布在此迁飞路线上的濒危涉禽，它们在繁殖季以外完全依赖潮间带湿地觅食。 根据卫星追踪数据，一共获取了大滨鹬在此迁飞路线上的92个迁徙停歇地点。出乎意料的是，其中63%的停歇地点在此之前并未被识别为涉禽的重要栖息地，并且所有追踪个体都曾停歇在这些以往未被识别为重要栖息地的地点。 在此迁飞路线上，实地调查数据最完善的是黄海地区，而东南亚、中国南部以及俄罗斯远东地区普遍缺乏实地调查数据。 结论及应用：卫星追踪研究结果强调了涉禽潜在的重要滨海栖息地，尤其是那些目前仍缺乏生态学数据和保护价值认知的栖息地，例如中国南部和东南亚的滨海区域。与此同时，卫星跟踪的个体分布数据可用于指导在信息缺乏的地点开展地面调查，以便更有效地收集鸟类数量和生境特征的数据。为了确认并保护那些具有保护价值的滨海栖息地，必须优先考虑将卫星追踪和地面调查两种方法相结合以填补相关知识的空缺。 Satellite tracking highlighted coastal habitats that are potentially important for shorebirds but lack ecological information and conservation recognition, such as those in Southern China and Southeast Asia. At the same time, the distributional data of tracked individuals can direct on‐ground surveys at the lesser known sites to collect information on bird numbers and habitat characteristics. To recognize and subsequently protect valuable coastal habitats, filling knowledge gaps by integrating bird tracking with ground‐based methods should be prioritized.