Quantitative evaluation of the global impacts of human land modification on raptors.

Abstract

Raptors are threatened by anthropogenic land modifications, but targeted quantitative assessment of these impacts is lacking. We conducted the first global quantitative evaluation of the impacts of human-modified land on raptors. We used eBird data from 2001 to 2020 on 425 raptor species and occupancy models to assess the impacts of human-modified land on raptor distribution. The mean spatiotemporal correlations of human settlement, cropland, and pasture with raptor occupancy probability were -0.048 (SE 0.031), -0.134 (0.032), and -0.145 (0.032), respectively. The mean sensitivity of raptor occupancy probability to settlement, cropland, and pasture was -5.760 (2.266), -3.128 (1.540), and -2.402 (1.551), respectively. The occupancy probability of raptors with a large body mass was more negatively correlated with cropland (phylogenetic generalized least squares regressions: slope = -0.052 [SE 0.022], t=-2.335, df=1,407, p=0.020, λ=0.006) and more positively correlated with pasture (slope=0.047 [0.022], t=2.118, df=1,407, p=0.035, λ=0.013). The occupancy probability of raptors with a more extensive range size was more positively correlated with cropland (slope=0.002 [0.004], t=0.399, df=1,407, p < 0.001, λ=0.000). Raptors that prefer open habitats were more positively correlated with cropland (analysis of variance: F=3.424, df=2, p=0.034, λ=0.000) and pasture (F=6.577, df=2, p=0.002, λ=0.000). In Africa and South America, where raptor species are most abundant, raptor occupancy probability decreased over 20years, most likely due to habitat fragmentation associated with human land modification. Although raptors with different ecological characteristics had different responses to human land modification, the impacts of settlement, cropland, and pasture on mean raptor occupancy probability were negative, regardless of space and time.