Seeking the least urbanized landscape: white stork nest abundance variation in a Mediterranean capital city

Abstract

Knowledge of the factors influencing variation of nest abundance in cities is a major topic in urban ecology with important management and planning implications. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regards to white stork (WS) (Ciconia ciconia) in the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Here, we used data on a series of topographic, anthropogenic, and landscape variables to identify best predictors causing variation in the WS nest abundance by means of generalized linear models. Results revealed an increase in nest abundances with a weaker length of roads and greater non-built-up areas. Therefore, the less urbanized the areas of the city of Rabat are, the more attractive for nest establishment by storks they are. This information is of use to the Rabat urban environmental managers in order not only to (1) maintain this Ciconiidae species at manageable levels but also to (2) suitably manage this city taking into account the needs of storks. Reproducing this study in other Mediterranean urban areas would be relevant to find out if variation in nest abundances of this species depends on the same factors as those in Rabat.