Usage of ring-recovery data for the background for the Migration Atlas of the European Anseriform birds

Abstract

The atlas was prepared from the data on ring-recovery database of the Bird Ringing Centre of Russia (Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences). We plan to publish an extended version of the atlas on the base of bird ring-recovery data. The Atlas will consist not only description of the migratory routes but a consideration of several population parameters of the focal species, as well as, the spatial distribution characteristics of recoveries and even probable practical use of the obtained population parameters values. More than 42000 ring recoveries of 36 European waterfowl species were used. Besides the standard description of the migratory routes, monthly distribution of recoveries, maps of direct and indirect recoveries, etc., the Atlas contains some additional information. In particular, the population structure of species: geographical populations were revealed. It is known that these populations served as a basement of the flyway conception. Then we elaborated math model allows calculating mean yearly mortality rate for each species, in different periods, males and females, etc. Ring-recovery data of a number of species shows the influence of the global warming on the waterfowl. Wintering sites usually are permanent; however breeding places shift more and more to the north. Therefore, mean distance between wintering and breeding places progressively increasing during 20th and the beginning of the 21th century. In addition, the distribution of recoveries in relation to each other along the area was described: 1) it was possible to calculate the degree of aggregation of recoveries (aggregation) for the species with the most numerous recoveries, specifically – to calculate the mean distance from each recovery to its nearest neighbour (mean minimal distance between recoveries); 2) degree of recovery concentration in groups (concentration) with different number of recoveries that located at not more than some distance (might be called as “key distance”) from each other. The distance between recoveries within such groups is less than the distance between groups (clusters). The distribution of recoveries in connection with ecological capacities of the area where these recoveries are located is described for the first time. The distribution of recoveries by their proximity to the different waterbodies is compared: to small and big rivers, lakes, and to the seashore. The exploratory analysis of the separate and mutual numbers dynamics in the two systematically close waterfowl species was performed.