Resident Species Research Articles

Quantification of Migration Birds Based on Polarimetric Weather Radar

Weather radar plays an important role in monitoring aerial animal migration, providing a stable data source for biological studies with large-scale coverage and consecutive-time samples. The accurate estimation of bird density from weather radar echoes is fundamental for quantitative biological studies. We analyzed the bird observation model in weather radar, and proposed a method to build the bird quantification model by jointly utilizing dual-polarization Doppler weather radar and scanning bird radar. We designed a detailed process to remove tracks or echoes from non-bird targets, ensuring the effectiveness of bird observations. The field experiments validated the quantification method, showing that the average radar cross section of birds in Jinan was 19.09 dBscm (i.e., 81.19 cm2; 95% confidence interval, CI: 18.92–19.27 dBscm) for the S-band weather radar, with an R2 of 0.79. In addition, through the correlation analysis, we found that the ground terrain may affect the distribution pattern of aerial bird density.

What's the rumpus? Resident temperate forest birds approach an unfamiliar neotropical alarm call across three continents.

Alarm signals have evolved to communicate pertinent threats to conspecifics, but heterospecifics may also use alarm calls to obtain social information. In birds, mixed-species flocks are often structured around focal sentinel species, which produce reliable alarm calls that inform eavesdropping heterospecifics about predation risk. Prior research has shown that Neotropical species innately recognize the alarm calls of a Nearctic sentinel species, but it remains unclear how generalizable or consistent such innate signal recognition of alarm-calling species is. We tested for the responses to the alarm calls of a Neotropical sentinel forest bird species, the dusky-throated antshrike (Thamnomanes ardesiacus), by naive resident temperate forest birds across three continents during the winter season. At all three sites, we found that approaches to the Neotropical antshrike alarm calls were similarly frequent to the alarm calls of a local parid sentinel species (positive control), while approaches to the antshrike's songs and to non-threatening columbid calls (negative controls) occurred significantly less often. Although we only tested one sentinel species, our findings indicate that temperate forest birds can recognize and adaptively respond globally to a foreign and unfamiliar tropical alarm call, and suggest that some avian alarm calls transcend phylogenetic histories and individual ecological experiences.

Experiences in Peru for surveillance in the fight against highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. Proceeding of The First International Avian Influenza Summit, University of Arkansas- October 16-17, 2023"

The emergence of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza poses a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. This summary provides an overview of the surveillance efforts implemented in Peru to combat the spread of H5N1 avian influenza. Joint efforts between the authority, the productive sector, and academia date back to the first influenza outbreak in Chile in 2002. Since then, the government has been developing intense clinical and serological surveillance in the domestic birds and poultry industry. In parallel, the university has been carrying out important research to identify and typify the viruses that circulate in the resident and migratory wild bird populations of the Peruvian coast, having detected and identified during these years around 50 strains of influenza viruses of 10 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 8 neuraminidases, a single strain of the low pathogenicity H7N3 subtype. Until then, an H5-type virus had never been detected in wild birds. With the arrival of the virus in North America, a comprehensive response was developed in which the key components of the surveillance program included active and passive clinical surveillance in wild bird populations, commercial poultry, and backyard and game bird populations. Regarding surveillance of wild birds, the authority has received 238 notifications, of which 64 were confirmed positive, from 15 regions. In the Avian Pathology Laboratory of the UNMSM, actions were carried out to support the active surveillance of wild birds of the Peruvian coast in the impact zones for poultry farming, analyzing 405 samples of fresh feces from 41 species of asymptomatic coastal aquatic wild birds, being positive 12 (2.96\%). Additionally, 45 samples of wild birds with suspicious symptoms were analyzed and sent by different government institutions (SENASA, SERFOR, SERNAMP), with 19 (42\%) being confirmed positive. Regarding domestic bird populations, 1,676 notifications have been made to SENASA, of which 194 were positive for the H5N1 virus in 13 country regions. On the other hand, the Avian Pathology Lab received 16 confirmed positive cases by PCR and viral isolation in SPF embryonated eggs from ducks, quails, layers, native birds, and one case of turkeys. The complete genome analysis of 09 strains of wild birds, 04 of domestic birds, and one of sea lions has been carried out. Analysis of new samples is in process. NGS analysis has identified the IA H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus; however, it has been found that the Peruvian strains are lining up in a group together with the Chilean strains. All these activities are possible to carry out thanks to the financial support of national and international institutions: NAMRU, Concytec-World Bank, Peruvian Poultry Association, and ALA-US Poultry. The high vulnerability of poultry populations in the country is due to its location along the coast, where tens of thousands of dead wild birds have fallen, in addition to being surrounded by a very high population of ducks, fighting, and backyard birds. The government determined emergency vaccination, as well as the continuation of clinical and virological surveillance in vaccinated and unvaccinated poultry populations. SENASA has been evaluating the protection of approved vaccines, both by the serological response with hemagglutination inhibition tests using local antigens and by challenge. The industry has responded by significantly increasing the levels of structural and operational biosafety, as well as directly supporting control actions at the regional level. Since March, no outbreaks have been reported in industrially farmed birds.

The Importance of Urban Green Spaces for Resident and Migrant Birds – A Case Study from Tepeören Cemetery in Istanbul-Türkiye

Aim of study: This study was carried out to determine the effects and importance of urban cemeteries on bird species diversity. Area of study: The Tepeören cemetery is one of the oldest and most historically important cemeteries in the Istanbul region. Material and methods: Field studies of birds were carried out between April-September 2018/2019. During the study period of 12 months, the cemetery was visited twice a month. The species list of the area was created by registering all feeding, lodging, roosting and nesting birds observed in the area. Main results: It was determined that 36 bird species occured in the cemetery, out of which ten species were identified as breeding in the area. The main bird species that used the cemetery as breeding ground, was Corvus monedula (Western jackdaw) that utilizes the cavities of old oaks for nesting. The average number of eggs per nest was found to be 4.3 based on the examination of 49 active nests in 2018-2019. The number of fledged birds per nest was determined as 1.1. Higlights: In the current study, the importance of the city cemeteries in terms of bird diversity has been revealed. The presence of plant species that provide suitable nesting conditions for the reproduction of birds in these cemeteries supports the survival of the birds in the city.

A checklist of avifauna from different microhabitats in Muttukadu backwaters, Tamilnadu, India

Muttukadu backwaters cover an area of 215.36 acres and lies between 12.8006°N latitude and 80.2363°E longitude. It is situated in Chengalpet district of Tamilnadu, India. This backwater forms a network of microhabitats for different kind of birds. The exchange of seawater and freshwater in this region regulates salinity and nutrient levels, increasing the diversity of baseline producers and consumers in the ecosystem, which attracts and sustains waterbirds. Bird survey was conducted during July 2021–March 2023 using block count and total count method. Identification was done up to species level by using standard field guides. The objective of this study is to prepare a checklist of avian species in different microhabitats based on their habitat preference, feeding habits, migratory, and conservation status. During the present study, a total of 124 species belonging to 19 orders and 45 families were recorded. Among them, seven near-threatened species were recorded. The presence of significant number of migrants and threatened species indicates the importance, both ecologically and biologically of the study area for resident and migratory birds. The current checklist represents the first attempt to compile a comprehensive list of the birds found in the Muttukadu backwaters.

Fish diversity, composition, and guild structure influenced by the environmental drivers in a small temporarily closed tropical estuary from the western coast of India.

Globally, small temporarily closed estuaries are the least considered for fisheries assessment and management due to a low scientific priority and regional importance. However, these ecosystems are highly exposed to anthropogenic pressures and may deteriorate without assessing its aquatic resources. In this study, fish diversity and guild structure of Chettuva-a temporarily closed tropical estuary in the western coast of India-was investigated. A total of 70 fish taxa belonging to 32 families were recorded with the quantitative predominance of families; Mugilidae, Cichlidae, and Leiognathidae. Family Carangidae had the highest species diversity (seven species), followed by Clupeidae and Mugilidae (five species). Ecological guild assessment revealed thatthe immigrating marine fish species (marineestuarine opportunist (34 species) and marineestuarinedependent (13 species)) dominated the guild structure over theestuarine resident species (seven species). The marine species were found all along the saline gradient and throughout the sampling period indicating the salinity ingress towards the estuarine zone throughout the year. Carnivores and omnivores were the major feeding mode functional guilds in terms of diversity, whereas detritivores dominated in numerical abundance throughout the salinity gradient. The major environmental drivers of the fish assemblages in the estuary were salinity and chlorophyll a. The distribution of freshwater fishes and estuarine resident species was connected with the rising primary productivity as the majority of fishes rely on the algae for feeding, whereas marineestuarinedependent and marineestuarine opportunist species occurred in areas with the highest salinity concentrations.

Woodland loss differently affects seed dispersal by resident and migratory avian frugivores in olive grove-dominated landscapes

Seed dispersal by frugivores is a key ecological process underpinning the functionality of woodland patches and their capacity to maintain biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Resident and migratory avian frugivores differ in temporal span of their local occurrence, as well as in mobility and territoriality. However, whether landscape homogenization by agriculture affects seed dispersal by avian frugivores differing in migratory strategy remains largely unexplored. We hypothesized a positive role of woodland patches on avian frugivore abundance and seed-dispersal frequency, and a differential impact of woodland loss and landscape simplification on resident and migratory frugivorous birds. We tested these hypotheses in 20 farms distributed along a gradient of woodland loss and olive cropland expansion in south Spain, considering woodland patches and olive fields as two habitats to survey avian frugivore abundance and frequency of seed dispersal. We confirmed that both the abundance and seed-dispersal frequency of avian frugivores were higher in woodland patches than in olive fields, and also that both decayed with decreasing woodland cover. This was largely mediated by a few European (winter) migrants and secondarily by some resident species. However, the woodland patches were unable to intercept sub-Saharan (summer) migrants in sufficient numbers as to make their contribution to dispersal of summer fruits meaningful. Woodland patches with higher seed-dispersal function were located predominantly in landscapes with high woodland cover and/or fruit availability. Moreover, a relatively high woodland cover in the landscape enhanced the seed dispersal function in woodland patches through a balance between high overall frugivore abundance and dispersal frequency, and some increased activity of resident and summer migrants. Our results also inform that the presence of particularly fruit-rich woodland patches can compensate the woodland cover required to maintain the function by enhancing the frequency of seed dispersal of all migratory groups. In contrast, to maintain the function of fruit-poor woodlands their cover at landscape scale should increase. Preserving and restoring woodland patches at landscape scale and enhancing their abundance and diversity of fruits could boost the activity of different disperser groups and their functional complementarity across agricultural landscapes.

Composition of avian communities in Ranjit Sagar Conservation Reserve, Punjab, India

The Ranjit Sagar wetland, a critical aquatic ecosystem supporting diverse flora and fauna, has been the subject of investigation from January 2013 to January 2015. The study revealed the presence of 167 avian species across 19 orders and 52 families. Notably, areas with minimal disturbance within the wetland serve as key niches for a substantial avian population, encompassing 47.31% migrant and 52.69% resident species. Significantly, 10 Near Threatened species, alongside the Vulnerable Common Pochard Aythya ferina and the Endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, underscore the wetland’s conservation value. Dominated by order Passeriformes (55 species), followed by Charadriiformes (29 species), and Anseriformes (20 species), the avian community exhibits varied feeding guilds, with insectivores (37.13%), omnivores (18.56%), aquatic animal feeders (16.16%), carnivores (14.97%), frugivores (5.39%), granivores (4.79%), and herbivores (3%) comprising its composition. This study elucidates the intricate avian ecosystem’s dynamics in Ranjit Sagar wetland, emphasizing its conservation significance and ecological structure, thereby contributing valuable insights for preservation and future research.

Urbanisation-induced changes in the morphology of birds from a tropical city

ABSTRACT Urbanisation is accompanied by major environmental changes that impact the structure and functioning of communities and ecosystems, bringing new selective regimes for animal species and for eco-evolutionary dynamics. We aimed to evaluate whether urban intensification promotes ecomorphological changes in birds from a large city in Central Brazil. Analyses were performed on a set of 1314 individuals of 35 species, captured along a gradient of urban intensification. We found significant morphological changes associated with urban intensification by evaluating ten ecomorphological traits and body mass of the species assemblage. Beak length showed the most dramatic changes, and was significantly shorter as a function of urban intensification, mainly in individuals of insectivorous and omnivorous species. These results reinforce the notion that environmental changes caused by human activities in dense urban environments promote new selective pressures in resident bird species.

Higher plant colonisation and lower resident diversity in grasslands more recently abandoned from agriculture

Abstract Rates of species colonisation and extirpation are increasing in plant communities world‐wide. Colonisation could potentially help compensate for, or compound, resident diversity loss that results from global environmental change. We use a multifactorial seed addition grassland experiment to examine relationships between plant colonisation, resident species diversity and key community assembly factors over 3 years. By manipulating colonist seed rate, imposing disturbance and examining abundance and diversity impacts of 14 formerly absent sown colonists in communities that varied in successional stage and time since agricultural abandonment, we were able to disentangle effects of global change factors (species introduction, novel disturbance and land use change) that are usually confounded. Evidence suggested that cover abundance of sown colonists was most strongly influenced by successional stage of recipient communities, though number of growing seasons was also important for the group of seven colonists with resource conservative ‘slow’ life history traits. Colonist type, seed rate and disturbance had weaker relationships with colonist cover. Factors affecting sown colonist cover were highly conditional. A negative relationship between plot‐level disturbance and colonist cover in early successional communities meant that, despite a positive relationship in late succession, colonisation was negatively related to disturbance overall, defying theoretical expectations. Non‐sown resident diversity was negatively related to colonist cover and positively related to successional stage. Resource acquisitive colonists with ‘fast’ life history traits appeared to limit cover of ‘slow colonists’ when the two groups were sown together, likely reflecting niche pre‐emption. Communities at earlier stages of succession had lower resident diversity and experienced higher levels of colonisation than communities at later stages of succession. Elevated colonisation and lower resident diversity both appeared to be symptoms of human‐induced land use change. However, results suggested that resource competition from plant colonists may also limit resident diversity in grasslands abandoned from agriculture more recently. Synthesis. Our findings point to the importance of resource availability and competition on plant colonisation and colonist impacts on residents. Although colonisation is potentially a source of biodiversity in the short term, our results suggest that plant colonists that reach high abundance may be a further threat to resident plant diversity in secondary grasslands recovering from a recent history of agriculture.

BIRD DIVERSITY ACROSS AN ANDEAN CITY: THE LIMITATION OF SPECIES RICHNESS VALUES AND WATERSHED SCALES

Evaluating several biodiversity descriptors and considering several spatial scales might elucidate conservation issues and improve biodiversity monitoring in urban environments. We estimated species richness (order q = 0), Shannon diversity (order q = 1), and Simpson diversity (order q = 2) based on Hill numbers and performed cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to compare seven urban micro-watersheds and a peri-urban site across a northern Andean city (Medellín, Colombia). We found 113 diurnal resident bird species: 50 (44 %) exclusively within urban sites, 21 (19 %) exclusively in the periurban site, and 42 (37 %) shared species. Some urban watersheds had similar bird species richness to the periurban site, but Shannon and Simpson diversities were always lower, showing decrease in local bird diversity when abundances were considered. Bird species composition differed between urban watersheds and the periurban site, with all urban watersheds grouped altogether by cluster and NMDS analysis, and the periurban site forming its own group. This suggests homogenization of bird species composition due to the species turnover decreasing across urban areas, with endemic, near endemic and rare species restricted to periurban areas where native forest remnants persist. Several scales of biodiversity and analysis at more local scales are needed to better understand biodiversity patterns across Andean cities and to design urban planning strategies that prevent biodiversity loss.

Detection of Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriales members in seabirds sampled along the Brazilian coast.

Escherichia coli, an Enterobacterales member, is a normal representative of the microbiota of homeothermic animals. Most strains are commensal, but several pathotypes can cause disease, and numerous antimicrobial resistance factors have been identified. These bacteria have spread rapidly in recent years, highlighting the importance of screening the environment and non-human reservoirs for virulent strains and/or those presenting resistance factors, in addition to other microorganisms of public health importance. In this context, this study aimed to survey Enterobacteriales present in seabirds sampled along the Brazilian coast, comparing findings between migratory and resident birds, as well as between wrecked and non-wrecked animals. Escherichia coli pathotypes were also characterized through rapid seroagglutination and polymerase chain reaction techniques and antimicrobial resistance profiles were investigated through the disc agar diffusion method. Cloacal, ocular, oral, tracheal, and skin lesion swabs, as well as fresh feces, were collected from 122 seabirds. The findings indicate these animals as important hosts for opportunistic human pathogens. Escherichia coli strains were identified in 70 % of the analyzed seabirds, 62 % of which displaying resistant or intermediate profiles to at least one antimicrobial, while 7% were multiresistant. Resistance to tetracycline (22 %), nalidixic acid (15 %), trimethoprim-sulfamethozaxol (14 %) and ampicillin (12 %) were the most prevalent. Resistance to cefoxitin, a critically important antimicrobial for human medicine, was also detected. Virulence genes for one of the EAEC, ETEC or EPEC pathotypes were detected in 30 % of the identified strains, the first two described in seabirds for the first time. The EAEC gene was detected in 25 % of the sampled seabirds, all resident, 8 % of which exhibited a multidrug-resistant profile. Thus, seabirds comprise important reservoirs for this pathotype. Escherichia coli was proven an ubiquitous and well-distributed bacterium, present in all evaluated bird species and sampling sites (except Marajó Island). According to the chi-square test, no significant differences between E. coli prevalences or antimicrobial resistance profiles between migratory and resident and between wrecked and non-wrecked seabirds were observed. Thus, migratory birds do not seem to contribute significantly to E. coli frequencies, pathotypes or antimicrobial resistance rates on the Brazilian coast.

Structure and Composition of Bird Assemblage in Keshopur Wetland of Punjab, India

Survey on avian diversity at Keshopur wetland, district Gurdaspur, Punjab, India revealed the presence of 121 species of birds belonging to 19 orders and 47 families. The maximum number (38) of species in the area belonged to order Passeriformes. 27 winter migratory, 3 summer migratory and 91 resident species of birds were observed. One vulnerable (Aythya ferina) and six near threatened species were observed (Aythya nyroca, Anhinga melanogaster, Mycteria leucocephala, Sterna aurantia, Psittacula eupatria, Threskiornis melanocephalus) as per IUCN red list. A particular pattern of arrival and departure of migratory birds was observed. The winter migrants started to appear in October when the temperature started decreasing. The abundance of birds varied significantly during different seasons. Major variation was found in abundance of few species at three different sites of the same wetland. This study revealed that Keshopur Chhamb Community Reserve acts as a refuge site for many waterbirds including wader, waterfowl and many migratory and threatened species.

RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS: DAILY ACTIVITY OF SMALL MAMMALS IN CONTRASTING BIOTOPES

Using the marking and recapture method, we compared the daily activity of four common species of small mammals of the forest zone in three biotopes that differ greatly in their protective properties. Lines of live traps were installed in a dark coniferous forest, on a grassy slope and along a rocky beach along the water's edge on the river. Ilych. The activity of resident and non-resident individuals was assessed with a frequency of checks every 1.5 hours. In the forest, polyphasic activity without pronounced maxima was noted for all species; on the open slope, the maximum activity of resident animals occurred at night, and on the shore only non-resident animals were observed. Non-resident activity in all biotopes is shifted to the night, while in open biotopes the period of activity is shorter and more associated with the dark time of day.

A multi-sensor array for detecting and analyzing nocturnal avian migration.

Avian migration has fascinated humans for centuries. Insights into the lives of migrant birds are often elusive; however, recent, standalone technological innovations have revolutionized our understanding of this complex biological phenomenon. A future challenge for following these highly mobile animals is the necessity of bringing multiple technologies together to capture a more complete understanding of their movements. Here, we designed a proof-of-concept multi-sensor array consisting of two weather surveillance radars (WSRs), one local and one regional, an autonomous moon-watching sensor capable of detecting birds flying in front of the moon, and an autonomous recording unit (ARU) capable of recording avian nocturnal flight calls. We deployed this array at a field site in central Oklahoma on select nights in March, April, and May of 2021 and integrated data from this array with wind data corresponding to this site to examine the influence of wind on the movements of spring migrants aloft across these spring nights. We found that regional avian migration intensity is statistically significantly negatively correlated with wind velocity, in line with previous research. Furthermore, we found evidence suggesting that when faced with strong, southerly winds, migrants take advantage of these conditions by adjusting their flight direction by drifting. Importantly, we found that most of the migration intensities detected by the sensors were intercorrelated, except when this correlation could not be ascertained because we lacked the sample size to do so. This study demonstrates the potential for multi-sensor arrays to reveal the detailed ways in which avian migrants move in response to changing atmospheric conditions while in flight.

The Geographical Differences in the Bird Prey of the Great Evening Bat (Ia io)

Geographic variation in diet can indicate if species have unique ecological roles or feeding strategies in different environments. Bats have a unique nocturnal ecological niche and a diverse diet, making them an ideal model for studying changes in feeding. Some bats have adapted to reduced food resources caused by environmental changes and human disturbances by expanding their dietary ecological niche. As one of the typical species whose dietary niche has expanded from invertebrates (insects) to vertebrates (birds), the feeding habits of the great evening bat (Ia io) have attracted much attention from researchers. Unfortunately, little is known about how the diet of Ia io varies in different regions. Therefore, in this study, the diversity and composition of the bird prey of the great evening bat from two populations were examined using cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) amplicon sequencing. The results showed that the great evening bat in both populations preyed on a variety of passerine birds, with the Phylloscopidae being the dominant family. Although most birds preyed upon by these two populations are the same, there are significant differences in predation on Cettiidae between the two populations. Both populations prey on migratory birds more than resident birds. Both populations of bats can prey on finch birds weighing more than 15 g, but they preyed on more birds weighing less than 10 g. The results of this study provide an important addition to the study of changes in bat diets under the conditions of expanding dietary ecological niches.

Territorial behaviour of thrush nightingales outside the breeding season.

Territoriality is a common pattern of space use in animals that has fundamental consequences for ecological processes. In the tropics, all-year resident songbirds usually hold territories throughout the year, whereas most all-year resident temperate species are territorial only during the breeding season. In long-distance migrants, however, the situation is mostly unexplored. Here, we report findings from a Palaearctic-African migrant, the thrush nightingale Luscinia luscina. We found that only a fraction of the males was territorial in their East African winter quarters and that this was related to the stage of their song development. Individuals with full song were territorial towards other full songsters, but not towards birds that sang plastic song (i.e. an earlier stage of song development). Plastic singers were not territorial towards full songsters and often settled closely to territorial males. We suggest that territoriality of thrush nightingales in the winter quarters may be a by-product of rising testosterone levels that trigger song crystallization. Collectively, our study indicates that changes in territoriality can occur rapidly, giving rise to shifting proportions of territorial and non-territorial individuals in a population, which may lead to complex dynamics in settlement patterns and resulting ecological interactions.

Giardia and Cryptosporidium in resident wildlife species in Arctic Alaska

Giardia and Cryptosporidium are zoonotic protozoan parasites that can infect humans and other taxa, including wildlife, often causing gastrointestinal illness. Both have been identified as One Health priorities in the Arctic, where climate change is expected to influence the distribution of many wildlife and zoonotic diseases, but little is known about their prevalence in local wildlife. To help fill information gaps, we collected fecal samples from four wildlife species that occur seasonally on the northern Alaska coastline or in nearshore marine waters—Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), and caribou (Rangifer tarandus)—and used immunofluorescence assays to screen for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. We detected Giardia cysts in 18.3% and Cryptosporidium oocysts in 16.5% of Arctic foxes (n = 109), suggesting that foxes may be potentially important hosts in this region. We also detected Giardia cysts in a single polar bear (12.5%; n = 8), which to our knowledge represents the first such report for this species. Neither parasite was detected in walruses or caribou.

Potential economic consequences along migratory flyways from reductions in breeding habitat of migratory waterbirds

The migration of species, often across continents, makes it difficult to quantify the cumulative effects of local- and regional-scale conservation actions. Further, variation in stakeholder interests, differing jurisdictional governance processes, priorities, and monitoring abilities across the migratory range shapes place-specific differences in management actions. These differences may lead management of migratory species to benefit both species and stakeholders in some places more than others. In the case of North American waterfowl, possible reduction of wetland protection in breeding areas may lead to substantive shifts in benefits among stakeholders across their range by adversely affecting recreational viewing and hunting opportunities for these species. To understand possible consequences of wetland loss in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region, the breeding region for 12 focal species of waterfowl, on the recreation economics for these species, we modeled a causal pathway linking wetland loss in the breeding grounds to changes in duck abundance and then assessed the consequences of that change in abundance on recreational hunting and viewing within migratory flyways. Under a scenario where wetland protections cease, we find annual economic activity associated with recreation may decrease as much as $489 million at the highest levels of predicted wetland loss, the majority of it coming from impacts to viewing behavior in the Mississippi Flyway. The number of hunters may decline by as much as 18,000, leading to $32 million less in annual economic activity. At highest levels of wetland loss, viewing value is expected to decline by more than one-quarter. Lost economic value associated with reductions in recreation in the Mississippi and Central Flyway states is not likely to be overcome by increases in agricultural economic output in drained wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region. Our analyses indicate local effects of national water policies likely have far-reaching consequences because of the multi-dimensional connections arising from place-specific differences in management action, global and national agricultural economic drivers of crop expansion, and the biotic phenomena of transcontinental avian migration. Reductions in habitat in one location could ramify to economic consequences throughout the continent through connections fostered by migrating waterfowl.

Importance of conserving a critical wintering ground for shorebirds in the Valinokkam Lagoon—a first study of the avifaunal distribution of the southeastern coast of India

Any new economic activity in a virgin area brings landscape changes, making it essential to document baseline biodiversity areas to understand the impacts on habitats. Avifaunal inventories are critical for previously undocumented areas, especially in a wintering site for shorebirds in the Central Asian Flyway, to formulate site- and species-specific conservation management tools. We present an annotated checklist of avifauna from the Valinokkam Lagoon in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. We recorded the first baseline avifaunal data for 154 species belonging to 16 orders and 46 families from August 2016 to February 2023. Order-wise, Charadriiformes dominated the study site with 47 species; followed by Passeriformes with 39 species and Pelecaniformes with 20 species. Winter visitors constituted 37.6 % (58 species) and one Passage Migrant Rosy Starling Pastor roseus. The relative abundance indicated that 94 species were C (common), 41 species were UC (uncommon), and 19 species were Ra (rare). Eleven Near Threatened (NT) species: Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Great Stone-curlew Esacus recurvirostris, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis and Red Knot Calidris canutus, one Endangered (EN) species Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, and one unassessed Hanuman Plover Charadrius seebohmi according to the IUCN Red List category. This baseline data highlights the importance of Valinokkam Lagoon as an important wintering site in the Central Asian Flyway on the southeast coast of India for migratory shorebirds and the need for more conservation priorities for regional endemic birds like Hanuman Plover.