Current status of the Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus and the great white pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus populations of the Black Sea / Mediterranean flyway (original) (raw)
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The Dalmatian pelican (DP) Pelecanus crispu s and the great white pelican (GWP) Pelecanus onocrotalus are listed as 'Vulnerable' and 'Least Concern', respectively, in the IUCN Red List. We present an updated estimation of the Black Sea / Mediterranean flyway population status of both species, based on data provided by experts working in all 7 countries of the region where pelicans breed and/or overwinter, who came together at the 1st Workshop on Pelican Research and Conservation in Prespa, Greece. The DP breeding population in the Black Sea and Mediterranean countries increased from 1730−2105 pairs in the years 2000−2010 to 2154−2437 pairs in 2011−2012. Approximately 40% of the Palaearctic breeding population of GWP occurred in Southeast Europe and Turkey. In 2011−2012 the GWP population in this region was estimated to be 4702−5175 pairs, and has remained more or less stable during the last decade. Although all the breeding sites for both species are in protected areas, disturbance at nesting places was considered to be the main threat. Direct persecution and electric power lines still cause occasional problems. In deltaic lagoons, erosion and inundation of nesting sites cause breeding failures in DPs, while in inland wetlands large water level fluctuations are a widespread problem. Decrease of fish stocks is a threat, especially in coastal areas. Many stop-over wetlands along GWP migration routes between Southeast Europe and Africa have been seriously degraded or have disappeared, resulting in serious implications for their populations. Conservation needs are listed, but further research is recommended for both species.
Wetland Suitability and Connectivity for Trans-Saharan Migratory Waterbirds
PLOS ONE, 2015
To complete their life cycle waterbirds rely on patchily distributed and often ephemeral wetlands along their migration route in a vast unsuitable matrix. However, further loss and degradation of remaining wetland habitats might lead to a configuration and size of stopovers that is no longer sufficient to ensure long-term survival of waterbird populations. By identifying optimal conservation targets to maintain overall habitat availability en route, we can accommodate an as yet absent functional connectivity component in larger management frameworks for migratory waterbirds, such as the Ramsar Convention and the EU Natura 2000 Network. Using a graph-based habitat availability metric (Equivalent Connected Area) we determine the functional connectivity of wetland networks for seven migratory waterbirds with divergent habitat requirements. Analyses are performed at two spatial extents both spanning the Mediterranean Sea and centered around Greece (Balkan-Cyrenaica and Greece-Cyrenaica). We create species-specific suitable habitat maps and account for human disturbance by species-specific disturbance buffers, based on expert estimates of Flight Initiation Distances. At both spatial extents we quantitatively determine the habitat networks' overall functional connectivity and identify wetland sites that are crucial for maintaining a well-connected network. We show that the wetland networks for both spatial extents are relatively well connected and identify several wetland sites in Greece and Libya as important for maintaining connectivity. The application of disturbance buffers results in wetland site-specific reduction of suitable habitat area (0.90-7.36%) and an overall decrease of the network's connectivity (0.65-6.82%). In addition, we show that the habitat networks of a limited set of species can be combined into a single network which accounts for their autoecological requirements. We conclude that targeted management in few but specific wetland complexes could benefit migratory waterbird populations. Deterioration of these vital wetland sites in Greece and Libya will have disproportionate consequences to the waterbird populations they support.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2020
Located at the south-western most part of the Balkan peninsula, along an important migration route (the Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway), the Gialova Lagoon wetland is one of the few remaining Important Bird Areas (IBAs) along the south-west coast of Greece, also designated as a Special Protection Area. The wetland serves as the first suitable stopover for many spring migrants who have flown non-stop over the Mediterranean Sea, and the last before their journey back to Africa in the autumn. In this study, we conducted monthly field visits during the period October 2016 to January 2019 with the aim to complement existing information about the site, to evaluate the current status and distribution of waterbirds, to provide insights for the management of the area and to re-assess the IBA/Ramsar criteria. A total of 149 bird species representing 43 families and 15 orders were recorded, including 36 threatened species at an International, European or/and national level, and 40 species list...
Ardea
The most revealing indirect evidence for understanding how movements and seasonal distribution patterns of animals respond to climatic seasonality comes from distribution studies over large areas and long-time periods. However, a huge effort is required to systematically collect field data, often across large geographic areas, in order to obtain reliable estimates of population trends and distribution shifts at the species' level. Consequently, longitudinal studies are lacking for most animal groups. Waterbirds however are an exception; for example, the most recent assessment of the status and trends of world's waterbird populations contained population estimates and trends for over 870 species (Wetlands International 2020), based on data collected during midwinter surveys (hereafter, IWC data) coordinated by Wetlands International. Waterbirds, being ecologically dependent on wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, are considered important
Avian Conservation and Ecology
Many marsh passerines are cataloged as threatened taxa, mostly due to their high degree of specialization and the generalized deterioration of wetlands worldwide. In this context, habitat selection studies are a very helpful tool to achieve optimal wetland management, take appropriate conservation measures, and avoid potential conservation conflicts resulting from species-specific habitat requirements. For this purpose, we analyzed the population trends and habitat requirements of the threatened marsh passerine community inhabiting a protected Mediterranean wetland with persistent hydrological problems due to aquifer overexploitation. Listening points were conducted yearly for eight consecutive years (2012-2019), and habitat categorization and abundance estimation of the target species (Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus; Moustached Warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon; Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi; Savi's Warbler, Locustella luscinioides; Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus) were performed at each point. Our results show that the populations of the Great Reed Warbler strongly declined during the study period while those of the Reed Bunting increased; the remaining species experienced an initial increase in abundance but have declined in recent years. The habitat type, measured as relative cover of common reed, saw sedge, bulrush, dry vegetation, open water, and dry surface was important to explain variations in the marsh passerine community structure. Focal species showed different, and even opposite, habitat requirements over the course of eight years, but the abundance of all species seem to be conditioned by disturbances in the wetland water regime. Conservation implications, including the importance of wetland hydrological regime and the presence of heterogeneous environments, are discussed in order to provide relevant information for the conservation of the marsh passerine communities of Mediterranean wetlands. Les tendances de la population et la sélection des habitats des passereaux des marais menacés dans un milieu humide méditerranéen protégé RÉSUMÉ. De nombreux passereaux des marais sont catalogués comme des espèces menacées, principalement en raison de leur degré de spécialisation élevé et de la détérioration généralisée des zones humides dans le monde entier. Dans ce contexte, les études sur la sélection de l'habitat constituent un outil précieux pour parvenir à une gestion optimale des zones humides, prendre des mesures de conservation appropriées et éviter les conflits potentiels de conservation résultant des exigences d'un habitat spécifique à une espèce. À cette fin, nous avons analysé les tendances des populations et les exigences d'habitat de la communauté de passereaux des marais menacée habitant une zone humide méditerranéenne protégée connaissant des problèmes hydrologiques persistants dus à la surexploitation des aquifères. Des points d'écoute ont été mis en place chaque année pendant huit années consécutives (2012-2019) et la catégorisation des habitats et l'estimation de l'abondance des espèces ciblées (Rousserolle turdoïde, Acrocephalus arundinaceus ; Lusciniole à moustaches, Acrocephalus melanopogon ; Bruant des roseaux, Emberiza schoeniclus witherbyi ; Locustelle luscinioïde, Locustella luscinioides ; Panure à moustaches, Panurus biarmicus) a été réalisée sur chaque point. Nos résultats indiquent que les populations de rousserolles turdoïdes ont fortement décliné pendant la période de l'étude, alors que celles de bruant des roseaux ont augmenté ; les autres espèces ont connu une augmentation initiale de leur population, laquelle a ensuite décliné au cours des dernières années. Le type d'habitat, mesuré en tant que couverture relative de roseaux communs, de carex, de joncs, de végétation sèche, de pièces d'eau et de surfaces sèches, était important pour expliquer les variations de la structure des communautés de passereaux des marais. Les espèces observées ont présenté des exigences différentes, voire opposées en termes d'habitat au fil des huit années considérées, mais l'abondance de toutes les espèces semble être conditionnée par les perturbations du régime hydrologique des marais. Les implications pour la conservation, y compris l'importance du régime hydrologique des marais et la présence d'environnements hétérogènes, sont discutées afin de fournir des informations pertinentes pour la conservation des communautés de passereaux des marais des zones humides méditerranéennes.
Biological Conservation, 2002
Morgan made detailed descriptions of 24 major Moroccan wetlands visited in 1978, with a total area of 4529 ha (Morgan, N.C., 1982a. An ecological survey of standing waters in North West Africa: III. Site descriptions for Morocco. Biological Conservation, 24,. We revisited these sites, and found that 25% of the wetland area had been destroyed by 1999. This loss was concentrated in wetland types of low salinity ( < 5 g/l NaCl), with a 98% loss of seasonal mesohaline sites, 41% loss of mountain lakes and 33% loss of seasonal Phragmites/Scirpus lacustris marshes. Surviving mountain lakes showed increased conductivities, suggesting reduced inflow. No loss of area of other wetland types was recorded, although degradation has occurred at all sites due to hydrological impacts, overgrazing or excessive reed-cutting, sedimentation, urban development, pollution, introduction of exotic fish and other causes. Similar threats face another 23 major Moroccan wetlands reviewed in this study. Of the 47 wetlands studied in total, only 10 have some kind of protection status. We assess the importance of these wetlands for waterbirds and aquatic submerged or floating plants. The number of plant species recorded is strongly correlated with the number of threatened waterbird species (but not the total number of waterbird species). Natural, freshwater wetlands most affected by wetland loss hold more species of aquatic plants and invertebrates, and are of great value for threatened waterbirds such as marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustrirostris), ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) and especially the crested coot (Fulica cristata). Most surviving natural, fresh wetlands are unprotected, and measures to conserve them are urgently required. Humanmade wetlands such as reservoirs have some value for threatened waterbirds (especially ruddy shelduck and marbled teal), but hold much lower densities of waterbirds than natural wetlands, and support fewer plant species. Thus, they do not compensate for the continuing loss of natural wetlands. #
Wetland-dependent migratory songbirds represent one of the most vulnerable groups of birds on the planet, with .67% of wetland-obligate species threatened with extinction. One of the major hurdles for conservation efforts is determining the migration routes, stopover sites, and wintering sites of these species. We describe an annual migration cycle revealed by geolocator tracking of Great Reed-Warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) breeding in the Aras River wetlands of eastern Turkey. Because of its relatively large size and breeding ground fidelity, the Great Reed-Warbler is an excellent candidate for geolocator studies and can serve as an indicator species for other wetland songbirds, many of which are particularly threatened in the Middle East. All birds made use of at least 2 wintering grounds in South Sudan, on the Indian Ocean coast and on the western shores of Lake Malawi, as well as several important stopover sites. We also identified a counterclockwise migration path into and out of Africa. Throughout the year, these birds encountered 277 Important Bird Areas, .40% of which had little or no protection. Many species of wetland songbird, particularly threatened species, may be too rare or too small to be the focus of similar studies. Our results not only allow for comparisons with other Great Reed-Warbler populations, but also reveal previously unknown stopover and wintering locations to target conservation efforts that will help wetland-dependent bird species in the Middle East and East Africa.
1999
for their invaluable input. All chairpersons and rapporteurs also helped in the formulation of the conclusions of the workshop. Many thanks also to all those who contributed to the workshop through presentations, posters, or active input during discussions. Thanks to Wendelien Ordelman for secretarial support throughout the process of preparation, execution, and follow-up of the workshop, and also to Claire Nivet for the French proof reading. Workshop 2 was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, and Alterra, the former DLO-Institute for Forestry and