卫星跟踪技术在鸟类迁徙研究中的应用及展望

综述了利用人造卫星跟踪技术进行鸟类迁徙研究的现状和利用卫星遥感技术对鸟类栖息地环境进行分析研究的现状。指出了这两项技术目前存在的问题,提出将这两项技术结合起来将有助于弄清候鸟迁徙定向、迁徙路径选择的机理,揭开候鸟迁徙策略之谜,有助于从景观生态学和保护生物学的角度研究并预测环境变化给候鸟带来的影响。     

卫星跟踪下的黑鹳迁徙

中亚黑鹳(Ciconia nigra)是怎样飞越喜马拉雅山的?这一直是人们关注的话题。2002～2003年由捷克科学院和捷克广播电台共同策划了利用卫星跟踪黑鹳的计划,中国的研究小组配合进行地面监测。2002年7月初,专家们开始在西伯利亚与阿尔泰山之间的叶尼塞河、鄂毕河、额尔齐斯河寻找目标,经过近20天的艰苦努力,终于给三只黑鹳成鸟分别挎上“背包”(约100g重的PTT卫星无线电发射器和短距离无线电发射器)。经血液DNA检测确认它们为二雄一雌,分别被命名为“皮特”(♂)、“罗马”(♂)和“凯特林娜”(♀)。     

云南大山包越冬黑颈鹤迁徙路线的卫星跟踪

2005年2月26日和3月1日在云南省昭通大山包黑颈鹤国家级自然保护区,分别为4只越冬黑颈鹤佩戴卫星信号发射器(PTTs),跟踪研究其迁徙路线和迁徙停歇地。2005年春季迁徙中,有2只跟踪黑颈鹤到达繁殖地,其中1只黑颈鹤在2005年11月和2006年3月分别完成从繁殖地返回越冬地和从越冬地再次到达繁殖地的迁徙过程。2只春季迁徙黑颈鹤的迁徙路线大致相同——沿着长江上游金沙江、大渡河一直向北到达黄河上游白河及黑河沿岸若尔盖湿地内。春季迁徙过程中,途中停歇3—4次,总迁徙距离是674—713km,迁徙全程所用时间3—4天。秋季迁徙全程所用时间8天。在4个PTTs工作期间,共确定有13个黑颈鹤迁徙停歇地,其中11个停歇地在河流滩地;其他2个停歇地在高山湖泊附近。总体上,黑颈鹤一般选择海拔在1900m以上湖泊、河流等湿地内,距离耕地较近且人、畜干扰较少的栖息地停歇。     

卫星跟踪中蒙之间秃鹫春季迁徙路线 及活动区

秃鹫(Aegypius monachus)被世界自然保护联盟(IUCN)列为近危物种。每年冬季或者早春在渤海湾都会救护到因体质较弱而无法飞行的秃鹫,为了对秃鹫及其迁徙路线进行更有效的保护,于2016年春季对两只救护放飞秃鹫(ID1051和ID2016),利用卫星跟踪技术研究其迁徙路线和活动区,旨在为秃鹫的救护和保护提供基础资料。结果表明,ID1051和ID2016都迁徙到蒙古国的布尔干省和后杭爱省交界处,行程分别为2 200 km和2 400 km。ID2016在度夏初期、中期和后期的活动区面积(50%Fixed Kernel),分别为31 261.01km^2、1 492.96 km2和11 027.70 km^2。秃鹫在迁徙过程中主要时间在静息,其次是飞行和寻觅行为。在0至7时和19至24时,即晨昏和夜间秃鹫都处于静止状态。从8时开始,秃鹫开始活动,并在12和13时达到活动高峰,随后活动逐渐趋缓,直至18时趋于静止状态。本文提供了秃鹫的春季迁徙路线以及重要中途停歇地,为秃鹫的救护和保护提供了基础资料。     

中国首次卫星跟踪黑颈鹤研究初报

黑颈鹤（Grus nigricollis）为国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物,分别被IUCN和CITES列为易危和附录Ⅰ物种,是世界上15种鹤类中唯一生活于高原的鹤类。黑颈鹤夏季在我国境内的青藏高原繁殖,冬季除在不丹北部有少量个体外,绝大部分种群在青藏高原东南部和云贵高原越冬。作为主要分布于我国的珍稀鸟类,我国学者对该物种的地理分布、     

基于卫星跟踪大天鹅春季迁徙时间及其影响因素

候鸟春季迁徙时间与其能否顺利完成迁徙过程,以及对繁殖地的成功选择和繁殖成效密切相关,通过对大天鹅越冬地和停歇地的春季迁徙时间选择原因及其影响因素进行分析,有助于深入理解候鸟春季迁徙时间策略和栖息地保护状况。2015年2月和12月,在河南三门峡湿地捕捉了60只越冬大天鹅并佩戴卫星跟踪器,获取了详细的大天鹅在越冬地和停歇地的春季迁徙时间等信息,并进一步分析了春季迁徙时间与气候因子的相关性。结果表明,大天鹅主要在夜间22：00-0：00和0：00-1：59迁离越冬地。大天鹅迁离越冬地的日期与温度呈显著性正相关,迁离时多选择顺风且风速较小的天气。大天鹅迁离越冬地后主要是在夜间飞行,而迁离停歇地后主要是在日间飞行。越冬地的温度越高,越有利于植物的生长,大天鹅可以快速地积累能量,提前开始春季迁徙。野外调查表明,内蒙古黄河中上游作为迁徙的重要停歇地,春季两岸捕鱼、农耕和放牧等为活动较多,因此大天鹅多选择在夜间觅食补充能量,在日间迁离。最后,针对黄河流域大天鹅栖息地的保护现状,提出了禁止经济开发项目、建立保护区和开展宣传教育等保护建议。     

卫星跟踪河北猎隼的秋季迁徙路线

猎隼(Falco cherrug)是国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生动物,IUCN物种红色名录濒危物种。为探究猎隼的迁徙规律,2018年9月26日在河北省保定市成功为1只猎隼佩戴了卫星追踪器,对其迁徙活动进行了跟踪。此猎隼个体的秋季迁徙路线涉及河北省、内蒙古自治区、山西省、陕西省、甘肃省、青海省6个省区,自东向西迁徙,越冬地为甘肃省白银市平川区。迁飞过程分为三个阶段,即放飞阶段、游荡期和迁飞期,三个阶段的飞行距离分别为297.62 km、1 129.69 km和2 040.9 km。此猎隼个体每天的飞行时段为(7:33±2:01)时到(18:12±1:09)时,即在白天飞行。平均日飞行时间为(10.44±1.76)h,一天中平均飞行速度有三个高峰,分别为9:00、14:00和18:00时。迁飞过程中的平均飞行速度为(45.77±20.88)km/h,平均日飞行距离(188.65±113.90)km。此猎隼个体在越冬地晚间没有固定的休息点,休息地的海拔在1 500～2 000 m的位点较多,90%的活动区域面积为85.5 km2。2019年3月7日发现此猎隼个体被电死并悬挂在一根电线杆上,漏电电线杆...     

云南大山包越冬黑颈鹤迁徙路线的卫星跟踪

2005年2月26日和3月1日在云南省昭通大山包黑颈鹤国家级自然保护区,分别为4只越冬黑颈鹤佩戴卫星信号发射器（PTTs）,跟踪研究其迁徙路线和迁徙停歇地。2005年春季迁徙中,有2只跟踪黑颈鹤到达繁殖地,其中1只黑颈鹤在2005年11月和2006年3月分别完成从繁殖地返回越冬地和从越冬地再次到达繁殖地的迁徙过程。2只春季迁徙黑颈鹤的迁徙路线大致相同——沿着长江上游金沙江、大渡河一直向北到达黄河上游白河及黑河沿岸若尔盖湿地内。春季迁徙过程中,途中停歇3—4次,总迁徙距离是674—713 km,迁徙全程所用时间3—4天。秋季迁徙全程所用时间8天。在4个PTTs工作期间,共确定有13个黑颈鹤迁徙停歇地,其中11个停歇地在河流滩地;其他2个停歇地在高山湖泊附近。总体上,黑颈鹤一般选择海拔在1 900 m以上湖泊、河流等湿地内,距离耕地较近且人、畜干扰较少的栖息地停歇。     

候鸟迁徙之文化意蕴

候鸟伴随着气候的变迁而迁徙,去完成它们新一轮的生命之旅．同样也影响了越冬地的文化。正因为有候鸟的迁徙,我们的历史、文学、哲学著作乃至民间传说中部留下了人与鸟的故事和典故。这些故事与典故又伴随着候鸟的迁徙,从南传到了北．又从北带到了南。候鸟这位信使就成了中国传统文化不可或缺的分子．与我们人类的生存文化密不可分,     

追寻候鸟迁徙的漫漫长路

在一系列关于野生动物生活史和相关行为主题的纪录片中,法国导演雅克佩兰推出的记录片—《迁徙的鸟》,绝对是永恒中的经典。通过揭示鸟类生活史最为绚烂的周期—迂徙—的壮美,导演用最美的故事和场景打动了人心。观看影片的人们,随着鸟儿,完成了从南极到北极、从热带到苔原、从低地到喜马拉雅波澜壮阔的迁徙旅程。     

Avian diversity in a priority area for conservation in North America: the Janos-Casas Grandes Prairie Dog Complex and adjacent habitats in northwestern Mexico

From February 1994 to January 2004, we studied the avifauna of a 25,000-ha area centered on the Janos-Casas Grandes Prairie Dog Complex of Northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico. Avian diversity totalled 227 species, of which 86 (38%) were residents, 78 (35%) winter migrants, 30 (14%) summer migrants, 27 (11%) transients, and 6 (2%) accidental vagrants. Around 84 (38%) species were observed in at least two habitat types, with riparian areas supporting the highest observed diversity of birds (112 species). Of the 143 species observed in only one habitat type, 44 (30%) occurred in riparian areas, 35 (26%) in association with ponds and aquatic vegetation, 28 (20%) in grasslands, 16 (11%) in the oak woodland–grassland ecotone, 12 (9%) in mesquite scrubland, 5 (3%) around human settlements, and 3 (2%) in crop fields. In particular, summer rains influenced the abundance and/or distribution of several species in grasslands such as the long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus). The present study, which was part of a larger effort to document the merits of establishing a large biosphere reserve in the area, confirmed the importance of the prairie dog complex and grasslands to many species of conservation concern, including the threatened mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), a winter resident. With the␣higher-elevation habitats yet to be surveyed, the local diversity of bird species here already places the proposed reserve among the most important protected areas in all of Mexico. The establishment of the reserve is urgently needed, especially for the protection of grasslands and their associated fauna.     

Long-term satellite tracking of white stork ( Ciconia ciconia) migration: constancy versus variability

During satellite-tracking investigations of 140 white storks (Ciconia ciconia), one individual, the long-term world record holder among birds, was followed along 12 migratory journeys over a period of 10 years. This long-term study confirms what previous several-year tracking studies of white storks had indicated: there can be great variability from year to year in the choice of winter quarters as well as in the routes and times of migration, intermediate destinations and stop-over periods, but constancy of winter quarters and migration routes is also possible. The variability may well be caused by external factors, of which food supply is probably predominant.Communicated by F. Bairlein     

Effects of snow cover on the timing and success of reproduction in high-Arctic pink-footed geese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anser brachyrhynchus</Emphasis>

During four breeding seasons, 2003–2006, we studied the relationship between snow cover and nesting performance in pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) in a key breeding site on Svalbard. Snow cover in late May, i.e., at the time of egg laying of geese, was derived from MODIS satellite images. Snow cover had a profound cascading effect on reproductive output via the number of nesting pairs and timing of nesting, which affected nest success, while there was only a tendency for a negative effect on clutch size. Hence, we estimated a five-fold difference in the number of young produced (to post-hatching) between years with little snow and years with high snow cover. The results from the study area correlated with whole-population productivity estimates recorded in autumn. Thus, snow cover derived from MODIS satellite images appears to provide a useful indicator of the breeding conditions in the Arctic.     

Long-distance migration and homing after displacement in the green turtle (Chelonia mydas): a satellite tracking study

Four green turtle females were tracked by satellite during their post-reproductive migration in the South China Sea. Three of them reached their feeding grounds 923–1551 km distant. During nesting activity, a female was displaced twice, and her return trips to the nesting beach from 11 and 284 km were tracked by a direction-recording data-logger and by satellite, respectively. Part of the journeys occurred coastwise, indicating that leading geographical features had been utilised. The straightness of the turtles' tracks in open seas, both over shallow and deep waters, and their ability to pinpoint distant targets and home after displacement off their usual routes, provides circumstantial evidence for a true navigation mechanism.Abbreviation PTT platform transmitter terminal     

Satellite tracking and avian conservation in Asia

Using satellite tracking, we have followed the migration of birds in Asia for more than 10 years. We have investigated the migration patterns of around 15 species of birds, focusing on, but not limited to, cranes (Gruidae) and storks (Ciconiidae). To relay bird locations, we employed platform transmitter terminals in combination with ARGOS satellites. Location data were then utilized in a variety of applications, from determining migration routes, stopover patterns and wintering sites, through more advanced analyses including using various data overlays to examine habitat use, occupation of nature reserves, differential migration patterns between adults and juvenile birds, and the connectivity and network structure of migration pathways. We have also developed recommendations for spatial improvements to nature reserves. We emphasize the importance of continued empirical research and development of analytical methodologies involving satellite location data in concert with effecting conservation outcomes using satellite-derived data.     

A framework for the study of genetic variation in migratory behaviour

Evolutionary change results from selection acting on genetic variation. For migration to be successful, many different aspects of an animal’s physiology and behaviour need to function in a co-coordinated way. Changes in one migratory trait are therefore likely to be accompanied by changes in other migratory and life-history traits. At present, we have some knowledge of the pressures that operate at the various stages of migration, but we know very little about the extent of genetic variation in various aspects of the migratory syndrome. As a consequence, our ability to predict which species is capable of what kind of evolutionary change, and at which rate, is limited. Here, we review how our evolutionary understanding of migration may benefit from taking a quantitative-genetic approach and present a framework for studying the causes of phenotypic variation. We review past research, that has mainly studied single migratory traits in captive birds, and discuss how this work could be extended to study genetic variation in the wild and to account for genetic correlations and correlated selection. In the future, reaction-norm approaches may become very important, as they allow the study of genetic and environmental effects on phenotypic expression within a single framework, as well as of their interactions. We advocate making more use of repeated measurements on single individuals to study the causes of among-individual variation in the wild, as they are easier to obtain than data on relatives and can provide valuable information for identifying and selecting traits. This approach will be particularly informative if it involves systematic testing of individuals under different environmental conditions. We propose extending this research agenda by using optimality models to predict levels of variation and covariation among traits and constraints. This may help us to select traits in which we might expect genetic variation, and to identify the most informative environmental axes. We also recommend an expansion of the passerine model, as this model does not apply to birds, like geese, where cultural transmission of spatio-temporal information is an important determinant of migration patterns and their variation.