卫星跟踪技术在候鸟迁徙研究中的应用

自20世纪80年代末期应用基于Argos系统的卫星跟踪技术开展候鸟迁徙研究以来,鸟类学家取得了许多利用传统鸟类迁徙研究方法所无法取得的成果。但在中国,卫星跟踪技术在鸟类迁徙中的应用尚属空白。作者利用参与中国首次应用卫星跟踪技术跟踪候鸟迁徙研究之机,对该技术用于候鸟迁徙研究的技术平台、主要内容和未来研究进行了综述和展望。利用卫星跟踪技术开展的主要研究内容有:揭示迁徙路线和重要停歇地点;寻找新繁殖地和越冬地;利用卫星数据对栖息地及其利用进行评价;探讨鸟类的迁徙策略。期望该技术能够成为中国濒危鸟类保护的有效方法,并尽快得到应用。     

近10年秦皇岛两种鸟类春季迁徙 时间变化的差异性

气候变化对鸟类迁徙时间的影响是目前生态学研究的热点问题。本文利用鸟类环志的方法分析了2010至2019年河北秦皇岛两种鸟类春季迁徙时间变化趋势及其差异性,并进一步探讨了差异性的原因。选择环志数量较多的食虫鸟黄眉柳莺(Phylloscopus inornatus)和食谷鸟灰头鹀(Emberiza spodocephala)作为研究对象,分析了10年间两种鸟类春季迁徙到达时间、高峰期、离开时间和停歇天数的变化及其相关性。结果表明,10年间黄眉柳莺和灰头鹀春季迁徙到达时间、高峰期和离开时间都出现了提前现象。黄眉柳莺和灰头鹀在秦皇岛停歇天数都呈现缩短的趋势,黄眉柳莺到达时间与离开时间存在显著的正相关。两种候鸟春季迁徙时间出现这种变化的原因是由于秦皇岛环境温度呈现逐渐升高的趋势,促使各种植被群落和昆虫提前进入生长繁殖阶段,为春季提前迁徙而来的候鸟提供丰富的食物资源。黄眉柳莺春季迁徙期在秦皇岛采取“早到早走”的策略,提早到达繁殖地可以增加其繁殖成功率,有助于提高鸟类种群的生存率。     

中国侯鸟环志的研究

环志是研究鸟类迁徙最简单有效的科学方法。中国从１９８２年开始建立全国鸟类环志中心以来,在林业部的领导下至１９９０年先后建立了候鸟环志站、点６０处,共计环志了候鸟１８６种６２７５５只,同期回收到国内外环志鸟４１３只。回收环志鸟提供了东亚地区候鸟迁徙的宝贵信息,证实了：１．候鸟迁徙可自喜马拉雅山脉飞越;２．中国候鸟迁徙路线和推论是正确的;３．中国东北繁殖的白枕鹤飞往日本九洲南部越冬,丹顶鹤等迁往东部沿海、长江中下游几处湿地越冬,与来自俄罗斯西伯利亚的部分鹤在相同地区越冬;４．某些鸟种迁徙路线在与日本同种候鸟迁徙路线比较后,表明在西太平洋地区,通过中国和日本存在着两条平行的自南向北迁徙的路线。其他信息也指出了更多的情况,同时也表明中国环志研究在西太平洋迁徙候鸟研究中处于关键性的地位。     

中国候鸟环志的研究

环志是研究鸟类迁徙最简单有效的科学方法。中国从1982年开始建立全国鸟类环志中心以来,在林业部的领导下至 1990年先后建立了候鸟环志站、点 60处,共计环志了候鸟 186种 62 755只,同期回收 到国内外环志鸟413只。回收环志鸟提供了东亚地区候鸟迁徙的宝贵信息,证实了：1．候鸟迁徙可自喜马拉雅山脉飞越;2．中国候鸟迁徙路线和推论是正确的;3．中国东北繁殖的白枕鹤飞往日本九洲南部越冬,丹顶鹤等迁往东部沿海、长江中下游几处湿地越冬,与来自俄罗斯西伯利亚的部分鹤在相同地区越冬;4.某些鸟种迁徙路线在与日本同种候鸟迁徙路线比较后,表明在西太平洋地区,通过中国和日本存在着两条平行的自南向北迁徙的路线。其他信息也指出了更多的情况,同时也表明中国环志研究在西太平洋迁徙候鸟研究中处于关键性的地位。     

全球气候变暖对武汉作为鸟类迁徙"中转站"地位的威胁

武汉市位于中国腹地,长江和汉水的交汇处,这里一直是南北候鸟迁徙的"中转站"之一,更是重要的候鸟越冬地和停歇地.由于地处南北过渡性气候,适合南、北候鸟常年生活,再加上"百湖之城"良好水资源条件和湿地环境更为鸟类的取食及营巢奠定了基础.正是因为这些气候及地理条件,所以有很多候鸟在此安家.然而,随着全球气温出现了整体上升的现象,这样的气候条件对鸟类的迁徙、繁殖是十分不利的.本文结合作者及其他学者对武汉鸟类调查的结果与近年武汉市气候状况的比对分析,发现武汉作为鸟类迁徙"中转站"的生态学地位发生了巨大变化,并讨论了全球气候变暖对武汉作为南北鸟类中转站生态地位的威胁状况,阐述了对全球环境保护的建议.     

我校候鸟的物候观测

初中动物学教材指出:“关于鸟类的迁徙至今还有许多有趣的问题没有研究清楚。例如:形成鸟类迁徙本能的历史原因是什么?鸟类迁徙的生理原因是什么?今后需要对这些问题做更进一步地观察、实验和分析研究。”笔者1987年在学生中成立以研究候鸟迁徙为目的的物候观测兴趣小组,开展了活动。我们的做法是:     

中华人民共和国政府和日本国政府保护候鸟及其栖息环境协定

中华人民共和国政府和日本国政府考虑到鸟类是自然生态系的一个重要因素,也是一项在艺术、科学、文化、娱乐、经济等方面具有重要价值的自然资源,鉴于很多种鸟类是迁徙于两国之间并季节性地栖息于两国的候鸟,愿在保护和管理候鸟及其栖息环境方面进行合作,达成协议如下:     

中华人民共和国政府和日本国政府保护候鸟及其栖息环境协定

中华人民共和国政府和日本国政府考虑到鸟类是自然生态系的一个重要因素,也是一项在艺术、科学、文化、娱乐、经济等方面具有重要价值的自然资源,鉴于很多种鸟类是迁徙于两国之间并季节性地栖息于两国的候鸟,愿在保护和管理候鸟及其栖息环境方面进行合作,达成协议如下:     

迁徙鸟类中途停歇期的生理生态学研究

大多数候鸟的迁徙活动由迁徙飞行和中途停歇两个部分组成。在迁徙过程中,鸟类要多次交替经历消耗能量的飞行阶段和积累能量的中途停歇阶段。从鸟类在中途停歇时期的能量积累速度、体重变化模式以及迁徙飞行中的禁食或食物限制、食物种类的改变、中途停歇的能量快速积累过程对消化器官的影响等方面,对目前迁徙鸟类的生理生态学研究成果进行回顾,并提出有待解决的问题及今后的研究方向。     

哀牢山北段大中山候鸟聚集地秋季夜间迁徙鸟类多样性

环志是研究迁徙鸟类的重要途径。云南省哀牢山北段大中山是鸟类迁徙的重要通道,但缺乏具体的研究数据。1997年、2010年和2011年秋季夜间迁徙鸟类环志研究的结果表明,哀牢山北段大中山捕获到的夜间鸟类有108种2330只,分属10目24科。其中,以雀形目鸟类为主,占总捕获数量的78.3%,捕获优势种为树鹨(占捕获数量的16.95%)、红喉姬鹟(13.39%)、红尾伯劳(9.83%)、红喉歌鸲(8.71%)和栗鹀(4.80%);水禽占捕获鸟类总种数的16.7%,与云南其他地点的研究结果相似。由于水禽是传播禽流感的主要载体,候鸟聚集地存在传播禽流感的风险,春季也有候鸟翻越哀牢山,因此有必要开展春季鸟类环志工作。     

Geographical and environmental factors affecting the distribution of wintering black storks Ciconia nigra in the Iberian Peninsula

Here we explore the environmental and geographical factors affecting the winter distribution of the black stork Ciconia nigra in the Iberian Peninsula, where an increasing number of individuals have remained to winter in the last two decades. We recorded 179 locations of 54 ringed individuals between 1988 and 2011 to map the species habitat suitability with MaxEnt, a machine‐learning technique based on the principle of maximum entropy. The migratory movements of 25 birds equipped with satellite transmitters were used to define the autumnal migratory flyway used by most storks crossing the Peninsula as well as to define the wintering period. The aim was to test if the number of wintering storks was positively correlated to habitat suitability and negatively correlated to the flyway distance. Data provided by an extensive count across Portugal and Spain during the 2012–2013 winter supported the findings that black storks were more abundant in areas of high habitat suitability close to the migratory flyway. This agrees with previous evidence on the role of migratory flyways in determining the distribution of some wintering birds in Iberia. A gap analysis reflected that just 12.3% of the suitable areas and 18.8% of individuals recorded during the 2012–2013 winter were included within the Special Protection Areas network of Portugal and Spain. Most of these birds were crowded in unprotected areas covered by rice fields (68% of individuals), a key habitat for the species.     

Bird behaviour and environmental planning: approaches in the study of wader populations

Predicting the effect of changes in land-use on bird populations requires a degree of understanding of their population dynamics which is seldom available. Such knowledge is especially difficult to acquire if the birds occupy a variety of habitats of differing quality and they are also migratory. The effects of habitat loss at a particular time of year on the year-round population dynamics are then difficult to predict. The problem is discussed using wintering waders as examples. Unless a species can extend its present range, the initial effect of habitat loss is to increase bird density. Whether this affects population size will depend on whether bird density affects either winter survival or subsequent breeding success. Measuring such density-dependent relationships is in practice extremely difficult in migratory populations. However, behavioural studies help in testing the key hypothesis that birth and death rates are affected by bird density, and may even allow the form of any density-dependent functions to be deduced. Simulation modelling then allows the effects of habitat loss on the overall population dynamics to be explored. The general point is that behavioural studies play an important part in Environmental Impact Studies because behaviour is the main way in which birds respond to environmental changes and compete for limited resources, such as diminishing habitat. They are therefore likely to provide insights when making predictions about the responses of birds and populations to habitat loss.     

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.     

Assessing the effects of habitat characteristics and co-occurrence with closely related species on occupancy of resident ‘wood-warblers’ in a Neotropical working landscape

The simultaneous effects of habitat traits and interspecific interactions determine the occurrence and habitat use of wildlife populations. However, little research has been devoted to examining spatial co-occurrence among closely related species while considering the effect of habitat variation and imperfect detectability of species in the field. In this study, we focused on migratory and resident 'wood-warblers' that coexist during the winter in a Neotropical working landscape in southern Mexico to understand if habitat occupancy of resident wood-warblers is influenced by habitat characteristics and by the presence of other species of resident and migratory wood-warblers. For this purpose, we implemented two-species occupancy models, which account for the imperfect detectability of these birds in the field. Our results revealed that habitat occupancy of resident wood-warblers was positively influenced by the presence of other closely related species (both migratory and resident). These positive relationships may be explained by the fact that different species of wood-warblers frequently participate in mixed-species flocks. However, these patterns of species co-occurrence were more evident among resident species than between migratory and resident species, which may be explained by micro-habitat segregation and differences in behaviours between resident and migratory wood-warblers. We also found that some habitat characteristics may mediate the observed patterns of species co-occurrence. Specifically, sites with larger trees were associated with the co-occurrence of some species of resident wood-warblers. In addition, we discuss the possibility that species co-occurrence might be the result of shared preferences for environmental factors that we did not consider. Our study highlights the importance of the interplay between species co-occurrence and habitat traits in determining the presence and habitat use of resident birds in Neotropical working landscapes.     

Determining fine‐scale migratory connectivity and habitat selection for a migratory songbird by using new GPS technology

Migratory aerial insectivores are among the fastest declining avian groups, but our understanding of these trends has been limited by poor knowledge of migratory connectivity and the identification of critical habitat across the vast distances they travel annually. Using new, archival GPS loggers, we tracked individual purple martins Progne subis from breeding colonies across North America to determine precise (< > 10 m) locations of migratory and overwintering roost locations in South America and to test hypotheses for fine‐scale migratory connectivity and habitat use. We discovered weak migratory connectivity at the roost scale, and extensive, fine‐scale mixing of birds in the Amazon from distant (> 2000 km) breeding sites, with some individuals sharing the same roosting trees. Despite vast tracts of contiguous forest in this region, birds occupied a much more limited habitat, with most (56%) roosts occurring on small habitat islands that were strongly associated with water. Only 17% of these roosts were in current protected areas. These data reflect a critical advance in our ability to remotely determine precise migratory connectivity and habitat selection across vast spatial scales, enhancing our understanding of population dynamics and enabling more effective conservation of species at risk.     

Rainfall and habitat interact to affect the condition of a wintering migratory songbird in The Bahamas

On the subtropical and tropical wintering grounds of migratory birds, variation in moisture levels and habitat can influence the availability of food resources and subsequently impact overwintering birds. Using stable carbon isotopes in blood samples as a measure of moisture, we assessed the interactive effects of rainfall, vegetation, and moisture on the demographics and condition of Prairie Warblers (Setophaga discolor) wintering in The Bahamas. Carbon isotopes in Prairie Warbler blood were more depleted in taller, wetter habitats; we additionally detected novel temporal effects of rainfall on isotope values. During a winter with more rainfall, most birds maintained mass and pectoral muscle regardless of the habitat type occupied. In a winter with less rainfall, birds lost mass and pectoral muscle, and this effect was more pronounced in birds with enriched isotope values and birds that occupied drier, shorter habitat. Prairie Warblers exhibited strong patterns of sexual habitat segregation with males disproportionately observed in areas with taller vegetation and females in shorter vegetation. During the drier winter, older males had better maintenance of pectoral muscle compared to females and younger individuals. Also in the drier winter, daily rainfall patterns explained more of the variation in body condition compared to the date of capture; pectoral muscle was best explained by recent precipitation (during the previous 30 days), while size‐corrected mass was more a function of longer‐term (90‐day) rainfall and habitat moisture. Our findings along with other studies suggest that Prairie Warblers and other migratory birds are sensitive to interactions between annual variation in winter rainfall, within‐season daily rainfall patterns, and habitat quality. Increasing drought and habitat loss in the Caribbean may be having a negative impact on wintering bird populations. To best conserve Nearctic–Neotropical migratory passerines in the region, we recommend prioritizing the protection of the least drought‐prone wintering areas.     

Why migrate? A test of the evolutionary precursor hypothesis

The question of why birds migrate is still poorly understood despite decades of debate. Previous studies have suggested that use of edge habitats and a frugivorous diet are precursors to the evolution of migration in Neotropical birds. However, these studies did not explore other ecological correlates of migration and did not control for phylogeny at the species level. We tested the evolutionary precursor hypothesis by examining the extent to which habitat and diet are associated with migratory behavior, using a species-level comparative analysis of the Tyranni. We used both migratory distance and sedentary versus migratory behavior as response variables. We also examined the influences of foraging group size, membership in mixed-species flocks, elevational range, and body mass on migratory behavior. Raw species analyses corroborated some results from studies that put forth the evolutionary precursor hypothesis, but phylogenetically independent contrast analyses highlighted an important interaction between habitat and diet and their roles as precursors to migration. Foraging group size was consistently associated with migratory behavior in both raw species and independent contrast analyses. Our results lead to a resource variability hypothesis that refines the evolutionary precursor hypothesis and reconciles the results of several studies examining precursors to migration in birds.     

Landscape‐scale habitat availability,and not local geography,predicts migratory landbird stopover across the Gulf of Maine

While it is clear that many migratory behaviors are shared across taxa, generalizable models that predict the distribution and abundance of migrating taxa at the landscape scale are rare. In migratory landbirds, ephemeral concentrations of refueling birds indicate that individual behaviors sometimes produce large epiphenomena in particular geographic locations. Identifying landscape factors that predict the distribution and abundance of birds during migratory stopover will both improve our understanding of the migratory process and assist in broad, regionally relevant conservation. In this study we used autumnal passerine stopover data from a five‐year period and eleven stopover sites across coastal Maine, USA, to test four broad hypotheses of migrant distribution and abundance that have been supported in other regions: a) the community characteristics of the pool of potential migrants, b) a site's local geography, c) landscape composition and configuration measured at different spatial scales, and d) interactions between these factors. Our final model revealed that birds concentrate at ‘habitat islands’, sites that possess a disproportionate percentage of the vegetated habitat in the 4‐km surrounding landscape. The strength of this pattern, however, was inversely proportional to a species' remaining migratory distance. Our results corroborate several studies that emphasize the importance of land cover composition at finer spatial scales (< 80 km²) for predicting the stopover distribution and abundances of migratory birds. This suggests that different migrants likely assess stopover sites with similar mechanisms along their migratory route, and these commonalities may be broadly applied to identify stopover locations of conservation importance across the continent.     

Exploring an efficient habitat index for predicting population and abundance of migratory birds in Poyang Lake Wetland,South China

Poyang Lake wetland is an important wintering habitat of migratory birds with a complexity of coupled nature and human systems. Reported studies suggested that habitat indices were mostly developed based on single-class factors and scale-dependent. Therefore the indices might not be sufficient and applicable to predict regional changes for population and abundance of migratory birds (PMB and AMB) in Poyang Lake wetland at watershed and basin scales. In order to explore an efficient habitat index for predicting PMB and AMB, an integrated and scale-independent habitat index was proposed by integration of landscape and environmental temperature variables at basin and watershed scales. The landscape index and environmental temperature index based on single-class dominant factors, were also evaluated by weighted additive method. Multi-source data, including multi-spatial and temporal remote sensing images and field survey data, was used in this study. Results indicated that the average 10-night temperature in July (TN-Jul.) had dominant influence on PMB and the environmental temperature index was a better predictor for predicting PMB; AMB was influenced by both landscape and temperature variables and the proposed integrated habitat index was better for prediction of AMB in Poyang Lake wetland. The proposed integrated habitat index is a supplement of the single-class habitat index, which provides a more scientific technique for the study of biodiversity.     

Non-breeding season habitat quality mediates the strength of density-dependence for a migratory bird

Our understanding of when natural populations are regulated during their annual cycle is limited, particularly for migratory species. This information is needed for parametrizing models that can inform management and conservation. Here, we use 14 years of data on colour-marked birds to investigate how conspecific density and habitat quality during the tropical non-breeding period interact to affect body condition and apparent annual survival of a long-distance migratory songbird, the American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Body condition and survival of birds in high-quality mangrove habitat declined as density increased. By contrast, body condition improved and survival did not vary as density increased in adjacent, lower quality scrub habitat, although mean condition and survival were almost always lower than in mangrove. High rainfall enhanced body condition in scrub but not in mangrove, suggesting factors such as food availability outweighed consequences of crowding in lower quality habitat. Thus, survival of overwintering redstarts in mangrove habitat, disproportionately males, appears to be regulated by a crowding mechanism based on density-dependent resource competition. Survival of individuals in scrub, mostly females, appears to be limited by density-independent environmental factors but not regulated by crowding. The contrasting effects of density and food limitation on individuals overwintering in adjacent habitats illustrate the complexity of processes operating during the non-breeding period for migratory animals, and emphasize the need for long-term studies of animals in multiple habitats and throughout their annual cycles.