151
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Inger R, Per E, Cox DTC, Gaston KJ. Key role in ecosystem functioning of scavengers reliant on a single common species. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29641. [PMID: 27404915 PMCID: PMC4940730 DOI: 10.1038/srep29641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of species richness in maintaining ecosystem function in the field remains unclear. Recent studies however have suggested that in some systems functionality is maintained by a few abundant species. Here we determine this relationship by quantifying the species responsible for a key ecosystem role, carcass removal by scavengers. We find that, unlike those within largely unaltered environments, the scavenger community within our highly altered system is dominated by a single species, the Carrion crow, despite the presence of a number of other scavenging species. Furthermore, we find no relationship between abundance of crows and carcass removal. However, the overall activity of crows predicts carcass biomass removal rate in an asymptotic manner, suggesting that a relatively low level of abundance and scavenging activity is required to maintain this component of ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Inger
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, U.K
| | - Esra Per
- Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Gazi University, Teknikokullar, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Daniel T C Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, U.K
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, U.K
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152
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Kamp J, Oppel S, Heldbjerg H, Nyegaard T, Donald PF. Unstructured citizen science data fail to detect long-term population declines of common birds in Denmark. DIVERS DISTRIB 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Kamp
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK
- Institute of Landscape Ecology; University of Münster; Heisenbergstr. 2 48149 Münster Germany
| | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK
| | - Henning Heldbjerg
- Dansk Ornitologisk Forening (DOF), BirdLife Denmark; Vesterbrogade 140 DK-1620 København Denmark
- Department of Bioscience; Aarhus University; Kalø Grenåvej 14 DK-8410 Rønde Denmark
| | - Timme Nyegaard
- Dansk Ornitologisk Forening (DOF), BirdLife Denmark; Vesterbrogade 140 DK-1620 København Denmark
| | - Paul F. Donald
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK
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153
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Emmenegger T, Hahn S, Arlettaz R, Amrhein V, Zehtindjiev P, Bauer S. Shifts in vegetation phenology along flyways entail varying risks of mistiming in a migratory songbird. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Emmenegger
- Department of Bird MigrationSwiss Ornithological Institute Seerose 1 6204 Sempach Switzerland
- Conservation Biology DivisionInstitute of Ecology & EvolutionUniversity of Bern Baltzerstrasse 6 3012 Bern Switzerland
| | - Steffen Hahn
- Department of Bird MigrationSwiss Ornithological Institute Seerose 1 6204 Sempach Switzerland
| | - Raphaël Arlettaz
- Conservation Biology DivisionInstitute of Ecology & EvolutionUniversity of Bern Baltzerstrasse 6 3012 Bern Switzerland
- Swiss Ornithological Institute Valais Field Station, Rue du Rhône 11 1950 Sion Switzerland
| | - Valentin Amrhein
- Zoological InstituteUniversity of Basel Vesalgasse 1 4051 Basel Switzerland
- Research Station Petite Camargue Alsacienne Rue de la Pisciculture 68300 Saint‐Louis France
| | - Pavel Zehtindjiev
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem ResearchBulgarian Academy of Sciences 2 Yurii Gagarin Street 1113 Sofia Bulgaria
| | - Silke Bauer
- Department of Bird MigrationSwiss Ornithological Institute Seerose 1 6204 Sempach Switzerland
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154
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Malo JE, García de la Morena EL, Hervás I, Mata C, Herranz J. Uncapped tubular poles along high-speed railway lines act as pitfall traps for cavity nesting birds. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1025-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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155
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Soykan CU, Sauer J, Schuetz JG, LeBaron GS, Dale K, Langham GM. Population trends for North American winter birds based on hierarchical models. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Candan U. Soykan
- Conservation Science National Audubon Society 220 Montgomery St. Suite 1000 San Francisco California 94104 USA
| | - John Sauer
- Patuxent Wildlife Research Center U.S. Geological Survey 12100 Beech Forest Road Laurel Maryland 20708 USA
| | - Justin G. Schuetz
- Conservation Science National Audubon Society 220 Montgomery St. Suite 1000 San Francisco California 94104 USA
| | - Geoffrey S. LeBaron
- Citizen Science National Audubon Society 2300 Computer Avenue, I‐49 Willow Grove Pennsylvania 19090 USA
| | - Kathy Dale
- Citizen Science National Audubon Society 2300 Computer Avenue, I‐49 Willow Grove Pennsylvania 19090 USA
| | - Gary M. Langham
- National Audubon Society 1200 18th Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington D.C. 20036 USA
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156
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157
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Grimm A, Weiß BM, Kulik L, Mihoub JB, Mundry R, Köppen U, Brueckmann T, Thomsen R, Widdig A. Earlier breeding, lower success: does the spatial scale of climatic conditions matter in a migratory passerine bird? Ecol Evol 2016; 5:5722-34. [PMID: 27069620 PMCID: PMC4813123 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Following over 20 years of research on the climatic effects on biodiversity we now have strong evidence that climate change affects phenology, fitness, and distribution ranges of different taxa, including birds. Bird phenology likely responds to changes in local weather. It is also affected by climatic year‐to‐year variations on larger scales. Although such scale‐related effects are common in ecology, most studies analyzing the effects of climate change were accomplished using climatic information on a single spatial scale. In this study, we aimed at determining the scale‐dependent sensitivity of breeding phenology and success to climate change in a migratory passerine bird, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). For both annual broods, we investigated effects of local weather (local scale) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO, large scale) on the timing of breeding and breeding success. Consistent with previous studies in migratory birds we found that barn swallows in Eastern Germany bred progressively earlier. At the same time, they showed reduced breeding success over time in response to recent climatic changes. Responses to climatic variation were observed on both local and large climatic scales, but they differed with respect to the ecological process considered. Specifically, we found that the timing of breeding was primarily influenced by large‐scale NAO variations and to a lesser extent by local weather on the breeding grounds. Conversely, climatic conditions on the local scale affected breeding success, exclusively. The observed decrease in breeding success over years is likely a consequence of scale‐related mismatches between climatic conditions during different breeding phases. This provides further evidence that a species' response of earlier breeding may not be enough to cope with climate change. Our results emphasize the importance of considering the response of ecological processes along different climatic scales in order to better understand the complexity of climate change effects on biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annegret Grimm
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group Institute of Biology University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany; Department of Conservation Biology UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig Germany
| | - Brigitte M Weiß
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group Institute of Biology University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany; Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection Department of Primatology Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany
| | - Lars Kulik
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group Institute of Biology University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany; Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection Department of Primatology Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany
| | - Jean-Baptiste Mihoub
- Department of Conservation Biology UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig Germany
| | - Roger Mundry
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany
| | | | | | - Ruth Thomsen
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group Institute of Biology University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany; Department of Anthropology University College London London UK
| | - Anja Widdig
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group Institute of Biology University of Leipzig Leipzig Germany; Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection Department of Primatology Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig Germany; German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Leipzig Germany
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158
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Lintott PR, Barlow K, Bunnefeld N, Briggs P, Gajas Roig C, Park KJ. Differential responses of cryptic bat species to the urban landscape. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2044-52. [PMID: 27066223 PMCID: PMC4768637 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanization is a key global driver in the modification of land use and has been linked to population declines even in widespread and relatively common species. Cities comprise a complex assortment of habitat types yet we know relatively little about the effects of their composition and spatial configuration on species distribution. Although many bat species exploit human resources, the majority of species are negatively impacted by urbanization. Here, we use data from the National Bat Monitoring Programme, a long-running citizen science scheme, to assess how two cryptic European bat species respond to the urban landscape. A total of 124 × 1 km(2) sites throughout Britain were surveyed. The landscape surrounding each site was mapped and classified into discrete biotope types (e.g., woodland). Generalized linear models were used to assess differences in the response to the urban environment between the two species, and which landscape factors were associated with the distributions of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus. The relative prevalence of P. pygmaeus compared to P. pipistrellus was greater in urban landscapes with a higher density of rivers and lakes, whereas P. pipistrellus was frequently detected in landscapes comprising a high proportion of green space (e.g., parklands). Although P. pipistrellus is thought to be well adapted to the urban landscape, we found a strong negative response to urbanization at a relatively local scale (1 km), whilst P. pygmaeus was detected more regularly in wooded urban landscapes containing freshwater. These results show differential habitat use at a landscape scale of two morphologically similar species, indicating that cryptic species may respond differently to anthropogenic disturbance. Even species considered relatively common and well adapted to the urban landscape may respond negatively to the built environment highlighting the future challenges involved in maintaining biodiversity within an increasingly urbanized world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R Lintott
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Devon EX4 4PS U.K.; Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Kate Barlow
- Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House 250 Kennington Lane London SE11 5RD U.K
| | - Nils Bunnefeld
- Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Philip Briggs
- Bat Conservation Trust Quadrant House 250 Kennington Lane London SE11 5RD U.K
| | - Clara Gajas Roig
- Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
| | - Kirsty J Park
- Biological and Environmental Sciences School of Natural Sciences University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA U.K
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159
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Gaüzère P, Jiguet F, Devictor V. Can protected areas mitigate the impacts of climate change on bird's species and communities? DIVERS DISTRIB 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Gaüzère
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD Place Eugène Bataillon 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05 France
| | - Frédéric Jiguet
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle CESCO, UMR 7204, Sorbonne Universités‐MNHN‐CNRS‐UPMC CP 51, 55 Rue Buffon 75005 Paris France
| | - Vincent Devictor
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD Place Eugène Bataillon 34095 Montpellier Cedex 05 France
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160
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Rushing CS, Ryder TB, Scarpignato AL, Saracco JF, Marra PP. Using demographic attributes from long-term monitoring data to delineate natural population structure. J Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clark S. Rushing
- Migratory Bird Center; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; National Zoological Park; MRC 5503 PO Box 37012 Washington DC 20013 USA
| | - Thomas B. Ryder
- Migratory Bird Center; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; National Zoological Park; MRC 5503 PO Box 37012 Washington DC 20013 USA
| | - Amy L. Scarpignato
- Migratory Bird Center; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; National Zoological Park; MRC 5503 PO Box 37012 Washington DC 20013 USA
| | - James F. Saracco
- Institute for Bird Populations; PO Box 1346 Point Reyes Station CA 94956 USA
| | - Peter P. Marra
- Migratory Bird Center; Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; National Zoological Park; MRC 5503 PO Box 37012 Washington DC 20013 USA
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161
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Kamp J, Oppel S, Ananin AA, Durnev YA, Gashev SN, Hölzel N, Mishchenko AL, Pessa J, Smirenski SM, Strelnikov EG, Timonen S, Wolanska K, Chan S. Global population collapse in a superabundant migratory bird and illegal trapping in China. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:1684-1694. [PMID: 26059233 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Persecution and overexploitation by humans are major causes of species extinctions. Rare species, often confined to small geographic ranges, are usually at highest risk, whereas extinctions of superabundant species with very large ranges are rare. The Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola) used to be one of the most abundant songbirds of the Palearctic, with a very large breeding range stretching from Scandinavia to the Russian Far East. Anecdotal information about rapid population declines across the range caused concern about unsustainable trapping along the species' migration routes. We conducted a literature review and used long-term monitoring data from across the species' range to model population trend and geographical patterns of extinction. The population declined by 84.3-94.7% between 1980 and 2013, and the species' range contracted by 5000 km. Quantitative evidence from police raids suggested rampant illegal trapping of the species along its East Asian flyway in China. A population model simulating an initial harvest level of 2% of the population, and an annual increase of 0.2% during the monitoring period produced a population trajectory that matched the observed decline. We suggest that trapping strongly contributed to the decline because the consumption of Yellow-breasted Bunting and other songbirds has increased as a result of economic growth and prosperity in East Asia. The magnitude and speed of the decline is unprecedented among birds with a comparable range size, with the exception of the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), which went extinct in 1914 due to industrial-scale hunting. Our results demonstrate the urgent need for an improved monitoring of common and widespread species' populations, and consumption levels throughout East Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Kamp
- University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Heisenbergstr. 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandr A Ananin
- State Natural Biosphere Reserve 'Barguzinskii', Komsomolskaya str. 44-64, 670045, Ulan-Ude, Russian Federation
| | - Yurii A Durnev
- Center for Ecological Education 'Baikalbirds', Kirova str. 84, 665904, Kuchuk, Irkutsk province, Russian Federation
| | - Sergey N Gashev
- Tyumen State University, Semakova Str. 10, 625003, Tyumen, Russian Federation
| | - Norbert Hölzel
- University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Heisenbergstr. 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Alexandr L Mishchenko
- Russian Society for Bird Conservation and Study (Birds Russia), Bolshaya Nikitskaya str. 6, 125009, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Jorma Pessa
- Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY), Veteraanikatu 1, 90130 Oulu, Finland
| | - Sergey M Smirenski
- Muraviovka Park for Sustainable Land Use, P.O. Box 16, Main Post office, 67500, Blagoveshchensk, Amur province, Russian Federation
| | - Evgenii G Strelnikov
- Yugansk State Nature Reserve, 628458, Ugut, Surgut region, Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous Region, Russian Federation
| | - Sami Timonen
- Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY), Veteraanikatu 1, 90130 Oulu, Finland
| | - Kolja Wolanska
- University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Heisenbergstr. 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Simba Chan
- BirdLife International Asia Division, 4F TM Suidobashi Bldg., 2-14-6 Misaki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan
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162
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Báldi A, Somay L, Kovács-Hostyánszki A. Wintering Farmland Bird Assemblages in West Hungary. POLISH JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.3161/15052249pje2015.63.4.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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163
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Harrison PJ, Yuan Y, Buckland ST, Oedekoven CS, Elston DA, Brewer MJ, Johnston A, Pearce-Higgins JW. Quantifying turnover in biodiversity of British breeding birds. J Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Harrison
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling; University of St Andrews; The Observatory, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ UK
- ArtDatabanken; Box 7007 Bäcklösav 10 750 07 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling; University of St Andrews; The Observatory, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ UK
| | - Stephen T. Buckland
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling; University of St Andrews; The Observatory, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ UK
| | - Cornelia S. Oedekoven
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling; University of St Andrews; The Observatory, St Andrews Fife KY16 9LZ UK
| | - David A. Elston
- Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland; Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH UK
| | - Mark J. Brewer
- Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland; Craigiebuckler Aberdeen AB15 8QH UK
| | - Alison Johnston
- British Trust for Ornithology; The Nunnery Thetford Norfolk IP24 2PU UK
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164
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Sanderson FJ, Pople RG, Ieronymidou C, Burfield IJ, Gregory RD, Willis SG, Howard C, Stephens PA, Beresford AE, Donald PF. Assessing the Performance of EU Nature Legislation in Protecting Target Bird Species in an Era of Climate Change. Conserv Lett 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona J. Sanderson
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB; The Lodge; Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
| | - Robert G. Pople
- BirdLife International; Wellbrook Court; Girton Road Cambridge CB3 0NA UK
| | | | - Ian J. Burfield
- BirdLife International; Wellbrook Court; Girton Road Cambridge CB3 0NA UK
| | - Richard D. Gregory
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB; The Lodge; Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
| | - Stephen G. Willis
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; South Road Durham DH1 3LE UK
| | - Christine Howard
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; South Road Durham DH1 3LE UK
| | - Philip A. Stephens
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Durham University; South Road Durham DH1 3LE UK
| | - Alison E. Beresford
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB; The Lodge; Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
| | - Paul F. Donald
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, RSPB; The Lodge; Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
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165
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Opportunities within the Revised EU Common Agricultural Policy to Address the Decline of Farmland Birds: An Irish Perspective. DIVERSITY 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/d7030307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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166
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom H. Oliver
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 8BB UK
| | - David B. Roy
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology; Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 8BB UK
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167
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Mathews F, Roche N, Aughney T, Jones N, Day J, Baker J, Langton S. Barriers and benefits: implications of artificial night-lighting for the distribution of common bats in Britain and Ireland. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140124. [PMID: 25780236 PMCID: PMC4375364 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial lighting is a particular problem for animals active at night. Approximately 69% of mammal species are nocturnal, and one-third of these are bats. Due to their extensive movements-both on a nightly basis to exploit ephemeral food supplies, and during migration between roosts-bats have an unusually high probability of encountering artificial light in the landscape. This paper reviews the impacts of lighting on bats and their prey, exploring the direct and indirect consequences of lighting intensity and spectral composition. In addition, new data from large-scale surveys involving more than 265 000 bat calls at more than 600 locations in two countries are presented, showing that prevalent street-lighting types are not generally linked with increased activity of common and widespread bat species. Such bats, which are important to ecosystem function, are generally considered 'light-attracted' and likely to benefit from the insect congregations that form at lights. Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri) may be an exception, being more frequent in lit than dark transects. For common pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), lighting is negatively associated with their distribution on a landscape scale, but there may be local increases in habitats with good tree cover. Research is now needed on the impacts of sky glow and glare for bat navigation, and to explore the implications of lighting for habitat matrix permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Mathews
- Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Niamh Roche
- Bat Conservation Ireland, Ulex House, Drumheel, Lisduff, Virginia, Country Cavan, Ireland
| | - Tina Aughney
- Bat Conservation Ireland, Ulex House, Drumheel, Lisduff, Virginia, Country Cavan, Ireland
| | - Nicholas Jones
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Julie Day
- Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
| | - James Baker
- Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
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168
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Furnas BJ, Callas RL. Using automated recorders and occupancy models to monitor common forest birds across a large geographic region. J Wildl Manage 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brett J. Furnas
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife; 601 Locust Street Redding CA 96001 USA
| | - Richard L. Callas
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1724 Ball Mountain Road Montague CA 96064 USA
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