Identifying risks to populations of migratory shorebirds

识别迁徙滨鸟种群的风险

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04449
• 负责人: Nol, Erica
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Trent University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=684764
• 关键词: Identifying; risks; populations; migratory; shorebirds

The objectives of my research program are to train students in population dynamics, behaviour and ecology of arctic- and sub-arctic breeding migratory shorebirds in the context of a changing climate. We will conduct research on shorebirds during the breeding, migration and non-breeding periods of their annual cycle. In Churchill, MB, using long-term (26-yr) data on individually identified breeding Semipalmated Plovers, we will determine causes of annual variation in local population size, adult apparent survival and seasonal reproductive success. We will also test whether habitat change has caused redistribution or reduction in the local Churchill population, and if there are consequences of individual adult movement between years. For natal recruits, we will examine movements away from natal sites, and their reproductive success in comparison to that of their parents. We will also measure heritability of habitat selection patterns from a large sample of parent offspring pairs to determine whether there is potential for ongoing natural selection for habitat preferences. Finally, we will analyse departure decisions from breeding grounds to determine the extent that breeding season reproductive success affects subsequent migration speed, stopover lengths and distances traveled (e.g., carry-over effects). We will accomplish this by affixing small transmitters to the backs of birds, and subsequently following the birds through an array of receiving stations situated along the shores of Hudson and western James Bay. At the vast mudflats of western James Bay, we will elucidate the underlying causes of distributions of migrating shorebirds, and how long they stay during their southbound migration, using both traditional survey methods and radio-telemetry tools. We will also use re-sightings/detections of individually colour-banded and radio-tagged birds (including the Endangered Red Knot), to calculate population sizes using this critical migratory staging area. During the 6-8 mo non-breeding season we will study apparent survival and movement patterns (through use of the Motus array of receiving stations and traditional radio telemetry) of individually marked shorebirds at four locations in South Carolina. Sites will vary in predation risk, habitat patch size, degree of human disturbance and access to foraging sites. We predict lower apparent survival of birds at disturbed sites and those sites with fewer food resources. As a group, shorebirds are among the most rapidly declining groups of birds. The significance of this research is that it will test which conditions at important sites during the annual cycle of Canadian breeding shorebirds promote their survival and hence, conservation. The research is directed at wildlife managers and researchers and will be published in academic journals and lay publications, and presented at meetings aimed at scientists and the general public.

我的研究项目的目标是培训学生在气候变化的背景下，在北极和亚北极繁殖候鸟的种群动态、行为和生态学方面的知识。我们将在滨鸟年周期的繁殖期、迁移期和非繁殖期对滨鸟进行研究。在北卡罗来纳州的丘吉尔，我们将利用长期(26年)关于个别确定的繁殖半肢节食草鱼的数据，确定当地种群数量、成虫表观存活率和季节性繁殖成功的年度变化原因。我们还将测试栖息地的变化是否导致了当地丘吉尔种群的重新分布或减少，以及个体成年动物之间的迁徙是否会产生后果。对于出生新兵，我们将检查他们远离出生地点的活动，以及他们的生殖成功与其父母的比较。我们还将测量来自亲代后代对的大样本栖息地选择模式的遗传力，以确定是否有可能对栖息地偏好进行持续的自然选择。最后，我们将分析离开繁殖地的决定，以确定繁殖季节的繁殖成功对随后的迁徙速度、中途停留的长度和旅行距离的影响程度(例如，结转效应)。我们将通过在鸟类的背部安装小型发射器，然后跟踪鸟类通过位于哈德逊海岸和詹姆斯湾西部的一系列接收站来实现这一点。在詹姆士湾西部广阔的泥滩，我们将利用传统调查方法和无线电遥测工具，阐明候鸟分布的根本原因，以及它们在南迁过程中停留的时间。我们还将使用重新目击/检测单独的彩带和无线电标记的鸟类(包括濒危红结)，以计算使用这个关键的迁徙集结区的种群数量。在6-8个月的非繁殖季节，我们将研究南卡罗来纳州四个地点单独标记的滨鸟的表观生存和运动模式(通过使用Motus接收站阵列和传统的无线电遥测)。不同地点的捕食风险、栖息地大小、人类干扰程度和获取觅食地点的途径会有所不同。我们预测，在受干扰的地点和食物资源较少的地点，鸟类的表观存活率较低。作为一个群体，滨鸟是数量减少最快的鸟类群体。这项研究的意义在于，它将测试在加拿大繁殖滨鸟的年度周期中，重要地点的哪些条件有助于它们的存活，从而促进它们的保护。这项研究面向野生动物管理者和研究人员，将在学术期刊和非专业出版物上发表，并在针对科学家和普通公众的会议上发表。