1) Biology & ecology
- Seasonal and population differences in migration of Whimbrels in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway
Fenliang Kuang, Jonathan T. Coleman, Chris J. Hassell, Kar-Sin K. Leung, Grace Maglio, Wanjuan Ke, Chuyu Cheng, Jiayuan Zhao, Zhengwang Zhang & Zhijun Ma
- Flexible Behavior of the Black-Tailed Godwit Limosa limosa is Key to Successful Refueling during Staging at Rice Paddy Fields in Midwestern Korea
Seung-Hye Choi, Hyung-Kyu Nam
- Genetic diversity of toll-like receptor genes in the vulnerable Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes)
Wei Xu, Xiaoping Zhou, Wenzhen Fang, Xiaolin Chen
- Migratory connectivity of Swan Geese based on species’ distribution models, feather stable isotope assignment and satellite tracking
Qin Zhu, Keith A. Hobson, Qingshan Zhao, Yiqi Zhou, Iderbat Damba, Nyambayar Batbayar, Tseveenmyadag Natsagdorj, Batmunkh Davaasuren, Aleksei Antonov, Jian Guan, Xin Wang, Lei Fang, Lei Cao, Anthony David Fox
Evidence of Brent Geese Branta bernicla Moving between an Autumn Staging Area in East Hokkaido and Wintering Sites in West Hokkaido and Northern Honshu
Yusuke Sawa, Chieko Tamura, Toshio Ikeuchi, Tetsuo Shimada, Kaoru Fujii, Aisa Ishioroshi, Shirow Tatsuzawa, David Ward
- New assessment indicator of habitat suitability for migratory bird in wetland based on hydrodynamic model and vegetation growth threshold
Siyang Yao, Xinyu Li, Chenglin Liu, Jing Zhang, Yuekang Li, TingT Gan, Bo Liu, Weiming Kuang
2) Conservation & management
- Upper tidal flats are disproportionately important for the conservation of migratory shorebirds
Tong Mu, David S. Wilcove
- Extent and potential impact of hunting on migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific
Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao, Tiffany H. Morrison, Bradley K. Woodworth, Alexander C. Lees, Liliana C. Naves, Ding Li Yong, Chi-Yeung Choi, Taej Mundkur, Jeremy Bird, Anuj Jain, Konstantin Klokov, Evgeny Syroechkovskiy, Sayam U. Chowdhury, Vivian Wing Kan Fu, James E.M. Watson, Richard A. Fuller
- Creating a conservation network: Restoration of the critically endangered Chinese crested tern using social attraction
Yiwei Lu, Daniel D. Roby, Zhongyong Fan, Simba Chan, Donald E. Lyons, Chung-Hang Hong, Siyu Wang, Jia Yang, Xiao Zhou, Dongdong Chen, Hsiao-Wei Yuan, Shuihua Chen
- Identifying new sites of significance to waterbirds conservation and their habitat modification in the Yellow and Bohai Seas in China
Houlang Duan, Shaoxia Xia, Micha Victoria Jackson, Ning Zhao, Yu Liu, Jiakun Teng, Zhen Meng, Xiubo Yu, Jianbin Shi
- Using citizen science data to inform the relative sensitivity of waterbirds to natural versus human‐dominated landscapes in China
Houlang Duan, Shaoxia Xia, Xiubo Yu, Yu Liu, Jiakun Teng, Yuehan Dou
- Paint it black: Efficacy of increased wind turbine rotor blade visibility to reduce avian fatalities
Roel May, Torgeir Nygård, Ulla Falkdalen, Jens Åström, Øyvind Hamre, Bård G. Stokke
- Navigating coasts of concrete: Pervasive use of artificial habitats by shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific
Micha V. Jacksona, Chi-Yeung Choi, Tatsuya Amano, Sora M. Estrella, Weipan Lei, Nial Moores, Taej Mundkur, Danny I. Rogers, Richard A. Fuller
- Building for Nature: Preserving Threatened Bird Habitat in Port Design
Jos R. M. Muller, Ying-Chi Chan, Theunis Piersma, Yong-ping Chen, Stefan G. J. Aarninkhof, Chris J. Hassell, Jian-feng Tao, Zheng Gong, Zheng Bing Wang, Dirk S. van Maren
3) Avian Influenza /Others
- Genesis and spread of multiple reassortants during the 2016/2017 H5 avian influenza epidemic in Eurasia
Samantha J. Lycett, Anne Pohlmann, Christoph Staubach, Valentina Caliendo, Mark Woolhouse, Martin Beer, Thijs Kuiken, Global Consortium for H5N8, and Related Influenza Viruses
- Genetic and antigenic characterization of H5 and H7 avian influenza viruses isolated from migratory waterfowl in Mongolia from 2017 to 2019
Ankhanbaatar Ulaankhuu, Enkhbold Bazarragchaa, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Takahiro Hiono, Khishgee Bodisaikhan, Tsolmon Amartuvshin, Jargalsaikhan Tserenjav, Tsogtbaatar Urangoo, Khanui Buyantogtokh, Keita Matsuno, Takanari Hattori, Tatsunari Kondoh, Masahiro Sato, Yoshihiro Takadate, Shiho Torii, Mao Isono, Kosuke Okuya, Takeshi Saito, Nodoka Kasajima, Yurie Kida, Junki Maruyama, Manabu Igarashi, Ayato Takada, Hiroshi Kida, Damdinjav Batchuluun & Yoshihiro Sakoda
- Genetic Characterization of a Novel North American-Origin Avian Influenza A (H6N5) Virus Isolated from Bean Goose of South Korea in 2018
Ngoc Minh Nguyen, Haan Woo Sung, Ki-Jung Yun, Hyun Park, and Seon-Ju Yeo
1) Biology & ecology
Seasonal and population differences in migration of Whimbrels in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway
Fenliang Kuang, Jonathan T. Coleman, Chris J. Hassell, Kar-Sin K. Leung, Grace Maglio, Wanjuan Ke, Chuyu Cheng, Jiayuan Zhao, Zhengwang Zhang & Zhijun Ma
Abstract:
Conserving migratory birds is challenging due to their reliance on multiple distant sites at different stages of their annual life cycle. The concept of “flyway”, which refers to all areas covered by the breeding, nonbreeding, and migrating of birds, provides a framework for international cooperation for conservation. In the same flyway, however, the migratory activities of the same species can differ substantially between seasons and populations. Clarifying the seasonal and population differences in migration is helpful for understanding migration ecology and for identifying conservation gaps. Using satellite-tracking we tracked the migration of Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus variegatus) from nonbreeding sites at Moreton Bay (MB) and Roebuck Bay (RB) in Australia in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Mantel tests were used to analyze the strength of migration connectivity between the nonbreeding and breeding sites of MB and RB populations. Welch’s t test was used to compare the migration activities between the two populations and between northward and southward migration. During northward migration, migration distance and duration were longer for the MB population than for the RB population. The distance and duration of the first leg flight during northward migration were longer for the MB population than for the RB population, suggesting that MB individuals deposited more fuel before departing from nonbreeding sites to support their longer nonstop flight. The RB population exhibited weaker migration connectivity (breeding sites dispersing over a range of 60 longitudes) than the MB population (breeding sites concentrating in a range of 5 longitudes in Far Eastern Russia). Compared with MB population, RB population was more dependent on the stopover sites in the Yellow Sea and the coastal regions in China, where tidal habitat has suffered dramatic loss. However, RB population increased while MB population decreased over the past decades, suggesting that loss of tidal habitat at stopover sites had less impact on the Whimbrel populations, which can use diverse habitat types. Different trends between the populations might be due to the different degrees of hunting pressure in their breeding grounds. This study highlights that conservation measures can be improved by understanding the full annual life cycle of movements of multiple populations of Whimbrels and probably other migratory birds.
Seung-Hye Choi, Hyung-Kyu Nam
Abstract:
Successful refueling at staging sites is essential for the survival and reproduction of migratory birds. Understanding their staging ecology is therefore crucial for the conservation of migrant species. Rice fields in the mid-western region of the Korean Peninsula serve as staging habitats for the black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa). We examined the behavior of staging black-tailed godwits in rice fields located in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway during their northward migration. Specifically, we tested the effect of flock size and water level on the foraging, vigilance, and resting behaviors of black-tailed godwits. Our observations revealed that as flock size increased, stepping rate, pecking rate, and vigilance duration decreased, while probing rate, preening duration, and foraging efficiency increased. Stepping and pecking rates increased at low water levels, compared with high water levels. We determined that the behavior of black-tailed godwits at the staging site is influenced by flock size and water level. These observations suggest that black-tailed godwits form larger flocks to increase foraging efficiency by lowering individual-level vigilance, and to spend more time on preening, which is critical for flight and survival. It can be also inferred, based on the shift in primary foraging mode between probing and pecking depending on the water level, that they obtain higher foraging efficiency by flexibly adapting their foraging mode to the conditions in rice fields that are subject to agricultural activities. Our results are expected to serve as basic data for establishing efficient management strategies for anthropogenic habitats for the conservation of migratory shorebirds such as black-tailed godwit.
Genetic diversity of toll-like receptor genes in the vulnerable Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes)
Wei Xu, Xiaoping Zhou, Wenzhen Fang, Xiaolin Chen
Abstract:
Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes have recently been employed to assess genetic diversity, as they can be used to infer both demographic history and adaptation to environments with different pathogen pressure. Here, we sampled 120 individuals of the Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes), a globally vulnerable species, from four breeding populations across China. We assessed the levels of genetic diversity, selection pressure, and population differentiation at seven TLR loci (TLR1LB, TLR2A, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, and TLR15). Using a variety of metrics (SNPs, heterozygosity, nucleotides, haplotypes), our analyses showed that genetic diversity was lower at 4 of the 7 TLR loci in the vulnerable Chinese egret compared to the more common little egret (Egretta garzetta). The selection test indicated TLRs, except for TLR5, were under purifying selection in TLR evolution, suggesting that low TLR genetic diversity in the Chinese egret may be caused by purifying selection. Moreover, analysis of molecular variance indicated low but significant population differentiation among four populations at all of the TLR loci in this egret. However, some comparisons based on fixation index analyses did not show significant population differentiation, and Bayesian clustering showed admixture. Our finding suggested that these four populations of the Chinese egret in China may be considered a single unit for conservation planning. These results, the new report of TLR genetic diversity in a long-distance migratory vulnerable Ardeid species, will provide fundamental TLR information for further studies on the conservation genetics of the Chinese egret and other Ardeids.
Qin Zhu, Keith A. Hobson, Qingshan Zhao, Yiqi Zhou, Iderbat Damba, Nyambayar Batbayar, Tseveenmyadag Natsagdorj, Batmunkh Davaasuren, Aleksei Antonov, Jian Guan, Xin Wang, Lei Fang, Lei Cao, Anthony David Fox
Abstract:
Understanding connectivity between avian breeding and non‐breeding areas is essential to understand processes affecting threatened migrants throughout their annual cycle. We attempted to establish migratory connectivity and flyway structure of the IUCN vulnerable Swan Geese (Anser cygnoides) by combining citizen science species’ distribution models (SDMs) and feather stable isotope analysis. We established migratory origins and movements of 46 Swan Geese from five wintering locations by integrating citizen science SDMs and feather stable hydrogen isotope (δ2H) measurements by linking feathers to precipitation isoscapes in a Bayesian probability framework. We determined multiple summering origins among Swan Geese from the most important wintering location, Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, China. As predicted, we found no evidence for sex‐biased differences in δ2H measurements. Four geese tracked with GPS/GSM loggers all migrated to moulting areas, which confirmed the accuracy of our predictions from δ2H assignments. Differences between summering ranges inferred from historical and modern samples coincided with major wetland loss in northeastern China since the 1950s. Despite limited historical data, we contend that this supports the hypothesis that the summering range prior to 1950 was much wider than that of the current population. This was the first Asian study to establish migratory origins of wintering Anatidae based on stable isotopes and citizen science SDMs. We advocate the wider combined application of SDMs, telemetry studies and stable isotopes to investigate effectively avian migratory connectivity, as the results from this study provided important contributions to the development of conservation measures for this threatened and declining species in East Asia.
Yusuke Sawa, Chieko Tamura, Toshio Ikeuchi, Tetsuo Shimada, Kaoru Fujii, Aisa Ishioroshi, Shirow Tatsuzawa, David Ward
Abstract:
The Brent Goose Branta bernicla population of East Asia is the least studied. We banded 24 Brent Geese at Notsuke Bay, east Hokkaido, Japan, in autumn, and collected six opportunistic sightings of these birds during winter, contributing to an understanding of their migratory movements to wintering sites in Japan. Birds were resighted at five widely distributed wintering sites in west Hokkaido and northeast Honshu. While this study showed that birds moved between Notsuke Bay and wintering sites elsewhere in Japan, further studies are needed to understand the migration patterns and routes used during autumn and spring in East Asia.
Siyang Yao, Xinyu Li, Chenglin Liu, Jing Zhang, Yuekang Li, TingT Gan, Bo Liu, Weiming Kuang
Abstract:
Migratory birds are indicator organisms for the health of wetland ecosystems. Choosing the key environmental indicators is vital to the assessment of habitat suitability for migratory birds. In the study, hydroperiod was used to predict wetland suitability for migratory birds. It control growth of vegetation used for migratory birds’ food and could predicted by hydrodynamic model. This study presents a new indicator for assessing migratory bird habitat suitability in wetland, continuous flooding time (CFT), based on two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model and vegetation growth threshold. In Poyang Lake wetland (the largest migratory bird wintering based in Asia), variation in CFT amongst different hydrological years (wet, dry and normal flow years) was calculated by using the 2D hydrodynamic model based on incompressible Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (N-S) equation. The habitat suitability for migratory birds were calculated based on the vegetation growth threshold (CFT) of Carex spp., Phalaris arundinacea and Polygonum criopolitanum in the typical (hydrological) years. Results show that migratory birds have the largest suitable area (with High and Very High suitability) in 2009 (normal flow year). The suitable area in severe drought (flood) year is significantly less than the area in normal dry (wet)year. The average of the suitable CFTs (with High and Very High suitability) are almost equal in 2007 (dry year) and 2002 (wet year). The suitable CFT is between 120 and 240 days, and the average of the suitable CFT is 170.39, 190.26 and 173.49 days in 2007 (dry year), 2009 (normal flow year) and 2002 (wet year), respectively. Overall, the study provides a valuable evaluation indicator of habitat suitability for migratory bird, however the use of the indicator must depend on a certain study of the vegetation growth threshold and the feeding habit of migratory birds for the study area. The proposed indicator can further improve the comprehensive evaluation system for wetland migratory birds and provide a scientific reference of the water environment planning and ecological management for the scheduled Poyang lake dam.
1) Conservation & management
Upper tidal flats are disproportionately important for the conservation of migratory shorebirds
Tong Mu, David S. Wilcove
Abstract：
Migratory animals play vital ecological roles in ecosystems worldwide, yet many species are threatened by human activities. Understanding the detailed patterns of habitat use throughout the migration cycle is critical to developing effective conservation strategies for these species. Migratory shorebirds undertake some of the longest known migrations, but they are also declining precipitously worldwide. To better understand the dynamics of shorebird declines along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, we quantified the spatiotemporal foraging distribution of 17 migratory shorebirds at two critical stopover sites. We found that shorebirds exhibit substantial interspecific and site-specific differences in their foraging distributions. Notwithstanding these differences, however, the upper tidal flats appear to be especially important to most shorebirds by providing more than 70% of the birds’ cumulative foraging time, twofold greater than their proportional area. Because the upper tidal flats are also more prone to coastal development, our findings may help to explain why shorebird populations along the flyway have declined much faster than the overall rate of tidal flat loss. Our work highlights the importance of protecting upper tidal flats to conserve migratory shorebirds and demonstrates the value of a detailed ecological understanding of habitat usage by migratory animals for conservation planning.
Extent and potential impact of hunting on migratory shorebirds in the Asia-Pacific
Eduardo Gallo-Cajiao, Tiffany H. Morrison, Bradley K. Woodworth, Alexander C. Lees, Liliana C. Naves, Ding Li Yong, Chi-Yeung Choi, Taej Mundkur, Jeremy Bird, Anuj Jain, Konstantin Klokov, Evgeny Syroechkovskiy, Sayam U. Chowdhury, Vivian Wing Kan Fu, James E.M. Watson, Richard A. Fuller
Abstract：
Harvesting has driven population declines of migratory species. In the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), declines of migratory shorebirds have been largely attributed to habitat loss. However, despite concerns about hunting, no study has considered this potential threat at a flyway scale. We synthesised and analysed the current state of knowledge of hunting of migratory shorebirds in the EAAF to determine: (i) whether there is flyway-wide coordination for monitoring hunting; (ii) the temporal, spatial, and taxonomic extent of hunting; and (iii) the potential population-level effects. We conducted an exhaustive literature search, aggregated data considering uncertainty in different dimensions, and appraised hunting levels against sustainable harvest thresholds. We identified 138 references (i.e., peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, books, conference proceedings, technical reports, theses, and newsletters) as potential sources of records of hunting of migratory shorebirds of which we were able to obtain 107. We discovered a lack of coordinated monitoring of hunting, despite harvest being temporally, spatially, and taxonomically pervasive, including species of conservation concern. Past harvest levels of migratory shorebirds may have reached at least half of the flyway-wide sustainable thresholds in the EAAF. Despite our inability to assess current hunting levels and unambiguous population-level effects, it is evident that hunting has the potential to be an additional stressor on migratory shorebird populations interplaying with habitat loss. We therefore highlight the need to develop a coordinated monitoring system of hunting at a flyway scale, as past levels of take are likely to have been unsustainable, hunting still occurs, and the current thresholds for sustainable harvest have become lower as a result of declines in shorebird populations.
Yiwei Lu, Daniel D. Roby, Zhongyong Fan, Simba Chan, Donald E. Lyons, Chung-Hang Hong, Siyu Wang, Jia Yang, Xiao Zhou, Dongdong Chen, Hsiao-Wei Yuan, Shuihua Chen
Abstract：
Social attraction techniques have been demonstrated effective in restoring seabird breeding colonies, especially colonies of terns (Subfamily: Sterninae). The Chinese crested tern (Thalasseus bernsteini) is a critically endangered seabird with a global population of about 100 breeding adults and a breeding range restricted to the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. In order to restore a breeding colony of Chinese crested terns in an archipelago where a former colony had been abandoned, social attraction (decoys and audio playback systems) was deployed on a small, uninhabited island with no history of seabird nesting. The objective was to establish a breeding colony of greater crested terns (T. bergii), a closely-related common species, in the hope that Chinese crested terns would follow. Thousands of greater crested terns and at least 19 Chinese crested terns colonized the island during the first breeding season after deployment of social attraction. After three years of successful breeding, the colony was abruptly abandoned early in the fourth breeding season because of invasive king rat snakes (Elaphe carinata), which consumed all tern eggs. Following removal of all snakes from the colony, terns resumed nesting the subsequent year. Recovery of this critically endangered seabird depends on repeating this process at multiple islands. Careful planning, in conjunction with habitat management, close colony monitoring, and deployment of social attraction, can establish a conservation network of suitable, secure colony sites where most breeding adults can reproduce successfully. This approach can be used to restore a variety of declining seabird species along the Chinese coastline.
Houlang Duan, Shaoxia Xia, Micha Victoria Jackson, Ning Zhao, Yu Liu, Jiakun Teng, Zhen Meng, Xiubo Yu, Jianbin Shi
Abstract：
Chinese coastal wetlands in the Yellow and Bohai Seas provide a network of breeding, stopover, and wintering sites that are critical for the survival of many migratory waterbird species. However, land use change, particularly from coastal reclamation, has caused severe population declines of waterirds. Although 19 sites, covering 1.51 million hectares, were recognized as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) prior to 2009, bird surveys since 2009 have indicated additional sites may be important, and should be included in the protection area network. In this study, we compile waterbird distribution data (post-2009) from multiple sources, including citizen science databases, published and gray literatures. Using these data while also adopting internationally recognized criteria, we delineate new sites of significance to waterbird conservation. For these newly identified sites, using remote-sensed data, we develop a habitat suitability index (HSI) to identify any change in the same site between 2000 and 2015. The study results show that of 26 sites meeting criteria for significance to waterbird conservation in Chinese coastal wetlands of the Yellow and Bohai Seas, 9 sites are included within boundaries of existing IBAs, and 17 are new identified sites; Eight threatened waterbird species are recorded in 13 of the newly identified sites; and seven threatened species or species that occurred in internationally significant numbers have not been previously documented in existing IBAs; Decreases in habitat suitability are apparent at 16 of 17 newly identified sites between 2000 and 2015, as are declines in the extent of natural habitat. To curtail future population declines of waterbirds in coastal wetlands of the Yellow and Bohai Seas, prioritized conservation of these newly identified sites is urgently required.
Houlang Duan, Shaoxia Xia, Xiubo Yu, Yu Liu, Jiakun Teng, Yuehan Dou
Abstract：
Habitat loss is widely regarded as one of the most destructive factors threatening native biodiversity. Because migratory waterbirds include some of the most globally endangered species, information on their sensitivity to landscape would benefit their conservation. While citizen science data on waterbird species occurrence are subjected to various biases, their appropriate interpretation can provide information of benefit to species conservation. We apply a bootstrapping procedure to citizen science data to reduce sampling biases and report the relative sensitivity of waterbird species to natural versus human‐dominated landscapes. Analyses are performed on 30,491 data records for 69 waterbird species referred to five functional groups observed in China between 2000 and 2018. Of these taxa, 30 species (43.5%) are significantly associated with natural landscapes, more so for cranes, geese, and ducks than for shorebirds and herons. The relationship between land association and the threat status of waterbirds is significant when the range size of species is considered as the mediator, and the higher the land association, the higher the threat status. Sensitive species significantly associated with natural landscapes are eight times more likely to be classified as National Protected Species (NPS) Classes I or II than less sensitive species significantly associated with human‐dominated landscapes. We demonstrate the potential for citizen science data to assist in conservation planning in the context of landscape changes. Our methods might assist others to obtain information to help relieve species decline and extinction.
Paint it black: Efficacy of increased wind turbine rotor blade visibility to reduce avian fatalities
Roel May, Torgeir Nygård, Ulla Falkdalen, Jens Åström, Øyvind Hamre, Bård G. Stokke
Abstract：
As wind energy deployment increases and larger wind‐power plants are considered, bird fatalities through collision with moving turbine rotor blades are expected to increase. However, few (cost‐) effective deterrent or mitigation measures have so far been developed to reduce the risk of collision. Provision of “passive” visual cues may enhance the visibility of the rotor blades enabling birds to take evasive action in due time. Laboratory experiments have indicated that painting one of three rotor blades black minimizes motion smear (Hodos 2003, Minimization of motion smear: Reducing avian collisions with wind turbines). We tested the hypothesis that painting would increase the visibility of the blades, and that this would reduce fatality rates in situ, at the Smøla wind‐power plant in Norway, using a Before–After–Control–Impact approach employing fatality searches. The annual fatality rate was significantly reduced at the turbines with a painted blade by over 70%, relative to the neighboring control (i.e., unpainted) turbines. The treatment had the largest effect on reduction of raptor fatalities; no white‐tailed eagle carcasses were recorded after painting. Applying contrast painting to the rotor blades significantly reduced the collision risk for a range of birds. Painting the rotor blades at operational turbines was, however, resource demanding given that they had to be painted while in‐place. However, if implemented before construction, this cost will be minimized. It is recommended to repeat this experiment at other sites to ensure that the outcomes are generic at various settings.
Micha V. Jacksona, Chi-Yeung Choi, Tatsuya Amano, Sora M. Estrella, Weipan Lei, Nial Moores, Taej Mundkur, Danny I. Rogers, Richard A. Fuller
Abstract：
Loss and degradation of wetlands has occurred worldwide, impacting ecosystems and contributing to the decline of waterbirds, including shorebirds that occur along the heavily developed coasts of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). Artificial (i.e. human-made) wetlands are pervasive in the EAAF and known to be used by shorebirds, but this phenomenon has not been systematically reviewed. We collated data and expert knowledge to understand the extent and intensity of shorebird use of coastal artificial habitats along the EAAF. We found records of 83 species, including all regularly occurring coastal migratory shorebirds, across 176 artificial sites with eight different land uses. Thirty-six species including eleven threatened species occurred in internationally important numbers. However, threatened species were less likely to occur, and larger-bodied, migratory and coastal specialist species less likely to feed, at artificial sites. Abundance, species richness and density varied across artificial habitats, with high abundance and richness but low density on salt production sites; high abundance and density on port and power production sites; and, low abundance and richness on aquaculture and agriculture. Overall, use of coastal artificial habitats by shorebirds is widespread in the flyway, warranting a concerted effort to integrate artificial habitats alongside natural wetlands into conservation frameworks. Salt production sites are cause for particular concern because they support large shorebird aggregations but are often at risk of production cessation and conversion to other land uses. Preserving and improving the condition of all remaining natural habitats and managing artificial habitats are priorities for shorebird conservation in the EAAF.
Building for Nature: Preserving Threatened Bird Habitat in Port Design
Jos R. M. Muller, Ying-Chi Chan, Theunis Piersma, Yong-ping Chen, Stefan G. J. Aarninkhof, Chris J. Hassell, Jian-feng Tao, Zheng Gong, Zheng Bing Wang, Dirk S. van Maren
Abstract：
The fast economic development of the People’s Republic of China has created an increasing demand for usable land, resulting in large-scale land reclamations along the coastal zone. One of these regions is Tongzhou Bay (Jiangsu coast), a region characterized by large intertidal mudflats and deep tidal channels with potential for the development of agri-aquaculture and the construction of a deep-sea port. However, these intertidal mudflats also provide vital ecosystem services and support many wildlife species, including several endangered migratory shorebirds within the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. With increasing realization of the importance of maintaining such ecological values, a more integrated coastal development strategy is needed. This study aims to develop a sustainable integrated design for the Tongzhou Bay port, following a “Building with Nature” approach. We use a morphodynamic model to compute habitat suitability for two shorebird species (Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris and Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica). Several port configurations were developed on the basis of three design criteria: (1) create area for future port development, whilst (2) preserving existing high-value ecotopes for shorebirds and (3) enhance the natural accretion rate of such ecotopes. Simulation results showed a clear difference in siltation patterns, preservation and enhancement of preferred ecotopes. This work therefore demonstrates the potential and importance of morphological and habitat suitability modelling when designing large-scale reclamations and port constructions, especially in dynamic areas such as Tongzhou Bay.
3) Avian Influenza / Others
Samantha J. Lycett, Anne Pohlmann, Christoph Staubach, Valentina Caliendo, Mark Woolhouse, Martin Beer, Thijs Kuiken, Global Consortium for H5N8, and Related Influenza Viruses
Abstract：
In 2016/2017, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus of the subtype H5 spilled over into wild birds and caused the largest known HPAI epidemic in Europe, affecting poultry and wild birds. During its spread, the virus frequently exchanged genetic material (reassortment) with cocirculating low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses. To determine where and when these reassortments occurred, we analyzed Eurasian avian influenza viruses and identified a large set of H5 HPAI reassortants. We found that new genetic material likely came from wild birds across their migratory range and from domestic ducks not only in China, but also in central Europe. This knowledge is important to understand how the virus could adapt to wild birds and become established in wild bird populations.
Ankhanbaatar Ulaankhuu, Enkhbold Bazarragchaa, Masatoshi Okamatsu, Takahiro Hiono, Khishgee Bodisaikhan, Tsolmon Amartuvshin, Jargalsaikhan Tserenjav, Tsogtbaatar Urangoo, Khanui Buyantogtokh, Keita Matsuno, Takanari Hattori, Tatsunari Kondoh, Masahiro Sato, Yoshihiro Takadate, Shiho Torii, Mao Isono, Kosuke Okuya, Takeshi Saito, Nodoka Kasajima, Yurie Kida, Junki Maruyama, Manabu Igarashi, Ayato Takada, Hiroshi Kida, Damdinjav Batchuluun & Yoshihiro Sakoda
Abstract：
The circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of various subtypes (e.g., H5N1, H5N6, H5N8, and H7N9) in poultry remains a global concern for animal and public health. Migratory waterfowls play important roles in the transmission of these viruses across countries. To monitor virus spread by wild birds, active surveillance for avian influenza in migratory waterfowl was conducted in Mongolia from 2015 to 2019. In total, 5000 fecal samples were collected from lakesides in central Mongolia, and 167 influenza A viruses were isolated. Two H5N3, four H7N3, and two H7N7 viruses were characterized in this study. The amino acid sequence at hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site of those isolates suggested low pathogenicity in chickens. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all H5 and H7 viruses were closely related to recent H5 and H7 low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) isolated from wild birds in Asia and Europe. Antigenicity of H7Nx was similar to those of typical non-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (AIVs). While HPAIVs or A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9)-related LPAIVs were not detected in migratory waterfowl in Mongolia, sporadic introductions of AIVs including H5 and H7 viruses into Mongolia through the wild bird migration were identified. Thus, continued monitoring of H5 and H7 AIVs in both domestic and wild birds is needed for the early detection of HPAIVs spread into the country.
Ngoc Minh Nguyen, Haan Woo Sung, Ki-Jung Yun, Hyun Park, and Seon-Ju Yeo
Abstract：
The complex overlap in waterfowl migratory pathways across the world has established numerous occurrences of genetic reassortment and intercontinental spread of avian influenza virus (AIV) over long distances, thereby calling for huge efforts and targeted surveillance for infection control. During annual surveillance in South Korea in 2018, a novel avian influenza H6N5 (K6) subtype was isolated from the fecal sample of wild bird. Genomic characterization using a phylogenetic tree indicated the K6 virus to be of North American-origin, with partial homology to an H6N5 strain, A/Aix galericulata/South Korea/K17-1638-5/2017 (K17). A monobasic residue at the HA cleavage site and absence of a notable mutation at the HA receptor-binding site suggested the isolate to be of low pathogenicity. However, molecular analysis revealed the E119V mutation in the NA gene and a human host marker mutation E382D in the polymerase acidic (PA) gene, implying their susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors and potential infectivity in humans, respectively. For comparison, K6 and K17 were found to be dissimilar for various mutations, such as A274T of PB2, S375N/T of PB1, or V105M of NP, each concerning the increased virulence of K6 in mammalian system. Moreover, kinetic data presented the highest viral titer of this H6N5 isolate at 106.37 log10TCID50 after 48 h of infection, thus proving efficient adaptability for replication in a mammalian system in vitro. The mouse virus challenge study showed insignificant influence on the total body weight, while viral load shedding in lungs peaked at 1.88 ± 0.21 log10 TICD50/mL, six days post infection. The intercontinental transmission of viruses from North America may continuously be present in Korea, thereby providing constant opportunities for virus reassortment with local resident AIVs; these results hint at the increased potential risk of host jumping capabilities of the new isolates. Our findings reinforce the demand for regular surveillance, not only in Korea but also along the flyways in Alaska.
Key words for searching in web of Science：
East Asian-Australasian flyway, flyway, migratory, water bird, wetland, Asia, Australia, shorebird, wader, Anatidae, seabird.
