Diversity of waterbirds and their spatial and temporal distribution in different habitat types of Bohai Sea coastal wetlands (Shandong section)

Abstract

Context The coastal wetlands of the Bohai Sea are an important stopover site for migratory birds along the East Asia-Australasian flyway. Changes in land use and landscape structure of the coastal zone affect waterbird diversity and ecological conservation. Objectives We studied the community diversity and functional diversity of waterbirds in different habitats and seasons along the entire Shandong section of the Bohai Sea, explored the relationship between waterbird abundance and habitat area, and determined the relationship between bird functional eigenvalues and habitat types. Methods From June 2019 to April 2020, the Shandong section of the Bohai Sea was divided into 10 km × 10 km grids; a total of 87 grids were investigated, and four field surveys of waterbird communities were conducted using line transects and sampling points. We calculated the community and functional diversity of waterbirds in different habitats and seasons and analyzed the relationships of waterbird abundances with habitat area, functional traits, and habitat types using canonical correspondence analysis. Results The community diversity and functional diversity of waterbirds were highest in marsh wetlands, and waterbird richness and abundance were higher in natural wetlands than in artificial wetlands. There were significant differences in the diversity index of waterbirds among habitats and seasons. Habitat area was an extrinsic driver of the spatial distribution of different waterbird guilds, and foraging habits and feeding preferences were key intrinsic drivers. Conclusions Protecting waterbirds in this region requires prioritizing the protection of natural wetlands, reducing their exploitation, decreasing habitat fragmentation, and enhancing habitat connectivity.