Integrating multi‐scale data to model the relationship between food resources, waterbird distribution and human activities in freshwater systems: preliminary findings and potential uses

Abstract

Understanding and predicting the likely consequences of anthropogenic disturbance on species and ecosystems is a major prerequisite of achieving the sustainable use of natural resources. It is also a key element in the management of sites with statutory designation. During planning and decision-making processes involving potential disturbance issues, land managers and responsible authorities are often required to take account of the needs and views of a diversity of site user groups. The effects and impacts of disturbance can occur over a range of spatial and temporal scales, and research into these consequences must address this problem. This paper provides (1) an overview of the field and analytical methodologies contributing to the development of an integrated method for collecting multi-scale bird, resource and disturbance data in freshwater systems, and (2) an overview of the drivers and need for such data in sustainable resource management. Whilst the results of the bird-habitat-disturbance modelling arising from these data will be published elsewhere, the types of information that will be generated are illustrated and their potential use within planning and decision-making processes discussed.Compared with much of northern and central continental Europe, the UK has a relatively mild winter climate, and a broad range of normally ice-free aquatic habitats. These conditions attract large numbers of wintering waterbirds, and more than 200 sites in the UK are currently of international importance for one or more species of waterbirds, and over 50 regularly hold more than 20 000 birds (Collier et al . 2005). Some waterbird groups, particularly diving and dabbling ducks, extensively utilize freshwater habitats during the winter, including lakes, rivers, canals, ponds and gravel pits. The vast majority of these sites have been (or are currently) subjected to some degree of anthropogenic modification, and indeed many are entirely artificial (Yallop et al . 2004). As well as being used by wintering waterbirds, UK freshwater sites are also utilized by humans for an extremely wide range of recreational activities. A survey in England and Wales showed that 14% of all countryside visits are made to inland waters, over 3 million people participate in angling, and over 5 million participate in sailing, motor boating, windsurfing or rowing (Brighton

Scale Mismatches, Conservation Planning, and the Value of Social‐Network Analyses

“…In the United Kingdom, regulations on recreational use of inland waters are based on short‐term behavioral responses of birds to disturbance that are averaged across sites and habitats (O'Connell et al. ). This generalized approach to planning does not account for site‐ and time‐specific human disturbances and results in spatial and temporal mismatches.…”

“…For example, human activity may only occur at particular times of the year or in specific locations and birds may use different lakes for different purposes (O'Connell et al. ).…”

Use of urban marine habitats by foraging wading birds

“…These results illustrate that confounding landscape and biological factors that may potentially influence bird distribution and abundance must be considered when assessing the impacts of human disturbance. Indeed, O'Connell et al (2007) have called for the need to include other factors such as prey abundance and availability when developing models to assess human disturbance impacts on waterbird distribution. One example of this approach is a study that examined the effects of surrounding landscape composition on waterfowl abundance and richness at a series of urban wetlands while also accounting for habitat characteristics such as prey density and shoreline configuration .…”

Accounting for the links between social and ecological systems for effective nature conservation

“…Gilmore et al, 2007). In the United Kingdom, regulations on recreational use of inland waters are based on short-term behavioural responses of birds to disturbance that are averaged across sites and habitats (O'Connell et al, 2007). This generalised approach to planning does not account for site-and time-specific human disturbances and results in spatial and temporal mismatches.…”

“…This generalised approach to planning does not account for site-and time-specific human disturbances and results in spatial and temporal mismatches. For example, human activity may only occur at particular times of the year or in specific locations and birds may use different lakes for different purposes (O'Connell et al, 2007).…”