Small-scale natural landscape features and seabird nesting sites: the importance of geodiversity for conservation

Eveillard‐Buchoux, Marie; Beninger, Peter G.; Chadenas, Céline; Sellier, Dominique

doi:10.1007/s10980-019-00879-8

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…A large proportion (71%) of islets in the landscape were generated by ice-wedge polygon degradation, which also generated islets on average farther from the shore and surrounded by deeper water compared to those generated by other geomorphological or biotic processes. Few attempts have been made to fully integrate geomorphological attributes or processes in birds nest site selection research (Eveillard-Buchoux et al, 2019). To our knowledge, our study is the first conducted in the Arctic that outlines the key role of polygon degradation in the origin of refuges preferred by some prey species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking biodiversity and geodiversity: Arctic-nesting birds select refuges generated by permafrost degradation

Corbeil-Robitaille,

Duchesne,

Fortier

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Abstract. To gain better insight into the cascading impact of warming-induced changes in the physical landscape on biodiversity, it is crucial to establish stronger links between abiotic and ecological processes governing species distribution. Abiotic processes shaping the physical characteristics of the environment could significantly influence predator movements in the landscape and ultimately affect biodiversity through interspecific interactions. In the Arctic tundra, the main terrestrial predator (Arctic fox) avoids patches of wetlands composed of ponds with islets that can act as refuges for prey. Little is known about the geomorphological processes generating islets selected by prey species. Our study aimed to identify i) the physical characteristics of islets selected by Arctic-nesting birds and ii) the geomorphological processes generating islets available in the landscape. Over two breeding seasons, we determined the occurrence of nesting birds (Glaucous gull, Cackling goose, Red-throated loon) on islets (N=396) found over a 150 km2 area on Bylot Island (Nunavut, Canada). Occupied islets were located further away from the shore (10.6 m ± 7.3 vs 7.4 m ± 6.8) and surrounded by deeper water (33.6 cm ± 10.6 vs 28.1 cm ± 11.5). As expected, all three bird species selected islets less accessible to Arctic foxes, with nesting occurrence increasing (linearly or nonlinearly) with distance to shore and/or water depth around islets. Based on high-resolution satellite image and field observations, we found that ice-wedge polygon degradation generated the majority of islets (71 %) found in the landscape. Those islets were on average farther from the shore and surrounded by deeper water than those generated by other processes. As polygon degradation is projected to accelerate in response to warming, new refuges will likely emerge in the Arctic landscape, but current refuges could also disappear. Changes in the rate of polygon degradation may thus affect Arctic tundra biodiversity by altering predator-prey interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking biodiversity and geodiversity: Arctic-nesting birds select refuges generated by permafrost degradation

Corbeil-Robitaille,

Duchesne,

Fortier

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Under the ongoing climate change (Beniston et al, 2018), mountain ecosystems are facing modifications in both geomorphic processes and vegetation communities. While an increase in species richness and an upward shift of plant species at high altitudes during the last century have already been assessed in various studies (Cannone et al, 2007;Stöckli et al, 2011;Wipf et al, 2013), as well as a shift of the treeline to higher elevations and latitudes (Garamvoelgyi and Hufnagel, 2013), studies on the future impact of geomorphic processes on vegetation (for example Masseroli et al, 2016) are sporadic. An augmentation of the morainic deposits due to the accelerated glacier retreat, an increase in landslides and rockfall due to permafrost degradation, and a greater infiltration of water because of the increase in liquid precipitation can be expected (IPCC, 2018).…”

Section: Impacts Of Geomorphological Processes and Landforms On Vegetation In Mountain Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the ecological value of dynamic mountain geomorphosites

Bussard

Giaccone

2021

Geogr. Helv.

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Abstract. Geoheritage is a component of geodiversity constituted by all the elements of geodiversity recognized by society for their particular values. The definition of these values, including the importance of geoheritage for biodiversity, plays a key role in the process of heritage recognition and geoconservation policymaking. In mountain environments, dynamic geomorphosites have a strong influence on plant diversity because the active geomorphological processes responsible for their formation act as renovators for habitats of pioneer species. In this paper, we propose criteria to assess the ecological value of dynamic mountain geomorphosites. We show that the interest of plant communities (species richness and presence of rare or protected species) and the influence of geomorphological processes on plant communities (disturbances, surface movement and soil) are fundamental criteria for assessing the ecological value in an exhaustive and objective way and that the question of the scale (local and national scales) is also a crucial parameter. We then illustrate this methodological proposal by evaluating the ecological value of three dynamic geomorphosites and a talus slope in the western Swiss Alps.

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“…Recent research examples include the importance and need for conservation of rock cliff niches for nesting seabirds in Brittany, France(Eveillard-Buchoux et al, 2019), the role of caves and crevices for mammals and bats(Rivero-Castro et al, 2023;Hughes et al, 2023) and the development of biological rock crusts on the Xitle lava flow around Mexico City(Téllez et al, 2023).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Boundary of ecosystem services: A response to

Gray,

Fox,

Gordon

et al. 2024

Journal of Environmental Management

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Small-scale natural landscape features and seabird nesting sites: the importance of geodiversity for conservation

Cited by 9 publications

References 72 publications

Linking biodiversity and geodiversity: Arctic-nesting birds select refuges generated by permafrost degradation

Linking biodiversity and geodiversity: Arctic-nesting birds select refuges generated by permafrost degradation

Assessing the ecological value of dynamic mountain geomorphosites

Boundary of ecosystem services: A response to

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