Use of agricultural land by breeding waders in low‐intensity farming landscapes

Jóhannesdóttir, Lilja; Alves, José A.; Gill, Jennifer A.; Gunnarsson, Tómas G.

doi:10.1111/acv.12390

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…2005, Jóhannesdóttir et al. 2018, 2019). However, the level of nest predation (̃40% of nests predated) in our study is similar to levels found across all geographical regions for ground‐nesting waders (MacDonald & Bolton 2008, Roodbergen et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…These landscapes comprise large areas of semi‐natural habitats interspersed with agricultural land (primarily for livestock grazing and hayfields; Jóhannesdóttir et al. 2018, 2019). At these subarctic latitudes (63°–66°N) the growing season is very short, with both the onset of vegetation growth and the rate of growth being highly temperature‐dependent (Thorvaldsson et al.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Vegetation structure influences predation rates of early nests in subarctic breeding waders

Laidlaw

Gunnarsson

Méndez

et al. 2020

Ibis

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Ground‐nesting species are vulnerable to a wide range of predators and often experience very high levels of nest predation. Strategies to reduce nest vulnerability can include concealing nests in vegetation and/or nesting in locations in which nests and eggs are camouflaged and less easy for predators to locate. These strategies could have important implications for the distribution of ground‐nesting species and the success rates of nests in areas with differing vegetation structure. However, the factors influencing the success of nest concealment and camouflage strategies in ground‐nesting species are complex. Here we explore the effects of local vegetation structure and extent of nest concealment on nest predation rates in a range of ground‐nesting, sympatric wader species with differing nest concealment strategies (open‐nest species: Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria and Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus; concealed‐nest species: Black‐tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Redshank Tringa totanus and Snipe Gallinago gallinago) in south Iceland, in landscapes that comprise substantial variability in vegetation structure at a range of scales. We monitored 469 nests of these six wader species in 2015 and 2016 and ~40% of these nests were predated. Nest predation rates were similar for open‐nest and concealed‐nest species and did not vary with vegetation structure in the surrounding landscape, but nest‐concealing species were ~10% more likely to have nests predated when they were poorly concealed, and the frequency of poorly concealed nests was higher in colder conditions at the start of the breeding season. For concealed‐nest species, the reduced capacity to hide nests in colder conditions is likely to reflect low rates of vegetation growth in such conditions. The ongoing trend for warmer springs at subarctic latitudes could result in more rapid vegetation growth, with consequent increases in the success rates of early nests of concealed‐nest species. Temperature‐related effects on nest concealment from predators could thus be an important mechanism through which climate change affecting vegetation could have population‐level impacts on breeding birds at higher latitudes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation structure influences predation rates of early nests in subarctic breeding waders

Laidlaw

Gunnarsson

Méndez

et al. 2020

Ibis

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“…The subspecies of black‐tailed godwits breeding on Iceland ( Limosa l. islandica ) also faces warming springs and agricultural intensification (Gill et al., ; Jóhannesdóttir, Alves, Gill, & Gunnarsson, ), but spring warming at this more northern latitude and the relative low level of agricultural intensification so far seems to have benefitted the birds. The Icelandic black‐tailed godwits seem to be more flexible in general; laying dates within pairs were not repeatable and advanced by 2.5 days per year (and 4 day/°C June temperature) during the last 11‐year period, but little is known about how individual arrival affects laying date in this population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Warming springs and habitat alteration interact to impact timing of breeding and population dynamics in a migratory bird

Kentie

Coulson

Hooijmeijer

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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In seasonal environments, increasing spring temperatures lead many taxa to advance the timing of reproduction. Species that do not may suffer lower fitness. We investigated why black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa limosa), a ground-breeding agricultural grassland shorebird, have not advanced timing of reproduction during the last three decades in the face of climate change and human-induced habitat degradation. We used data from an 11-year field study to parameterize an Integral Projection Model to predict how spring temperature and habitat quality simultaneously influence the timing of reproduction and population dynamics. We found apparent selection for earlier laying, but not a correlation between the laying dates of parents and their offspring. Nevertheless, in warmer springs, laying dates of adults show a stronger positive correlation with laying date in previous springs than in cooler ones, and this leads us to predict a slight advance in the timing of reproduction if spring temperatures continue to increase. We also show that only in landscapes with low agricultural activity, the population can continue to act as a source. This study shows how climate change and declining habitat quality may enhance extinction risk.

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“…The divergent tectonic plate boundary that crosses Iceland along the North-Atlantic ridge, originates frequent volcanic eruptions (Arnalds 2015), and patterns of spatial variation in wader density are positively correlated with the amount of volcanic dust deposition. Deposition rates vary on a SW-NE axis through Iceland and regional variation in wader abundance is apparent along this axis, likely caused by the fertilizing effect of the dust input, particularly in wetlands (Gunnarsson et al 2015, Jóhannesdóttir et al 2018. Volcanic activity can have extreme effects on ecosystems as a whole, altering landscapes and even changing average temperatures.…”

Section: Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Icelandic meadow-breeding waders: status, threats and conservation challenges

Jóhannesdóttir

Gill²,

Alves

et al. 2019

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Populations of many migratory wader species around the world are in serious decline, largely caused by anthropogenic activities. Throughout the developed world, agricultural expansion and intensification have been identified as among the main drivers of these declines. However, not everywhere have agricultural activities reached levels where noticeable negative impacts on breeding waders are apparent. Since settlement, Icelandic farmers have largely been self-sufficient in agricultural productivity, and substantial expansion of agricultural land only began after the 1940s'. Agricultural expansion has continued since then and today around 7% of area below 200 m a.s.l. (areas at higher altitudes are typically unsuitable) are used for cultivation. Large areas of natural or semi-natural habitats are therefore still common and widespread in Iceland, and the current mosaic-like landscape created by areas of agricultural land within these habitats may help to provide the resources needed by the very large populations of waders that breed in the country. Wader species have all been protected from hunting and egg-collecting by law since the 20 th century. However, lowland landscapes in Iceland are changing quite rapidly, as a result of agricultural expansion, afforestation, shrub encroachment and widespread construction of summer cottages, and all of these developments pose potential threats to these species. Predictions of the potential impact of current and future land use changes on these species is hampered by limited information on population dynamics, and no specific conservation efforts are currently aimed at meadow breeding waders in Iceland.

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Use of agricultural land by breeding waders in low‐intensity farming landscapes

Cited by 6 publications

References 35 publications

Vegetation structure influences predation rates of early nests in subarctic breeding waders

Vegetation structure influences predation rates of early nests in subarctic breeding waders

Warming springs and habitat alteration interact to impact timing of breeding and population dynamics in a migratory bird

Icelandic meadow-breeding waders: status, threats and conservation challenges

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