Waterbird habitat loss fringing the Yellow and Bohai seas along the East
Asian--Australasian migratory flyway
Abstract
Natural wetland along the coasts of Yellow and Bohai seas provided key
stopover sites for migratory waterbirds. However, these wetlands are
facing land loss. Understanding how natural wetlands loss influence
habitat is an important step for habitat management. Using species
distribution model to report changes in area of suitable habitat, and
the effects of natural wetland loss on habitat for 80 waterbird species
attributed to four functional categories (shorebird, duck, heron, gull),
between 2000 and 2015 in the Yellow and Bohai seas. Of 1794.8 km2 of
coastal wetland lost to development between 2000 and 2015, most
represented tidal flats converted into aquaculture and salt pan habitat,
or for construction. Consequently, habitat for 73 of these 80 species
has decreased in area over this time period. Generally, the proportional
decline in habitat suitable for species of duck was less than it was
shorebirds, herons and gulls. The proportional loss of tidal flat
habitat that formerly represented suitable habitat for shorebirds,
herons and gulls was also significantly higher than it was for ducks.
Because more species of duck exploit aquaculture and salt pan habitat
converted from tidal flats than do shorebird, heron and gull species,
such conversion of tidal flats pose a greater threat to shorebirds,
herons and gulls than they do to ducks. Preventing further reclamation
of tidal flats and managing artificial wetlands are priorities for
waterbirds conservation, especially for the species ducks.