Assessing waterbird conservation objectives: An example for the Burry Inlet, UK

We use an individual-based model to assess the conservation objectives for knot Calidris canutus L. and oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus L. on the Burry Inlet Special Protection Area (SPA), UK. Population monitoring has identified a decline in oystercatcher numbers, but cannot determine whether t...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Biological conservation Vol. 143; no. 11; pp. 2617 - 2630
Main Authors:	Stillman, R.A., Moore, J.J., Woolmer, A.P., Murphy, M.D., Walker, P., Vanstaen, K.R., Palmer, D., Sanderson, W.G.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2010 Kidlington, Oxford: Elsevier Science Ltd Elsevier
Subjects:	Animal, plant and microbial ecology Applied ecology Aves Biological and medical sciences Burry Inlet Coastal birds Conservation management Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Indicators Individual-based model Knot Calidris canutus Marine Protected Area Monitoring Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking Shellfishing Special Protection Area Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution United Kingdom Europe Coastal birds Burry Inlet Individual-based model Marine Protected Area Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus Knot Calidris canutus Conservation management Shellfishing Indicators Special Protection Area Monitoring Waterfowl Haematopus ostralegus Conservation Limicolous Protected area Individual based model Environmental management Indicator Marine environment Vertebrata Calidris canutus Aves Knot Colidris conutus Environmental protection
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	We use an individual-based model to assess the conservation objectives for knot Calidris canutus L. and oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus L. on the Burry Inlet Special Protection Area (SPA), UK. Population monitoring has identified a decline in oystercatcher numbers, but cannot determine whether this is due to a decline in site quality. Long term data on cockle stocks show that the biomass of the large-sized cockles consumed by oystercatcher declined after 2004, whereas a similar decline was not observed in the smaller cockles consumed by knot. The model postdicts that during the winters of 2005/2006 to 2008/2009 the site was unable to support the number of oystercatcher present at the time it was designated (i.e. the SPA population). Large cockle biomass remained low during 2009/2010, but increases in mussel biomass meant that the model postdicted that the site could support the SPA population of oystercatcher. Knot food supplies remained high during most years, except 2008/2009 during which the model postdicted that the SPA population could not be supported. The model postdicted that the stock reserved for oystercatchers after shellfishing needed to be 2–4 times the amount consumed by the birds in order to support the bird population. We recommend that where necessary, the conservation objectives of waterbirds should be assessed using a combination of thorough population size and behaviour monitoring to identify sites with population declines, and individual-based modelling on these sites to determine whether reduction in site quality may contribute to the site-specific population decline.
Bibliography:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.07.004
ISSN:	0006-3207 1873-2917
DOI:	10.1016/j.biocon.2010.07.004