Mitchell J. Rider, Larisa Avens, Heather L. Haas, Samir H. Patel, Christopher R. Sasso
Aim
With the development and operation of offshore wind farms along the United States East Coast, it is imperative that we understand the distributions of vulnerable species so we can track and predict potential interactions. We focused on leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) as they depend on this region for important stages of their life history. Our research aimed to determine leatherback distributions, the environmental predictors associated with them, and how they currently overlap with active areas dedicated to offshore wind energy.
Location
United States Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Methods
Satellite transmitters were affixed to 74 leatherbacks off the coasts of North Carolina and Massachusetts between 2017 and 2023. Location data from these transmitters were implemented in boosted regression tree models to predict leatherback distributions in relation to a suite of static and dynamic environmental covariates. We used the model predictions to categorise core habitat and determine its overlaps with active wind energy leases.
Results
The final model predicted a higher probability of leatherbacks in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) in May and June and Southern New England (SNE) and Nova Scotia in the late summer. We predicted an increased probability of leatherbacks south along the coastline and off the shelf along the Gulf Stream in the winter. We observed notable overlap between core habitat and offshore wind areas in the MAB and SNE peaking in the late summer.
Main Conclusions
Our results highlight the importance of coastal habitat for leatherback sea turtles along the OCS. Conservation efforts that focus on examining direct effects of wind farm construction and operation on leatherbacks in the MAB and SNE are warranted, especially given the proximity between lease areas and key foraging areas.
{"title":"Distribution Models Reveal Important Coastal Habitats for Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles","authors":"Mitchell J. Rider, Larisa Avens, Heather L. Haas, Samir H. Patel, Christopher R. Sasso","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70131","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>With the development and operation of offshore wind farms along the United States East Coast, it is imperative that we understand the distributions of vulnerable species so we can track and predict potential interactions. We focused on leatherback sea turtles (<i>Dermochelys coriacea</i>) as they depend on this region for important stages of their life history. Our research aimed to determine leatherback distributions, the environmental predictors associated with them, and how they currently overlap with active areas dedicated to offshore wind energy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>United States Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Satellite transmitters were affixed to 74 leatherbacks off the coasts of North Carolina and Massachusetts between 2017 and 2023. Location data from these transmitters were implemented in boosted regression tree models to predict leatherback distributions in relation to a suite of static and dynamic environmental covariates. We used the model predictions to categorise core habitat and determine its overlaps with active wind energy leases.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The final model predicted a higher probability of leatherbacks in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) in May and June and Southern New England (SNE) and Nova Scotia in the late summer. We predicted an increased probability of leatherbacks south along the coastline and off the shelf along the Gulf Stream in the winter. We observed notable overlap between core habitat and offshore wind areas in the MAB and SNE peaking in the late summer.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results highlight the importance of coastal habitat for leatherback sea turtles along the OCS. Conservation efforts that focus on examining direct effects of wind farm construction and operation on leatherbacks in the MAB and SNE are warranted, especially given the proximity between lease areas and key foraging areas.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70131","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146099367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juan P. Valbuena-Fernandez, Benjamin R. Shipley, Alistair Evans, Jane Melville, Erin E. Saupe
Aims
Climate change poses severe threats to biodiversity in Australia, particularly for species already at risk from other factors, such as bluetongue lizards (Tiliqua and Cyclodomorphus spp.). Here we model climate-driven changes in suitable climatic conditions for bluetongue lizards to 2060 and 2100 under multiple climate scenarios and evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas in mitigating these impacts.
Location
Australia and New Guinea.
Methods
Ecological niche models were used to project shifts in suitable climatic conditions for 13 species of bluetongue lizards under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5). Models incorporated dispersal capacity and the extent of protected areas.
Results
Of the 13 bluetongue lizard species considered, most (11) are projected to experience substantial reductions in suitable climatic conditions by 2100. Six species are projected to lose more than half of their suitable climatic area under all SSP scenarios, with Tiliqua adelaidensis, T. multifasciata and Cyclodomorphus celatus projected to lose between 83.3% and 100%. Across Australia, up to 638,101 km2 of land is projected to become unsuitable for at least three bluetongue species, particularly within the arid interior. Protected areas do not appear to provide effective refuge, as suitable climatic conditions within these zones are projected to decline for at least 10 of the 13 species by 2100, including reductions of 54.3–100% for seven species, underscoring the limited buffering capacity of the current protected-area network under future climate change.
Main Conclusions
Our findings underscore the vulnerability of bluetongue lizards to climate change and highlight the potential limitations of current protected areas in ensuring their conservation. Urgent integration of climate projections into conservation planning, alongside enhanced protections against illegal trade, is critical to safeguarding bluetongue lizard species.
{"title":"Projecting Climate-Driven Habitat Loss in Highly Trafficked Lizards: The Role of Dispersal Limitations and Protected Areas","authors":"Juan P. Valbuena-Fernandez, Benjamin R. Shipley, Alistair Evans, Jane Melville, Erin E. Saupe","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change poses severe threats to biodiversity in Australia, particularly for species already at risk from other factors, such as bluetongue lizards (<i>Tiliqua</i> and <i>Cyclodomorphus</i> spp.). Here we model climate-driven changes in suitable climatic conditions for bluetongue lizards to 2060 and 2100 under multiple climate scenarios and evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas in mitigating these impacts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Australia and New Guinea.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ecological niche models were used to project shifts in suitable climatic conditions for 13 species of bluetongue lizards under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5). Models incorporated dispersal capacity and the extent of protected areas.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Of the 13 bluetongue lizard species considered, most (11) are projected to experience substantial reductions in suitable climatic conditions by 2100. Six species are projected to lose more than half of their suitable climatic area under all SSP scenarios, with <i>Tiliqua adelaidensis</i>, <i>T. multifasciata</i> and <i>Cyclodomorphus celatus</i> projected to lose between 83.3% and 100%. Across Australia, up to 638,101 km<sup>2</sup> of land is projected to become unsuitable for at least three bluetongue species, particularly within the arid interior. Protected areas do not appear to provide effective refuge, as suitable climatic conditions within these zones are projected to decline for at least 10 of the 13 species by 2100, including reductions of 54.3–100% for seven species, underscoring the limited buffering capacity of the current protected-area network under future climate change.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings underscore the vulnerability of bluetongue lizards to climate change and highlight the potential limitations of current protected areas in ensuring their conservation. Urgent integration of climate projections into conservation planning, alongside enhanced protections against illegal trade, is critical to safeguarding bluetongue lizard species.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146007813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Merijn van den Bosch, Marta De Barba, Andreas Zedrosser, Nuria Selva, Niko Balkenhol, Luigi Maiorano, Julien Renaud, Gregor Simcic, Ainhoa Graciarena, Shane C. Frank, Anne G. Hertel, Aida Parres, Hüseyin Ambarlı, Andriy-Taras Bashta, Natalia Bragalanti, Henrik Brøseth, Mark Chynoweth, Duško Ćirović, Paolo Ciucci, Csaba Domokos, Aleksandar Dutsov, Alper Ertürk, Ancuta Fedorca, Mihai Fedorca, Stefano Filacorda, Slavomir Finďo, Luca Fumagalli, Miguel de Gabriel Hernando, Claudio Groff, Snorre B. Hagen, Bledi Hoxha, Djuro Huber, Otso Huitu, Georgeta Ionescu, Ovidiu Ionescu, Klemen Jerina, Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Jonas Kindberg, Ilpo Kojola, Alexander Kopatz, Diana Krajmerová, José Vicente López-Bao, Peep Männil, Yorgos Mertzanis, Anja Molinari-Jobin, Paolo Molinari, Andrea Mustoni, Javier Naves, Sergey Ogurtsov, Deniz Özüt, Santiago Palazon, Jasmin Pasic, Ladislav Paule, Milan Paunović, Aleksandar Perovic, Stefano Pesaro, Vladimir Piminov, Mihai I. Pop, Maria Psaralexi, Pierre Yves Quenette, Georg Rauer, Slaven Reljic, Eloy Revilla, Urmas Saarma, Alexander Saveljev, Ali Onur Sayar, Cagan Sekercioglu, Agnieszka Sergiel, Tomaz Skrbinsek, Michaela Skuban, Anil Soyumert, Aleksandar Stojanov, Konstantin Tirronen, Aleksandër Trajçe, Igor Trbojević, Tijana Trbojević, Filip Zięba, Diana Zlatanova, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Jerrold L. Belant
Aim
Large carnivores worldwide have experienced substantial range contractions due to human activities, though several species are recolonising parts of their historical range. We aimed to assess current and potential European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) habitat as well as habitat connectivity on a continental scale.
Location
The extended biogeographical regions of Europe, spanning from Portugal to central Russia, longitudinally, and from Norway to Türkiye, latitudinally. Excluding inland seas; this area covers 11,151,636 km2.
Methods
We assessed habitat suitability throughout the study area using an ensemble species distribution model with nine submodels, using data from 10 European bear populations and Türkiye. We used the resulting habitat suitability maps to conduct a least-cost path connectivity analysis and an omnidirectional circuit connectivity analysis.
Main Conclusions
Habitat suitability was strongly associated with low percentages of agricultural cover, low percentages of human development, and proximity to forest. Of our entire study area, 37% (4.09 million km2) is occupied or potentially suitable for bears. Connectivity analyses identified corridors that could facilitate movement among southern European bear populations, though agricultural land and human development limit connectivity between northern and southern European bear populations. Previous research estimated bears occupied 0.5 million km2 across the European Union, while our results estimate 1.82 million km2 of this part of our study area is potentially suitable for bears, though connectivity is limited. Our results inform conservation strategies and policy development for the future of brown bears in Europe, emphasising the need for transboundary conservation efforts.
{"title":"High Habitat Potential but Limited Connectivity for Brown Bears Throughout Europe","authors":"Merijn van den Bosch, Marta De Barba, Andreas Zedrosser, Nuria Selva, Niko Balkenhol, Luigi Maiorano, Julien Renaud, Gregor Simcic, Ainhoa Graciarena, Shane C. Frank, Anne G. Hertel, Aida Parres, Hüseyin Ambarlı, Andriy-Taras Bashta, Natalia Bragalanti, Henrik Brøseth, Mark Chynoweth, Duško Ćirović, Paolo Ciucci, Csaba Domokos, Aleksandar Dutsov, Alper Ertürk, Ancuta Fedorca, Mihai Fedorca, Stefano Filacorda, Slavomir Finďo, Luca Fumagalli, Miguel de Gabriel Hernando, Claudio Groff, Snorre B. Hagen, Bledi Hoxha, Djuro Huber, Otso Huitu, Georgeta Ionescu, Ovidiu Ionescu, Klemen Jerina, Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, Jonas Kindberg, Ilpo Kojola, Alexander Kopatz, Diana Krajmerová, José Vicente López-Bao, Peep Männil, Yorgos Mertzanis, Anja Molinari-Jobin, Paolo Molinari, Andrea Mustoni, Javier Naves, Sergey Ogurtsov, Deniz Özüt, Santiago Palazon, Jasmin Pasic, Ladislav Paule, Milan Paunović, Aleksandar Perovic, Stefano Pesaro, Vladimir Piminov, Mihai I. Pop, Maria Psaralexi, Pierre Yves Quenette, Georg Rauer, Slaven Reljic, Eloy Revilla, Urmas Saarma, Alexander Saveljev, Ali Onur Sayar, Cagan Sekercioglu, Agnieszka Sergiel, Tomaz Skrbinsek, Michaela Skuban, Anil Soyumert, Aleksandar Stojanov, Konstantin Tirronen, Aleksandër Trajçe, Igor Trbojević, Tijana Trbojević, Filip Zięba, Diana Zlatanova, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Jerrold L. Belant","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70130","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Large carnivores worldwide have experienced substantial range contractions due to human activities, though several species are recolonising parts of their historical range. We aimed to assess current and potential European brown bear (<i>Ursus arctos arctos</i>) habitat as well as habitat connectivity on a continental scale.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The extended biogeographical regions of Europe, spanning from Portugal to central Russia, longitudinally, and from Norway to Türkiye, latitudinally. Excluding inland seas; this area covers 11,151,636 km<sup>2</sup>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We assessed habitat suitability throughout the study area using an ensemble species distribution model with nine submodels, using data from 10 European bear populations and Türkiye. We used the resulting habitat suitability maps to conduct a least-cost path connectivity analysis and an omnidirectional circuit connectivity analysis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Habitat suitability was strongly associated with low percentages of agricultural cover, low percentages of human development, and proximity to forest. Of our entire study area, 37% (4.09 million km<sup>2</sup>) is occupied or potentially suitable for bears. Connectivity analyses identified corridors that could facilitate movement among southern European bear populations, though agricultural land and human development limit connectivity between northern and southern European bear populations. Previous research estimated bears occupied 0.5 million km<sup>2</sup> across the European Union, while our results estimate 1.82 million km<sup>2</sup> of this part of our study area is potentially suitable for bears, though connectivity is limited. Our results inform conservation strategies and policy development for the future of brown bears in Europe, emphasising the need for transboundary conservation efforts.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70130","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145891607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The cover image relates to the Research Article https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70065 “Seascape genomics reveal contracting population structure in sympatric and congeneric corals across thermal clines” by Marzonie et al. In the clear tropical waters of the southern Coral Sea Marine Park off eastern Australia, Acropora (left) and Pocillopora (right) corals form part of a vibrant shallow reef community.
{"title":"Cover page","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70138","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The cover image relates to the Research Article https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70065 “Seascape genomics reveal contracting population structure in sympatric and congeneric corals across thermal clines” by Marzonie et al. In the clear tropical waters of the southern Coral Sea Marine Park off eastern Australia, Acropora (left) and Pocillopora (right) corals form part of a vibrant shallow reef community.\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure>\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70138","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145891660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jean-François Lamarre, Gilles Gauthier, Richard B. Lanctot, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Oliver P. Love, Eric T. Reed, Oscar W. Johnson, Joe Liebezeit, Rebecca McGuire, Mike Russell, Erica Nol, Laura Koloski, Felicia Sanders, Laura McKinnon, Paul A. Smith, Scott A. Flemming, Stephen C. Brown, Nicolas Lecomte, Marie-Andrée Giroux, Silke Bauer, Tamara Emmenegger, Joël Bêty
Aim
Many populations of migratory birds are currently declining. Understanding space use throughout the entire annual cycle, as well as migratory connectivity (i.e., geographic linkage of individuals and populations across different stages of the annual cycle), can improve our ability to identify factors driving population declines and influencing extinction risk. The main objectives of our study were to (i) document the space use and phenology of migration during the non-breeding period and (ii) quantify the degree of migratory connectivity across the range of the American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) breeding across the North American Arctic.
Location
American Golden-Plovers that breed across their entire breeding range (northern North America) and migrate up to their main wintering site located in South America.
Methods
We used archival light-level geolocators to track the migration. We quantified migratory connectivity based on the non-breeding range spread of all individuals and the breeding population spread. We used Mantel tests to evaluate whether the relative spatial configuration of the sampled breeding area was preserved on the non-breeding ground.
Results
We identified 13 and 7 stopover sites used during the fall (post-breeding, southbound) and spring (pre-breeding, northbound) migrations, respectively, and one main site used during the wintering period. We highlight stopover sites that were previously unknown and show the transatlantic and transpacific routes used by plovers during migration. We found that individuals breeding in proximity tended to be closer to each other during brief and highly limited portions of the non-breeding period. Broadly, individuals from different breeding populations were well mixed during the wintering period and throughout most of the spring and fall migrations.
Main Conclusions
Overall, the migratory connectivity of American Golden-Plovers is relatively low for most of the non-breeding period, suggesting that breeding populations separated by large distances should be similarly affected by disturbances and changes encountered at some migratory stopovers and in the wintering area.
{"title":"Low Migratory Connectivity and Use of Multiple Non-Breeding Sites in American Golden-Plovers Breeding Across the Nearctic Tundra","authors":"Jean-François Lamarre, Gilles Gauthier, Richard B. Lanctot, Sarah T. Saalfeld, Oliver P. Love, Eric T. Reed, Oscar W. Johnson, Joe Liebezeit, Rebecca McGuire, Mike Russell, Erica Nol, Laura Koloski, Felicia Sanders, Laura McKinnon, Paul A. Smith, Scott A. Flemming, Stephen C. Brown, Nicolas Lecomte, Marie-Andrée Giroux, Silke Bauer, Tamara Emmenegger, Joël Bêty","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70126","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Many populations of migratory birds are currently declining. Understanding space use throughout the entire annual cycle, as well as migratory connectivity (i.e., geographic linkage of individuals and populations across different stages of the annual cycle), can improve our ability to identify factors driving population declines and influencing extinction risk. The main objectives of our study were to (i) document the space use and phenology of migration during the non-breeding period and (ii) quantify the degree of migratory connectivity across the range of the American Golden-Plover (<i>Pluvialis dominica</i>) breeding across the North American Arctic.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>American Golden-Plovers that breed across their entire breeding range (northern North America) and migrate up to their main wintering site located in South America.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used archival light-level geolocators to track the migration. We quantified migratory connectivity based on the non-breeding range spread of all individuals and the breeding population spread. We used Mantel tests to evaluate whether the relative spatial configuration of the sampled breeding area was preserved on the non-breeding ground.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We identified 13 and 7 stopover sites used during the fall (post-breeding, southbound) and spring (pre-breeding, northbound) migrations, respectively, and one main site used during the wintering period. We highlight stopover sites that were previously unknown and show the transatlantic and transpacific routes used by plovers during migration. We found that individuals breeding in proximity tended to be closer to each other during brief and highly limited portions of the non-breeding period. Broadly, individuals from different breeding populations were well mixed during the wintering period and throughout most of the spring and fall migrations.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, the migratory connectivity of American Golden-Plovers is relatively low for most of the non-breeding period, suggesting that breeding populations separated by large distances should be similarly affected by disturbances and changes encountered at some migratory stopovers and in the wintering area.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70126","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alejandro Restrepo-González, Thais B. Zanata, Fernanda T. Brum, Silvana Buzato, Catherine H. Graham, Joice Iamara-Nogueira, Isabela G. Varassin
Aim
To assess how climate change could reshape plant–hummingbird interaction networks in the Atlantic Forest by predicting shifts in species co-occurrence and evaluating changes in network structure.
Location
Atlantic Forest, South America.
Methods
We used ecological niche modelling to predict changes in the co-occurrence of plants and hummingbirds under climate change scenarios. Modelled networks were analysed to compare network metrics, such as network size, number of links, niche overlap and robustness, between present and future conditions. We also simulated species extinctions to assess network resilience.
Results
Future local networks showed lower species richness, reduced size, fewer links and shared partners, increased niche overlap and decreased robustness. While network robustness improved under simulated plant and secondary hummingbird extinctions, future networks exhibited reduced resilience to species loss. Plants had higher niche overlap than hummingbirds, making them more vulnerable to secondary extinctions driven by hummingbird losses.
Main Conclusions
Climate change is expected to drive shifts in species co-occurrence, leading to novel assemblages and structural changes in plant–hummingbird interaction networks. These alterations will likely decrease network robustness and resilience, highlighting potential cascading effects on ecosystem function. Our findings contribute to understanding the impacts of climate change on mutualistic networks and ecosystem stability in the Atlantic Forest and beyond.
{"title":"Climate Change Will Resize and Reshape Plant–Hummingbird Networks in the Atlantic Forest","authors":"Alejandro Restrepo-González, Thais B. Zanata, Fernanda T. Brum, Silvana Buzato, Catherine H. Graham, Joice Iamara-Nogueira, Isabela G. Varassin","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70134","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70134","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To assess how climate change could reshape plant–hummingbird interaction networks in the Atlantic Forest by predicting shifts in species co-occurrence and evaluating changes in network structure.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Atlantic Forest, South America.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used ecological niche modelling to predict changes in the co-occurrence of plants and hummingbirds under climate change scenarios. Modelled networks were analysed to compare network metrics, such as network size, number of links, niche overlap and robustness, between present and future conditions. We also simulated species extinctions to assess network resilience.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Future local networks showed lower species richness, reduced size, fewer links and shared partners, increased niche overlap and decreased robustness. While network robustness improved under simulated plant and secondary hummingbird extinctions, future networks exhibited reduced resilience to species loss. Plants had higher niche overlap than hummingbirds, making them more vulnerable to secondary extinctions driven by hummingbird losses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change is expected to drive shifts in species co-occurrence, leading to novel assemblages and structural changes in plant–hummingbird interaction networks. These alterations will likely decrease network robustness and resilience, highlighting potential cascading effects on ecosystem function. Our findings contribute to understanding the impacts of climate change on mutualistic networks and ecosystem stability in the Atlantic Forest and beyond.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70134","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145891662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<div> <section> <h3> Aim</h3> <p>Climate change is reshuffling the distribution of species globally and threatening to modify the structure and functioning of natural and managed ecosystems. Most studies predicting species distributions rely on statistical approaches that do not capture the species' fundamental niche. In contrast, energy budget models include lethal and sublethal levels of stress to explore traits, such as growth and reproduction, that drive ecological responses. We used models parameterised for two competing intertidal mussels, the native <i>Perna perna</i> and the invasive <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>, to investigate their current and projected distributions.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>South African rocky shores.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Taxa</h3> <p>Mussels, <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> and <i>Perna perna</i>.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>We used previously parameterised dynamic energy budget (DEB) models. Model predictions were validated using a 2-year dataset describing current conditions (body temperature and chlorophyll-<i>a</i> concentration) and fitness-related traits (growth and reproductive effort) at nine sites: three western sites inhabited by <i>Mytilus</i> alone, three eastern sites occupied by <i>Perna</i> and three southern sites where the species coexist. We then tested the effects of three climate change scenarios on the model predictions of maximum size, growth rate and gonadosomatic index around South Africa.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Current spatial patterns are likely to be maintained until the century's end, and the physiological mechanisms presently excluding <i>Mytilus</i> from the east coast (impaired growth due to food limitation) and <i>Perna</i> from the west coast (impaired reproduction due to cold temperatures), will continue to operate until the end of the century. Our model also revealed a possible change in the competitive hierarchy between these species as warming will favour the reproductive potential of <i>Perna</i> more than that of <i>Mytilus</i>.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Conclusion</h3> <p>Our approach of exploring the fundamental niche rather than using a statistical approach suggests that the effects of projected temperature conditions on the distributions of these species will be less severe than expected.</p>
{"title":"Modelling the Fundamental Niche to Predict the Effects of Climate Warming on Interactions Between Native and Invasive Mussels in South Africa","authors":"Cristián J. Monaco, Christopher D. McQuaid","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70135","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Climate change is reshuffling the distribution of species globally and threatening to modify the structure and functioning of natural and managed ecosystems. Most studies predicting species distributions rely on statistical approaches that do not capture the species' fundamental niche. In contrast, energy budget models include lethal and sublethal levels of stress to explore traits, such as growth and reproduction, that drive ecological responses. We used models parameterised for two competing intertidal mussels, the native <i>Perna perna</i> and the invasive <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>, to investigate their current and projected distributions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>South African rocky shores.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Taxa</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mussels, <i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i> and <i>Perna perna</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used previously parameterised dynamic energy budget (DEB) models. Model predictions were validated using a 2-year dataset describing current conditions (body temperature and chlorophyll-<i>a</i> concentration) and fitness-related traits (growth and reproductive effort) at nine sites: three western sites inhabited by <i>Mytilus</i> alone, three eastern sites occupied by <i>Perna</i> and three southern sites where the species coexist. We then tested the effects of three climate change scenarios on the model predictions of maximum size, growth rate and gonadosomatic index around South Africa.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Current spatial patterns are likely to be maintained until the century's end, and the physiological mechanisms presently excluding <i>Mytilus</i> from the east coast (impaired growth due to food limitation) and <i>Perna</i> from the west coast (impaired reproduction due to cold temperatures), will continue to operate until the end of the century. Our model also revealed a possible change in the competitive hierarchy between these species as warming will favour the reproductive potential of <i>Perna</i> more than that of <i>Mytilus</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our approach of exploring the fundamental niche rather than using a statistical approach suggests that the effects of projected temperature conditions on the distributions of these species will be less severe than expected.</p>\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70135","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dandan Yang, Hao Liao, Orpheus M. Butler, Yu Gong, Siyue Li, Chen Ye, Quanfa Zhang
<div> <section> <h3> Aim</h3> <p>This study aimed to investigate how frequent flooding events of varying intensities influence soil microbial diversity, community composition, and assembly processes in riparian ecosystems, with a focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms driving these responses.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Location</h3> <p>Fifteen riparian sites were selected along a ~600 km section of the Three Gorges Reservoir in central China.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Methods</h3> <p>Soil and vegetation samples were collected from sites experiencing different flooding intensities. Microbial α- and β-diversity, community structure, and functional composition were assessed using high-throughput sequencing; community assembly mechanisms were analysed using null model approaches, microbial communities and diversity were linked to soil physicochemical and vegetation characteristics.</p> </section> <section> <h3> Results</h3> <p>Despite an approximately 6% increase in microbial α-diversity under high intensity flooding, both community heterogeneity (β-diversity) and network complexity significantly declined, with the flooding effects being weaker for fungi than for bacteria. These changes in the microbial community were associated with alterations in soil properties and vegetation, which intensified with more severe flooding. Bacterial community assembly shifted toward stronger heterogeneous selection under high intensity flooding, indicating altered ecological processes. By contrast, assembly processes of the fungal community were dominated by dispersal limitation and were unaffected by the frequent flooding. Bacterial functional group composition shifted significantly with flooding intensity, with high-intensity flooding increasing the abundance of microbial functional groups associated with nitrogen cycling (anammox), carbon cycling (methanol oxidation, methylotrophy, and fermentation), and sulfur cycling (dark sulfide oxidation and dark oxidation of sulfur compounds).</p> </section> <section> <h3> Main Conclusions</h3> <p>At the regional scale, flooding promoted the homogenization of riparian soil microorganisms, especially for the bacterial community, by enhancing environmental filtering and reducing dispersal limitation. The findings highlight the vulnerability of riparian ecosystems to hydrological changes and provide a framework for predicting microbial responses to flooding in riverine landscapes worldwide. Conservation strategi
{"title":"Frequent Flooding Drives Regional-Scale Homogenization of Riparian Soil Microbial Communities in the Three Gorges Reservoir","authors":"Dandan Yang, Hao Liao, Orpheus M. Butler, Yu Gong, Siyue Li, Chen Ye, Quanfa Zhang","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70132","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to investigate how frequent flooding events of varying intensities influence soil microbial diversity, community composition, and assembly processes in riparian ecosystems, with a focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms driving these responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fifteen riparian sites were selected along a ~600 km section of the Three Gorges Reservoir in central China.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil and vegetation samples were collected from sites experiencing different flooding intensities. Microbial α- and β-diversity, community structure, and functional composition were assessed using high-throughput sequencing; community assembly mechanisms were analysed using null model approaches, microbial communities and diversity were linked to soil physicochemical and vegetation characteristics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite an approximately 6% increase in microbial α-diversity under high intensity flooding, both community heterogeneity (β-diversity) and network complexity significantly declined, with the flooding effects being weaker for fungi than for bacteria. These changes in the microbial community were associated with alterations in soil properties and vegetation, which intensified with more severe flooding. Bacterial community assembly shifted toward stronger heterogeneous selection under high intensity flooding, indicating altered ecological processes. By contrast, assembly processes of the fungal community were dominated by dispersal limitation and were unaffected by the frequent flooding. Bacterial functional group composition shifted significantly with flooding intensity, with high-intensity flooding increasing the abundance of microbial functional groups associated with nitrogen cycling (anammox), carbon cycling (methanol oxidation, methylotrophy, and fermentation), and sulfur cycling (dark sulfide oxidation and dark oxidation of sulfur compounds).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>At the regional scale, flooding promoted the homogenization of riparian soil microorganisms, especially for the bacterial community, by enhancing environmental filtering and reducing dispersal limitation. The findings highlight the vulnerability of riparian ecosystems to hydrological changes and provide a framework for predicting microbial responses to flooding in riverine landscapes worldwide. Conservation strategi","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70132","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145739618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
František Vejmělka, Pierre-Henri Fabre, Matěj Lövy, Kateřina Sam, Kristofer M. Helgen, Martin Macek, Monga Drumo, Vojtech Novotny
Aim
We address a critical gap in the elevational community ecology of tropical non-volant mammals in the Australian and Oceanian zoogeographic realms. Specifically, we document alpha and beta diversity, environmental predictors and community composition of individual clades in relation to their ecology and evolutionary history along an extensive elevational gradient, for the first time in this region.
Location
Complete rainforest elevational gradient and subalpine zone of Mount Wilhelm (45–3700 masl), Papua New Guinea.
Methods
We conducted extensive sampling using traps (> 21,800 trap-nights) and collaboration with indigenous hunters across nine localities at 500 m intervals along the gradient, from lowland rainforest to subalpine grassland. The marsupial and rodent species were identified using morphological and genetic data. The community variables were correlated with key environmental variables.
Results
In total, we recorded 61 marsupial and rodent species. We reveal an unusual pattern for tropical mammals: species richness increased linearly with elevation within continuous forest, then declined sharply in the open subalpine habitat. This contrasts with the mid-elevation richness peak, evident in regional mammal fauna and also common along elevation gradients globally. Community composition was primarily associated with temperature, with a sharp faunal turnover at 1200 masl dividing the assemblages into distinct lowland and highland communities.
Main Conclusions
The novel elevational pattern challenges prevailing models and underscores the importance of integrating multiple sampling techniques including collaboration with indigenous hunters, where possible, to accurately capture the full extent of community composition. We highlight the ecological and conservation values of examining complete elevational gradients in tropical ecosystems, as a single Mt. Wilhelm transect encompasses 80% of the regional diversity of non-volant mammals. We suggest that any long rainforest elevational gradient is likely a high conservation priority.
{"title":"Complete Rainforest Elevational Gradient Reveals Unusual Diversity Patterns of Non-Volant Mammals in New Guinea","authors":"František Vejmělka, Pierre-Henri Fabre, Matěj Lövy, Kateřina Sam, Kristofer M. Helgen, Martin Macek, Monga Drumo, Vojtech Novotny","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70127","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We address a critical gap in the elevational community ecology of tropical non-volant mammals in the Australian and Oceanian zoogeographic realms. Specifically, we document alpha and beta diversity, environmental predictors and community composition of individual clades in relation to their ecology and evolutionary history along an extensive elevational gradient, for the first time in this region.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Complete rainforest elevational gradient and subalpine zone of Mount Wilhelm (45–3700 masl), Papua New Guinea.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted extensive sampling using traps (> 21,800 trap-nights) and collaboration with indigenous hunters across nine localities at 500 m intervals along the gradient, from lowland rainforest to subalpine grassland. The marsupial and rodent species were identified using morphological and genetic data. The community variables were correlated with key environmental variables.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In total, we recorded 61 marsupial and rodent species. We reveal an unusual pattern for tropical mammals: species richness increased linearly with elevation within continuous forest, then declined sharply in the open subalpine habitat. This contrasts with the mid-elevation richness peak, evident in regional mammal fauna and also common along elevation gradients globally. Community composition was primarily associated with temperature, with a sharp faunal turnover at 1200 masl dividing the assemblages into distinct lowland and highland communities.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The novel elevational pattern challenges prevailing models and underscores the importance of integrating multiple sampling techniques including collaboration with indigenous hunters, where possible, to accurately capture the full extent of community composition. We highlight the ecological and conservation values of examining complete elevational gradients in tropical ecosystems, as a single Mt. Wilhelm transect encompasses 80% of the regional diversity of non-volant mammals. We suggest that any long rainforest elevational gradient is likely a high conservation priority.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70127","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145739457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lisa Partoens, Vincent Dolmans, Jeanne Bruyninckx, Evelien Deboelpaep, Nico Koedam, Bram Vanschoenwinkel
Aim
Globally, about 850 bird species depend on surface water habitats either year-round or during migration. However, large-scale analyses examining how different groups of waterbirds are associated with surface water across various regions and during different seasons are lacking. This study analyzes this relationship using high-resolution satellite imagery to determine when and where surface water and associated resources might be improved.
Location
Western Palearctic (Europe, Middle East, Northern Africa).
Methods
We correlated monthly counts of 40 waterbird species with surface water availability in the Western Palearctic at a 100 × 100 km grid cell resolution. We then identified where and when surface water or associated resources might be limiting for waterbird numbers, using waterbird count data and the most recent release of high-resolution satellite imagery from the Copernicus project.
Results
Surface water availability was higher in the East-Atlantic flyway than in the Black Sea–Mediterranean flyway, but differences were small, while bird abundances (after correction for observation effort) were comparable. The relationship between surface water and waterbird abundances was typically positive and slightly stronger in the East-Atlantic flyway. However, it was negative during summer in the northern regions, where many waterbirds breed. Correlations were stronger for ducks and other strictly wetland-dependent birds, reflecting their more exclusively aquatic feeding behaviour. Crowdedness, calculated as the number of birds per surface water area, was higher in autumn compared to spring migration.
Main Conclusions
Our results confirm that the importance of surface water availability for waterbirds varies seasonally and geographically. In addition, our maps integrating bird counts and surface water help to strategically prioritise regions where water availability could be limiting and high crowdedness implies a vulnerability for waterbirds, for example, in terms of resource competition or disease transmission. These include parts of the Iberian Peninsula, the UK, northern-central Europe, the Levant and Northern Africa.
{"title":"When and Where Do Waterbirds Need Water? A General Approach for Inferring Candidate Restoration Areas From Spatio-Temporal Variation in Surface Water Availability","authors":"Lisa Partoens, Vincent Dolmans, Jeanne Bruyninckx, Evelien Deboelpaep, Nico Koedam, Bram Vanschoenwinkel","doi":"10.1111/ddi.70107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.70107","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Globally, about 850 bird species depend on surface water habitats either year-round or during migration. However, large-scale analyses examining how different groups of waterbirds are associated with surface water across various regions and during different seasons are lacking. This study analyzes this relationship using high-resolution satellite imagery to determine when and where surface water and associated resources might be improved.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Location</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Western Palearctic (Europe, Middle East, Northern Africa).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We correlated monthly counts of 40 waterbird species with surface water availability in the Western Palearctic at a 100 × 100 km grid cell resolution. We then identified where and when surface water or associated resources might be limiting for waterbird numbers, using waterbird count data and the most recent release of high-resolution satellite imagery from the Copernicus project.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Surface water availability was higher in the East-Atlantic flyway than in the Black Sea–Mediterranean flyway, but differences were small, while bird abundances (after correction for observation effort) were comparable. The relationship between surface water and waterbird abundances was typically positive and slightly stronger in the East-Atlantic flyway. However, it was negative during summer in the northern regions, where many waterbirds breed. Correlations were stronger for ducks and other strictly wetland-dependent birds, reflecting their more exclusively aquatic feeding behaviour. Crowdedness, calculated as the number of birds per surface water area, was higher in autumn compared to spring migration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results confirm that the importance of surface water availability for waterbirds varies seasonally and geographically. In addition, our maps integrating bird counts and surface water help to strategically prioritise regions where water availability could be limiting and high crowdedness implies a vulnerability for waterbirds, for example, in terms of resource competition or disease transmission. These include parts of the Iberian Peninsula, the UK, northern-central Europe, the Levant and Northern Africa.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":51018,"journal":{"name":"Diversity and Distributions","volume":"31 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ddi.70107","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145695136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号