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Rapid population decline in migratory shorebirds relying on Yellow Sea tidal mudflats as stopover sites

Author

Listed:
  • Colin E. Studds

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland
    University of Maryland, Baltimore County
    Migratory Bird Centre, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute)

  • Bruce E. Kendall

    (Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California)

  • Nicholas J. Murray

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland
    Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales)

  • Howard B. Wilson

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland)

  • Danny I. Rogers

    (Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research)

  • Robert S. Clemens

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland)

  • Ken Gosbell

    (Victorian Wader Study Group)

  • Chris J. Hassell

    (Global Flyway Network)

  • Rosalind Jessop

    (Phillip Island Nature Park)

  • David S. Melville

    (Ornithological Society of New Zealand)

  • David A. Milton

    (Queensland Wader Study Group, c/o CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere)

  • Clive D. T. Minton

    (Victorian Wader Study Group)

  • Hugh P. Possingham

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland
    Imperial College London, Silwood Park)

  • Adrian C. Riegen

    (Ornithological Society of New Zealand)

  • Phil Straw

    (Avifauna Research and Services Pty Ltd)

  • Eric J. Woehler

    (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania)

  • Richard A. Fuller

    (School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland)

Abstract

Migratory animals are threatened by human-induced global change. However, little is known about how stopover habitat, essential for refuelling during migration, affects the population dynamics of migratory species. Using 20 years of continent-wide citizen science data, we assess population trends of ten shorebird taxa that refuel on Yellow Sea tidal mudflats, a threatened ecosystem that has shrunk by >65% in recent decades. Seven of the taxa declined at rates of up to 8% per year. Taxa with the greatest reliance on the Yellow Sea as a stopover site showed the greatest declines, whereas those that stop primarily in other regions had slowly declining or stable populations. Decline rate was unaffected by shared evolutionary history among taxa and was not predicted by migration distance, breeding range size, non-breeding location, generation time or body size. These results suggest that changes in stopover habitat can severely limit migratory populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Colin E. Studds & Bruce E. Kendall & Nicholas J. Murray & Howard B. Wilson & Danny I. Rogers & Robert S. Clemens & Ken Gosbell & Chris J. Hassell & Rosalind Jessop & David S. Melville & David A. Milto, 2017. "Rapid population decline in migratory shorebirds relying on Yellow Sea tidal mudflats as stopover sites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14895
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14895
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    Cited by:

    1. Jing Zhang & Yan Zhang & Huw Lloyd & Zhengwang Zhang & Donglai Li, 2021. "Rapid Reclamation and Degradation of Suaeda salsa Saltmarsh along Coastal China’s Northern Yellow Sea," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-13, August.
    2. Christina Kassara & Christos Barboutis & Anastasios Bounas, 2025. "Favorable stopover sites and fuel load dynamics of spring bird migrants under a changing climate," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Xiao, Hui & Chadès, Iadine & Hill, Narelle & Murray, Nicholas & Fuller, Richard A. & McDonald-Madden, Eve, 2021. "Conserving migratory species while safeguarding ecosystem services," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 442(C).
    4. He-Bo Peng & Zhenchang Zhu & Chi-Yeung Choi & Tong Mu & Yingrong Huang & Jing Li & Weipan Lei & Tjeerd J. Bouma & David S. Melville & Zhengwang Zhang & Zhijun Ma & Guangchun Lei & Zhifeng Yang & Theun, 2025. "China’s intertidal mariculture as an unexpected lifeline sustaining the world’s most threatened shorebird flyway," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.

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