Waterbird populations are declining globally due to various factors such as wetland degradation and loss,pesticide use,urbanization,and hunting.However,traditional farming practices and wetlands still provide importan...Waterbird populations are declining globally due to various factors such as wetland degradation and loss,pesticide use,urbanization,and hunting.However,traditional farming practices and wetlands still provide important habitats for the large waterbirds in South Asia,including Nepal.These habitats become especially limited during the summer season,when wetlands dry up,and most farmlands remain fallow.We investigated the occupancy and detection probabilities of four sympatric,large-bodied,threatened waterbirds(Sarus Crane Grus antigone,Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus,Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans,and Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus)using road count survey,and their relationship with land-use variables across 93(5×5 km)grids during summer season(April-May;pre-breeding season)of 2023 in the Greater Lumbini Area of Nepal.Detection probability was highest for the Sarus Crane,while occupancy was highest for the Lesser Adjutant.In contrast,the Asian Woollyneck had the lowest occupancy and detection probability.Waterbird occupancy was highest within the Jagdishpur Reservoir/Lumbini Farmlands Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.Farmland area had a significant positive effect on the occupancy for all waterbirds except the Asian Woollyneck.Wetland and built-up areas had significant positive effects on the occupancy of Sarus Crane,but showed non-significant positive associations for other species.Such positive association with built-up areas may reflect some level of adaptation to human-dominated landscapes;however,increased urbanization could disrupt natural behaviors and elevate exposure to anthropogenic threats in future.Therefore,maintaining waterholes and irrigation networks across farmland during the summer season is imperative for safeguarding threatened waterbirds as these areas can function as critical habitats and potential buffers against the adverse impacts of expanding built-up regions.展开更多
文摘Waterbird populations are declining globally due to various factors such as wetland degradation and loss,pesticide use,urbanization,and hunting.However,traditional farming practices and wetlands still provide important habitats for the large waterbirds in South Asia,including Nepal.These habitats become especially limited during the summer season,when wetlands dry up,and most farmlands remain fallow.We investigated the occupancy and detection probabilities of four sympatric,large-bodied,threatened waterbirds(Sarus Crane Grus antigone,Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus,Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans,and Asian Woollyneck Ciconia episcopus)using road count survey,and their relationship with land-use variables across 93(5×5 km)grids during summer season(April-May;pre-breeding season)of 2023 in the Greater Lumbini Area of Nepal.Detection probability was highest for the Sarus Crane,while occupancy was highest for the Lesser Adjutant.In contrast,the Asian Woollyneck had the lowest occupancy and detection probability.Waterbird occupancy was highest within the Jagdishpur Reservoir/Lumbini Farmlands Important Bird and Biodiversity Area.Farmland area had a significant positive effect on the occupancy for all waterbirds except the Asian Woollyneck.Wetland and built-up areas had significant positive effects on the occupancy of Sarus Crane,but showed non-significant positive associations for other species.Such positive association with built-up areas may reflect some level of adaptation to human-dominated landscapes;however,increased urbanization could disrupt natural behaviors and elevate exposure to anthropogenic threats in future.Therefore,maintaining waterholes and irrigation networks across farmland during the summer season is imperative for safeguarding threatened waterbirds as these areas can function as critical habitats and potential buffers against the adverse impacts of expanding built-up regions.
