During the non-breeding season(September-April),Black-tailed Godwits(Limosa limosa)are commonly seen in coastal and inland wetlands of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in Bangladesh.We hypothesize that the Ganges-B...During the non-breeding season(September-April),Black-tailed Godwits(Limosa limosa)are commonly seen in coastal and inland wetlands of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in Bangladesh.We hypothesize that the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta,at the overlap between the Central Asian and East Asian-Australasian flyways,may host three subspecies that breed in disjunct areas of temperate and northern Asia:L.l.limosa,L.l.melanuroides,and L.l.bohaii.We used mitochondrial DNA(mt DNA)haplotype network and biometric analysis to determine subspecies in captured individuals,and deployed GPS-GSM transmitters to verify breeding areas of individuals with subspecies assignments.To test for differential habitat preferences,we sampled birds at two ecologically distinct habitats known to host the largest concentrations of non-breeding Black-tailed Godwits in Bangladesh:Nijhum Dweep National Park,a tidal coastal habitat with brackish water on the south-central coast,and Tanguar Haor(‘backmarsh'),a seasonal freshwater floodplain in the north.During the non-breeding seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023,we sampled and measured 93 Black-tailed Godwits,54 of which were equipped with GPS-GSM transmitters.Our mt DNA haplotype network analysis confirmed the presence of limosa,melanuroides,and bohaii subspecies at the study sites.Thus,indeed,Black-tailed Godwits subspecies,despite having distinct breeding ranges,exhibit(partially)overlapping non-breeding ranges in Asia.The subspecies composition differed significantly between sites,with limosa and bohaii dominating in Tanguar Haor and melanuroides in Nijhum Dweep.Of the 21 individuals that were tracked to their breeding grounds,18 migrated to the expected breeding range of their respective subspecies.However,one bird with a limosa haplotype migrated to a known breeding area of bohaii,whereas two birds with melanuroides haplotypes migrated to the supposed breeding range of limosa.Therefore,while ecological factors at both ends of the flyways may shape the morphological and behavioural differences between Black-tailed Godwit subspecies,their delineations and possible gene flow require further studies.展开更多
China’s coastal wetlands provide breeding,migration stopover,and wintering habitats for about 230 waterbird species,which is more than a quarter of all waterbirds in the world.Large-scale and high intensity human act...China’s coastal wetlands provide breeding,migration stopover,and wintering habitats for about 230 waterbird species,which is more than a quarter of all waterbirds in the world.Large-scale and high intensity human activities have resulted in serious loss and degradation of coastal wetlands over the past half century,causing population declines in many waterbirds.Through a literature review and expert surveys,this article reviews conservation measures taken in recent decades to protect waterbirds in China’s coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future conservation action from three aspects:policy and administration,habitat conservation and management,and multiparty participation.Over the past decades,many conservation legislation,regulations and action plans at the national level and more site-specific measures and interventions have been implemented,with notable improvement in the effectiveness in policy making and multi-stakeholder participation.Accordingly,some threats to waterbirds have been mitigated and many key sites for waterbirds have been designated as strictly protected nature reserves.However,some critical issues still remain,mostly related to habitat conservation and management,such as coastal wetland restoration,control of invasive Spartina alterniflora,control of environmental pollution,and improvement of artificial habitat quality.We highlight that protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are critical for the conservation of coastal waterbirds,especially those highly dependent on the intertidal wetlands.China has demonstrated strong commitment to ecological conservation and restoration for the future,in terms of both funding and policies for biodiversity and wetland ecosystems.It is important that this commitment to conserve coastal waterbirds is supported continuously by science-and evidence-based decisions and actions.展开更多
基金supported by The Embassy of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka,The Embassy of France in Dhaka,and Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship Trust,MoST,Bangladesh。
文摘During the non-breeding season(September-April),Black-tailed Godwits(Limosa limosa)are commonly seen in coastal and inland wetlands of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta in Bangladesh.We hypothesize that the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna Delta,at the overlap between the Central Asian and East Asian-Australasian flyways,may host three subspecies that breed in disjunct areas of temperate and northern Asia:L.l.limosa,L.l.melanuroides,and L.l.bohaii.We used mitochondrial DNA(mt DNA)haplotype network and biometric analysis to determine subspecies in captured individuals,and deployed GPS-GSM transmitters to verify breeding areas of individuals with subspecies assignments.To test for differential habitat preferences,we sampled birds at two ecologically distinct habitats known to host the largest concentrations of non-breeding Black-tailed Godwits in Bangladesh:Nijhum Dweep National Park,a tidal coastal habitat with brackish water on the south-central coast,and Tanguar Haor(‘backmarsh'),a seasonal freshwater floodplain in the north.During the non-breeding seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023,we sampled and measured 93 Black-tailed Godwits,54 of which were equipped with GPS-GSM transmitters.Our mt DNA haplotype network analysis confirmed the presence of limosa,melanuroides,and bohaii subspecies at the study sites.Thus,indeed,Black-tailed Godwits subspecies,despite having distinct breeding ranges,exhibit(partially)overlapping non-breeding ranges in Asia.The subspecies composition differed significantly between sites,with limosa and bohaii dominating in Tanguar Haor and melanuroides in Nijhum Dweep.Of the 21 individuals that were tracked to their breeding grounds,18 migrated to the expected breeding range of their respective subspecies.However,one bird with a limosa haplotype migrated to a known breeding area of bohaii,whereas two birds with melanuroides haplotypes migrated to the supposed breeding range of limosa.Therefore,while ecological factors at both ends of the flyways may shape the morphological and behavioural differences between Black-tailed Godwit subspecies,their delineations and possible gene flow require further studies.
基金financially supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFF1301004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31830089 and 32170518)TP’s work in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway through Global Flyway Network was supported by WWF-Netherlands,the MAVA Foundation and many other benefactors
文摘China’s coastal wetlands provide breeding,migration stopover,and wintering habitats for about 230 waterbird species,which is more than a quarter of all waterbirds in the world.Large-scale and high intensity human activities have resulted in serious loss and degradation of coastal wetlands over the past half century,causing population declines in many waterbirds.Through a literature review and expert surveys,this article reviews conservation measures taken in recent decades to protect waterbirds in China’s coastal wetlands and provides recommendations for future conservation action from three aspects:policy and administration,habitat conservation and management,and multiparty participation.Over the past decades,many conservation legislation,regulations and action plans at the national level and more site-specific measures and interventions have been implemented,with notable improvement in the effectiveness in policy making and multi-stakeholder participation.Accordingly,some threats to waterbirds have been mitigated and many key sites for waterbirds have been designated as strictly protected nature reserves.However,some critical issues still remain,mostly related to habitat conservation and management,such as coastal wetland restoration,control of invasive Spartina alterniflora,control of environmental pollution,and improvement of artificial habitat quality.We highlight that protecting natural tidal wetlands and improving habitat quality are critical for the conservation of coastal waterbirds,especially those highly dependent on the intertidal wetlands.China has demonstrated strong commitment to ecological conservation and restoration for the future,in terms of both funding and policies for biodiversity and wetland ecosystems.It is important that this commitment to conserve coastal waterbirds is supported continuously by science-and evidence-based decisions and actions.
