Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

About: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is a nonprofit organization based out in Sandy, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Biodiversity. The organization has 670 authors who have published 1425 publications receiving 88006 citations. The organization is also known as: RSPB & Plumage League.

Patterns of twenty‐first century forest loss across a global network of important sites for biodiversity

Abstract: The contribution that remotely sensed satellite imagery could make to biodiversity monitoring is widely recognized, but remains largely unfulfilled at regional and global scales. Here, we use a publicly accessible global dataset to quantify forest loss during 2000–2012 across the world's 7279 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) that support forest bird species, and examine correlates of forest loss. Forest covered around 2 912 000 km2 in these IBAs in 2000, but had decreased by around 73 000 km2 by 2012, a 2.52% loss across all IBAs. The median loss within IBAs was 0.87% during this period, although high losses on some IBAs skewed the mean to 2.59%. Rates of forest loss in IBAs were highest in South America and South East Asia. The rate of forest loss increased notably between 2003 and 2007. In addition to the effect of year, the best fit model of forest loss contained coverage of IBAs by protected areas, altitude, slope, GDP and human population density. The parameter estimates of a best fit model indicated forest loss decrease with increased protected area coverage, increased IBA altitude, increased IBA steepness and increased IBA human population. Forest loss decreased with per capita national GDP. The model explained only a small amount of variation in forest loss and as such is inappropriate to make predictions about where future loss will occur. We provide open access code to undertake online analysis of future forest cover change data, aiding the remote monitoring of forest cover at any suite of priority sites.

The post-natal and breeding dispersal of Welsh Dippers Cinclus cinclus

Abstract: Between 1978 and 1986, 2500 nestlings and 700 fledged Dippers were ringed on rivers in mid and south Wales. Adults showed strong fidelity to breeding sites, only 3.6% (of 138) moving more than 2.5 km between breeding attempts. By contrast, 30% (of 166) of birds ringed as nestlings moved more than 5 km and up to 32 km from natal sites; post-natal dispersal involved significantly greater distances in females than males, with females significantly more likely to cross watersheds. Dispersal distance showed no correlation with time of fledging in either sex. Actual distances of post-natal dispersal in both sexes were greater than those expected from juveniles replacing likely adult mortality. We discuss our findings in relation to general hypotheses on breeding systems and dispersal patterns.

Conservation status of chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus and other large mammals in Liberia: a nationwide survey

Abstract: Liberia has the largest blocks of continuous forest in West Africa, providing habitat for numerous wildlife species. However, there is a lack of empirical data about the status of Liberia's wildlife populations. During 2010–2012 we conducted the first nationwide survey in Liberia along c. 320 km of systematically located transect lines to estimate the abundance of chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus, the diversity of large mammals and the nature and degree of anthropogenic threats. With > 7,000 chimpanzees, Liberia is home to the second largest population of West African chimpanzees and is therefore a priority for conservation of the species. Compared to the fragmented populations in other range countries the Liberian population is potentially one of the most viable. Our study revealed that the majority of chimpanzees and some of the most species-diverse mammal communities in Liberia exist outside protected areas. High hunting rates and plans for large-scale exploitation of natural resources necessitate rapid implementation of effective strategies to ensure the protection of one of West Africa's last strongholds for chimpanzees and other rare and threatened mammal species. We provide a country-wide baseline dataset that may serve as a platform for Liberian wildlife authorities, policy-makers and international conservation agencies to make informed decisions about the location and delineation of proposed protected areas, to identify conservation gaps and to devise a conservation action plan to conserve Liberia's wildlife resources.

Differences in the Effects of Selective Logging on Amphibian Assemblages in Three West African Forest Types

Abstract: Making generalizations about the impact of commercial selective logging on biodiversity has so far remained elusive. Species responses to logging depend on a number of factors, many of which have not been studied in detail. These factors may include the natural forest conditions (forest types) under which logging impacts are investigated; but this question has so far remained unexamined. In a large-scale replicate study we aimed at clarifying the relationship between logging and forest types on leaf litter frogs. We contrast three distinct and naturally occurring forest types, including wet evergreen, moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. Selectively logged sites were compared with primary forest sites for each forest type. We found that the response of frog communities to logging varies in different forest types. In the wet evergreen forest, richness was higher in logged forest than primary forest, while diversity measures were not different between logged and primary forest habitats. In the moist evergreen, richness and diversity were higher in selectively logged areas compared with primary forest habitats. In the semi-deciduous, logged forests were characterized by drastic loss of forest specialists, reduced richness, and diversity. These results indicate that the net effect of logging varies with respect to forest type. Forest types that are characterized by adverse climatic conditions (i.e., low rainfall and protracted dry seasons) are more likely to produce negative effects on leaf litter anuran communities. For comparisons of the impact of logging on species to be effective, future research must endeavor to include details of forest type.