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.

Impacts of climate on prey abundance account for fluctuations in a population of a northern wader at the southern edge of its range

Abstract: Understanding the mechanisms by which climate change will affect animal populations is vital for adaptive management. Many studies have described changes in the timing of biological events, which can produce phenological mismatch. Direct effects on prey abundance might also be important, but have rarely been studied. We examine the likely importance of variation in prey abundance in driving the demographics of a European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) population at its southern range margin. Previous studies have correlated plover productivity with the abundance of their adult cranefly (Tipulidae) prey, and modelled the phenology of both plover breeding and cranefly emergence in relation to temperature. Our analyses demonstrate that abundance of adult craneflies is correlated with August temperature in the previous year. Correspondingly, changes in the golden plover population are negatively correlated with August temperature 2 years earlier. Predictions of annual productivity, based on temperature-mediated reductions in prey abundance, closely match observed trends. Modelled variation in annual productivity for a future scenario of increasing August temperatures predicts a significant risk of extinction of the golden plover population over the next 100 years, depending upon the magnitude of warming. Direct effects of climate warming upon cranefly populations may therefore cause northward range contractions of golden plovers, as predicted by climate envelope modelling. Craneflies are an important food source for many northern and upland birds, and our results are likely to have wide relevance to these other species. Research into the potential for habitat management to improve the resilience of cranefly populations to high temperature should be an urgent priority.

Assessing the diet of great skuas, Catharacta skua, using five different techniques

Abstract: Several different techniques have been used to study the diet composition of skuas and gulls in polar regions. In this study, we assessed the diet of great skuas using five techniques (pellets, prey remains, spontaneous regurgitates, observed feeds and water off-loading). The estimates of diet derived from each sampling technique during a single breeding season were generally similar. Although it is easy to collect large samples of pellets and remains, these over-estimate the amount of indigestible material in the diet. Prey remains provide a high degree of taxonomic accuracy, but may under-estimate prey swallowed whole. Water off-loading provides unbiased estimates of chick diet but only during a short period in the breeding season. It may also stress birds, and is labour-intensive. Spontaneous regurgitates are useful for assessing chick and adult diet but are difficult to collect systematically, and differing prey digestibility may bias results. Observed feeds are time consuming to record and over-represent easily identifiable prey. Technique-dependent biases highlight that sampling methods should be selected on the basis of sample sizes, time, taxonomic detail and age of study birds. Biomass may be estimated using pellets with correction factors, and also spontaneous regurgitates and water off-loading, but prey remains and observed feeds may be more inaccurate.

EU adopts innovative legislation on invasive species: a step towards a global response to biological invasions?

Abstract: Europe has adopted innovative legislation on invasive species that could signal a step-change in the global response to biological invasion threats. The discussion that took place within EU institutions—EU Parliament, European Commission, and the Member States—permitted significant improvement on the initial proposal presented by the European Commission, including removing the initial 50 species cap, explicitly allowing national authorities to take stringent measures on invasive species of national concern, and encouraging coordinated approaches to invasive species in boundary areas. An independent “Scientific Forum” to inform implementation has been introduced, and the EU Regulation will permit only limited licensing for specific activities using invasive alien species. However, the real strength of the legislation will largely depend on the decisions of a committee of representatives of the Member States, with the risk that the real enforcement will be limited by political and economic, rather than scientific, considerations. In this regard it will be crucial to set up a framework of roles and responsibilities among the different bodies that ensure transparent and objective decision processes. Also, it will be essential that adequate resources be secured for implementing the provisions of the legislation. Finally, the regulatory approach introduced by the Regulation will have only a limited impact unless European citizens raise their awareness of this threat and adopt more responsible behaviours.

Future novel threats and opportunities facing UK biodiversity identified by horizon scanning

Abstract: 1. Horizon scanning is an essential tool for environmental scientists if they are to contribute to the evidence base for Government, its agencies and other decision makers to devise and implement environmental policies. The implication of not foreseeing issues that are foreseeable is illustrated by the contentious responses to genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crops in the UK, and by challenges surrounding biofuels, foot and mouth disease, avian influenza and climate change. 2. A total of 35 representatives from organizations involved in environmental policy, academia, scientific journalism and horizon scanning were asked to use wide consultation to identify the future novel or step changes in threats to, and opportunities for, biodiversity that might arise in the UK up to 2050, but that had not been important in the recent past. At least 452 people were consulted. 3. Cases for 195 submitted issues were distributed to all participants for comments and additions. All issues were scored (probability, hazard, novelty and overall score) prior to a 2-day workshop. Shortlisting to 41 issues and then the final 25 issues, together with refinement of these issues, took place at the workshop during another two rounds of discussion and scoring. 4. We provide summaries of the 25 shortlisted issues and outline the research needs. 5. We suggest that horizon scanning incorporating wide consultation with providers and users of environmental science is used by environmental policy makers and researchers. This can be used to identify gaps in knowledge and policy, and to identify future key issues for biodiversity, including those arising from outside the domains of ecology and biodiversity. 6. Synthesis and applications. Horizon scanning can be used by environmental policy makers and researchers to identify gaps in knowledge and policy. Drawing on the experience, expertise and research of policy advisors, academics and journalists, this exercise helps set the agenda for policy, practice and research.

Causes and Effects of Temporospatial Declines of Gyps Vultures in Asia

Abstract: There are eight species in the genus Gyps : Gyps africanus , G. coprotheres, and G. rueppellii in Africa; G. bengalensis , G. indicus , G. tenuirostris , G. himalayensis in Asia; G. fulvus in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The ranges of many of these species overlap, and wintering G. fulvus overlap with several resident species in Asia and Africa (Fig. 1). Gyps species share a similar feeding ecology, scavenging the soft tissues of large mammals, usually ungulates. They tend to be colonial nesters and communal feeders, feeding alongside conspecifics and other vulture species. Densities of Gyps vultures can be high in areas with suitable breeding habitat and abundant carrion. An extreme example is G. bengalensis , which often lives in close association with humans. During the 1970s and early to mid-1980s, densities of 12 nests/km 2 were recorded at Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India (Prakash 1989), and there were nearly 3 nests/km 2 in the city of Delhi (Galushin 1971), where flocks of several thousand birds were present at carcass dumps. As recently as 1985, G. bengalensis was regarded as “possibly the most abundant large bird of prey in the world” (Houston 1985). Despite Gyps population declines across Southeast Asia, until recently only one species of Africa, G. coprotheres, was considered globally threatened (vulnerable; BirdLife International 2000), largely because of the indiscriminate use of poisons in southern Africa (Mundy et al. 1992). Following the recent population crash in Gyps species across the Indian subcontinent, three other species, G. bengalensis, G. indicus, and G. tenuirostris , are now listed as critical ( BirdLife International 2000), placing them among the most threatened birds in the world.