Institution
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Nonprofit•Sandy, United Kingdom•
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.
Topics: Population, Biodiversity, Threatened species, Foraging, Habitat
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: In this article, the importance of invertebrates for moorland-breeding birds and the conservation of such species in the UK is discussed. But the authors do not provide detailed experimental data with which to demonstrate the direct effect of particular moor land management prescriptions on some of these key invertebrate taxa for breeding birds, available data suggest that management regimes that create a mosaic of habitats are likely to be most beneficial.
Abstract: We reviewed the literature to determine the importance of invertebrates for moorland-breeding birds and considered our findings with respect to the conservation of such species in the UK. The diets of many moorland birds consist predominantly of invertebrates, with a wide range of taxa recorded in the diets of moorland birds during the breeding season. Relatively few taxa (Arachnida, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Oligochaeta) were widely taken, with Diptera and Coleoptera being the most important. Among these latter two insect orders, Carabidae, Curculionidae, Elateridae and Tipulidae were the most important families. Comparisons of the diets of bird families, treated separately according to whether data were derived from adults or chicks, showed that waders take more interstitial invertebrates than passerines, which themselves take more foliage invertebrates. Although we lack detailed experimental data with which to demonstrate the direct effect of particular moorland management prescriptions on some of these key invertebrate taxa for breeding birds, available data suggest that management regimes that create a mosaic of habitats are likely to be most beneficial. In particular, heterogeneity in vegetation structure and species composition, and the presence of wet flushes associated with the synchronized spring emergence of adults of certain insect species, are likely to increase invertebrate food resources for birds.
87 citations
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Max Planck Society1, West Chester University of Pennsylvania2, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology3, Wildlife Conservation Society4, The Aspinall Foundation5, Cornell University6, University of Stirling7, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds8, Royal Holloway, University of London9, University of Cambridge10, Arizona State University11, Lincoln Park Zoo12, Liverpool John Moores University13, Washington University in St. Louis14, University College London15, Frankfurt Zoological Society16, Ghent University17, University of St Andrews18
TL;DR: The results support the view that “culturally significant units” should be integrated into wildlife conservation and show that chimpanzees inhabiting areas with high human impact have a mean probability of occurrence reduced by 88%, across all behaviors, compared to low-impact areas.
Abstract: Chimpanzees possess a large number of behavioral and cultural traits among nonhuman species. The "disturbance hypothesis" predicts that human impact depletes resources and disrupts social learning processes necessary for behavioral and cultural transmission. We used a dataset of 144 chimpanzee communities, with information on 31 behaviors, to show that chimpanzees inhabiting areas with high human impact have a mean probability of occurrence reduced by 88%, across all behaviors, compared to low-impact areas. This behavioral diversity loss was evident irrespective of the grouping or categorization of behaviors. Therefore, human impact may not only be associated with the loss of populations and genetic diversity, but also affects how animals behave. Our results support the view that "culturally significant units" should be integrated into wildlife conservation.
87 citations
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TL;DR: A partially objective analysis of ecological niches shows that all but two species pairs were clearly separated by either habitat or food factors, and some differences may further serve to ecologically separate the waterfowl.
Abstract: The potential foods available to waterfowl at the Ouse Washes in autumn and winter are described. All were commonly found in the river, pool, marsh and flooded grassland habitats of the washes and in the surrounding arable fields. Gadwall Anas strepera, Wigeon A. penelope, Moorhen Gallinula chloropusand Coot Fulica atramainly consumed vegetative foods, especially the leaves of grasses and in the case of the first named, water plants. Mallard A. platyrhynchos, Pintail A. acuta, Teal A. crecca, Pochard Aythya ferinaand Moorhen fed extensively on fruits and seeds with the first three species supplementing their diets with cereal grains from stubbles. Shoveler A. clypeata, Tufted duck Aythya fuligula, Pochard and Moorhen consumed the largest amounts of invertebrates. Within these three groupings there were further interspecific differences in diet. With most species diets also differed under low and high floods, being most similar under the latter. Amongst the dabbling ducks Anasspp. there were differences, probably minor, in foods taken attributable to differences in the bill lamellae on the outer margins of the upper jaw.
The feeding methods used under low and high floods are described and some differences may further serve to ecologically separate the waterfowl. There was a high degree of adaptability, especially amongst the dabbling ducks, with some species changing the feeding postures completely under high floods. All species fed diurnally. Wigeon, Gadwall, Coot and Moorhen all fed for at least 90% of the daylight hours. Shoveler, Teal, Mallard and Pintail were most active in the mornings and afternoons. A partially objective analysis of ecological niches shows that all but two species pairs were clearly separated by either habitat or food factors. There is some overlap between Pochard and Tufted duck and greater overlap between Mallard and Pintail. This may be because they are utilizing the temporarily abundant foods present at this site.
86 citations
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TL;DR: This work uses precision global positioning system (GPS) loggers to examine how individual foraging site fidelity (IFSF) varies between breeders, failed breeders and immatures in a long-lived marine predator—the northern gannet Morus bassanus.
Abstract: Individual foraging specializations, where individuals use a small component of the population niche width, are widespread in nature with important ecological and evolutionary implications. In long-lived animals, foraging ability develops with age, but we know little about the ontogeny of individuality in foraging. Here we use precision global positioning system (GPS) loggers to examine how individual foraging site fidelity (IFSF), a common component of foraging specialization, varies between breeders, failed breeders and immatures in a long-lived marine predator-the northern gannet Morus bassanus Breeders (aged 5+) showed strong IFSF: they had similar routes and were faithful to distal points during successive trips. However, centrally placed immatures (aged 2-3) were far more exploratory and lacked route or foraging site fidelity. Failed breeders were intermediate: some with strong fidelity, others being more exploratory. Individual foraging specializations were previously thought to arise as a function of heritable phenotypic differences or via social transmission. Our results instead suggest a third alternative-in long-lived species foraging sites are learned during exploratory behaviours early in life, which become canalized with age and experience, and refined where possible-the exploration-refinement foraging hypothesis. We speculate similar patterns may be present in other long-lived species and moreover that long periods of immaturity may be a consequence of such memory-based individual foraging strategies.
86 citations
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Imperial College London1, American Museum of Natural History2, University of Bonn3, National University of Comahue4, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute5, Nottingham Trent University6, University of Reading7, Carleton University8, Wageningen University and Research Centre9, University of East London10, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation11, British Trust for Ornithology12, University of Kiel13, ETH Zurich14, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds15, University of Koblenz and Landau16, University of Marburg17, University of Pisa18, Colorado State University19, University of Sussex20, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ21, University of Göttingen22, University of Plymouth23, University of Iowa24, University of Würzburg25, University of Giessen26, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation27, Institut de recherche pour le développement28, International Center for Tropical Agriculture29, Institut national de la recherche agronomique30, University of Melbourne31, Plant & Food Research32, National University of Colombia33, University of California, Riverside34, University of Novi Sad35, Lund University36, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences37, The Lodge38, University of East Anglia39, University of the Aegean40, Cornell University41, Trinity College, Dublin42, Canadian Real Estate Association43, University of New England (Australia)44, Brock University45, University of Virginia46, Université du Québec à Montréal47, University of Birmingham48, Stockholm University49, University of Bern50, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service51, Saint Louis University52, Northwestern University53, University of Canterbury54, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven55, Universidad de las Américas Puebla56
TL;DR: Analysis of a global dataset of bee diversity at sites facing land-use change and intensification suggests that global extrapolation of models based on geographically and taxonomic restricted data may underestimate the true uncertainty, increasing the risk of ecological surprises.
Abstract: Land-use change and intensification threaten bee populations worldwide, imperilling pollination services. Global models are needed to better characterise, project, and mitigate bees' responses to these human impacts. The available data are, however, geographically and taxonomically unrepresentative; most data are from North America and Western Europe, overrepresenting bumblebees and raising concerns that model results may not be generalizable to other regions and taxa. To assess whether the geographic and taxonomic biases of data could undermine effectiveness of models for conservation policy, we have collated from the published literature a global dataset of bee diversity at sites facing land-use change and intensification, and assess whether bee responses to these pressures vary across 11 regions (Western, Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe; North, Central and South America; Australia and New Zealand; South East Asia; Middle and Southern Africa) and between bumblebees and other bees. Our analyses highlight strong regionally-based responses of total abundance, species richness and Simpson's diversity to land use, caused by variation in the sensitivity of species and potentially in the nature of threats. These results suggest that global extrapolation of models based on geographically and taxonomically restricted data may underestimate the true uncertainty, increasing the risk of ecological surprises.
85 citations
Authors
Showing all 672 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
---|---|---|---|
Andrew Balmford | 91 | 290 | 33359 |
Rhys E. Green | 78 | 285 | 30428 |
Richard D. Gregory | 61 | 165 | 18428 |
Richard Evans | 48 | 306 | 10513 |
Rafael Mateo | 46 | 238 | 7091 |
Deborah J. Pain | 46 | 99 | 6717 |
Jeremy D. Wilson | 45 | 123 | 12587 |
Les G. Underhill | 45 | 233 | 8217 |
Richard B. Bradbury | 42 | 113 | 8062 |
Paul F. Donald | 41 | 117 | 11153 |
James W. Pearce-Higgins | 40 | 144 | 5623 |
Jörn P. W. Scharlemann | 40 | 84 | 16393 |
Juliet A. Vickery | 39 | 116 | 8494 |
Mark A. Taggart | 38 | 111 | 3703 |
Patrick W Thompson | 38 | 144 | 6379 |