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115 results on '"GILLINGS, SIMON"'

13. Breeding ground temperature rises, more than habitat change, are associated with spatially variable population trends in two species of migratory bird.

Author

Martay, Blaise, Pearce‐Higgins, James W., Harris, Sarah J., and Gillings, Simon

Subjects
EARTH temperature, HABITATS, MATING grounds, MIGRATORY birds, MIGRATORY animals, WINTER, CLIMATE change
Abstract

Habitat loss and climate change are key drivers of global biodiversity declines but their relative importance has rarely been examined. We attempted to attribute spatially divergent population trends of two Afro‐Palaearctic migrant warbler species, Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus and Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, to changes in breeding grounds climate or habitat. We used bird counts from over 4000 sites across the UK between 1994 and 2017, monitored as part of the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey. We modelled Willow Warbler and Common Chiffchaff population size and growth in relation to habitat, climate and weather. We then used the abundance model coefficients and observed environmental changes to determine the extent to which spatially varying population trends in England and Scotland were consistent with attribution to climate and habitat changes. Both species' population size and growth correlated with habitat, climate and weather on their breeding grounds. Changes in habitat, in particular woodland expansion, could be linked to small population increases for both species in England and Scotland. Both species' populations correlated more strongly with climate than weather, and both had an optimum breeding season temperature: 11°C for Willow Warbler and around 13.5°C for Common Chiffchaff (with marginally different predictions from population size and growth models). Breeding ground temperature increases, therefore, had the potential to have caused some of the observed Willow Warbler declines in England (where the mean breeding season temperature was 12.7°C) and increases in Scotland (mean breeding season temperature was 10.2°C), and some of the differential rates of increase for Common Chiffchaff. However, much of the variation in species' population abundance and trends were not well predicted by our models and could be due to other factors, such as species interactions, habitat and climate change in their wintering grounds and on migration. This study provides evidence that the effect of climate change on a species may vary spatially and may switch from being beneficial to being detrimental if a temperature threshold is exceeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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15. Diversity of response and effect traits provides complementary information about avian community dynamics linked to ecological function

Author

Hordley, Lisbeth A, Gillings, Simon, Petchey, Owen L, Tobias, Joseph A, Oliver, Thomas H, University of Zurich, and Hordley, Lisbeth A

Subjects
Evolution, media_common.quotation_subject, 05 Environmental Sciences, Environmental Sciences & Ecology, Biology, insurance hypothesis, INTRASPECIFIC VARIABILITY, COEXISTENCE, 10127 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Functional diversity, Behavior and Systematics, Community dynamics, BUTTERFLIES, functional traits, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, media_common, Functional ecology, Science & Technology, Ecology, STABILITY, BIRDS, SPECIES RICHNESS, ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION, RESILIENCE, 06 Biological Sciences, functional diversity, 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, community dynamics, ecological function, Evolutionary biology, 570 Life sciences, biology, 590 Animals (Zoology), BIODIVERSITY, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, human activities, Diversity (politics), ENVIRONMENTS
Abstract

Functional diversity metrics based on species traits are widely used to investigate ecosystem functioning. In theory, such metrics have different implications depending on whether they are calculated from traits mediating responses to environmental change (response traits) or those regulating function (effect traits), yet trait choice in diversity metrics is rarely scrutinized.\ud Here, we compile effect and response traits for British bird species supplying two key ecological services—seed dispersal and insect predation—to assess the relationship between functional diversity and both mean and stability of community abundance over time.\ud As predicted, functional diversity correlates with stability in community abundance of seed dispersers when calculated using response traits. However, we found a negative relationship between functional diversity and mean community abundance of seed dispersers when calculated using effect traits. Subsequently, when combining all traits together, we found inconsistent results with functional diversity correlating with reduced stability in insectivores, but greater stability in seed dispersers.\ud Our findings suggest that trait choice should be considered more carefully when applying such metrics in ecosystem management.

Published
2021

23. Bird conservation and the land sharing-sparing continuum in farmland-dominated landscapes of lowland England

Author

Finch, Tom, Gillings, Simon, Green, Rhys E, Massimino, Dario, Peach, Will J, Balmford, Andrew, Finch, Tom [0000-0003-1122-8513], and Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository

Subjects
wildlife-friendly farming, Conservation of Natural Resources, Farms, agricultura amigable con la fauna, conservation, temperate birds, Agriculture, conservación, Biodiversity, Birds, Europe, 农业, 保护, 土地分离, 土地共享, 野生动物友好型农业, 温带鸟类, agricultura, England, partición de suelo, aves de clima templado, dosificación de suelo, Animals, Humans, land sparing, land sharing, Ecosystem
Abstract

Empirical evidence from many regions suggests that most species would be least negatively affected if human food demand were met through high-yield agricultural production and conservation of nonfarm ecosystems (land sparing), rather than through wildlife-friendly farming over a larger area (land sharing). However, repeated glaciation and a long history of agriculture may lead to different results in regions such as western Europe. We compared the consequences of land sparing and land sharing on breeding bird species in 2 lowland regions of England, The Fens, with 101 species, and Salisbury Plain, with 83. We derived density-yield responses for each species and then estimated regional population size under regional food production strategies, including land sharing and land sparing, a range of intermediate strategies, and a novel mixed strategy. In both regions, more species achieved maximum regional population size under land sparing than land sharing. In The Fens, the majority of birds were loser species (estimated to have smaller populations under all food production strategies than in the preagricultural baseline scenario), whereas in Salisbury Plain the majority were winners (smaller populations in the preagricultural baseline scenario). Loser species overwhelmingly achieved maximum regional population size under land sparing, whereas winner species achieved maximum regional population size under either land sharing or an intermediate strategy, highlighting the importance of defining which groups of species are the target of conservation. A novel 3-compartment strategy (combining high-yield farming, natural habitat, and low-yield farming) often performed better than either land sharing or land sparing. Our results support intermediate or 3-compartment land-sparing strategies to maximize bird populations across lowland agricultural landscapes. To deliver conservation outcomes, any shift toward land sparing must, however, ensure yield increases are sustainable in the long term, do not entail increased negative effects on surrounding areas, and are linked to allocation of land for nature.

Published
2019
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34. How much biodiversity is in Natura 2000?: the 'umbrella effect' of the European Natura 2000 protected area network

Author

van der Sluis, Theo, Foppen, Ruud, Gillings, Simon, Groen, Thomas, Henkens, René, Hennekens, Stephan, Huskens, Kim, Noble, David, Ottburg, Fabrice, Santini, Luca, Sierdsema, Henk, van Kleunen, Andre, Schaminee, Joop, van Swaay, Chris, Toxopeus, Bert, Wallis de Vries, Michiel, Jones-Walters, Lawrence, Department of Natural Resources, UT-I-ITC-FORAGES, and Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation

Published
2016

49. The risk of extinction for birds in Great Britain.

Author

Stanbury, Andrew, Brown, Andy, Eaton, Mark, Aebischer, Nicholas, Gillings, Simon, Hearn, Richard, Noble, David, Stroud, David, and Gregory, Richard

Subjects
RARE birds, BIOLOGICAL extinction, BIRD conservation, BIRD breeding, BIRD populations
Abstract

Over the last 20 years, species priorities for bird conservation in the UK have been guided by the in-depth 'Birds of Conservation Concern' assessments. For other wildlife, priorities tend to be informed by measures of extinction risk, generated by the IUCN Regional Red List process. We carried out the first formal IUCN assessment for birds in Great Britain. Of the 234 regularly occurring species assessed, 100 (43%) had at least one population (breeding or non-breeding) that qualified as Threatened using the standard IUCN Red List criteria and categories. Of 282 separate assessments of breeding or non-breeding populations, 39% qualified as Threatened (8% Critically Endangered, 14% Endangered, 17% Vulnerable) with a further 10% classified as Near Threatened. Both Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus and Fieldfare Turdus pilaris were assessed as being Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) as breeding species. In addition, seven species were assessed as being already extinct (either Extinct or Regionally Extinct). The proportion of GB birds qualifying as Threatened was high compared with birds elsewhere in Europe and other taxonomic groups in GB. We believe that, if similar data were available, levels of extinction risk would be higher for other areas/taxa than is estimated currently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2017

50. Environmental correlates of breeding abundance and population change of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata in Britain.

Author

Franks, Samantha E., Douglas, David J. T., Gillings, Simon, and Pearce-Higgins, James W.

Abstract

Capsule:Across Britain, breeding Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataare less numerous and have shown greater population declines in areas with more arable farming, woodland cover and higher generalist predator abundance. Aims:We present the first national-scale analysis of the potential drivers of Curlew population change in Britain, which is needed to guide conservation action for this globally near-threatened, declining species. Methods:Breeding Bird Survey data and environmental predictors were used to model variation in Curlew abundance in 1995–99 and 2007–11, and population change between these periods. Results:Arable farming and woodland cover were negatively associated with Curlew abundance and population declines. Curlew abundance was positively associated with extent of protected area coverage and gamebird numbers. Abundance and population change were positively associated with cooler temperatures and higher summer rainfall, but negatively associated with numbers of generalist predators. Conclusions:We found support for the negative effects of intensive agriculture, forestry, increases in generalist predator populations and climate warming on Curlew abundance and population change. Effective site protection and measures to reduce generalist predator abundance may be important conservation measures, together with improving breeding habitat quality in the wider countryside. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Published
2017
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