Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola

Migratory animals rely on multiple sites during their annual cycles. Deteriorating conditions at any site can have population-level consequences, with long-distance migrants seen as especially susceptible to such changes. Reduced adult survival caused by persecution at non-breeding sites has been suggested a major reason for the catastrophic decline of a formerly abundant, long-distance migratory songbird, the Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola. However, it is unknown whether the ongoing extinction of this Eurasian species especially in the west of its range could be related to differences in survival or migration routes. We investigated survival rates of populations from both western and eastern parts of the breeding range and successfully tracked the migration of individuals from two eastern populations with light-level geolocators. We found moderate apparent local survival rates in eastern populations, but observed no returning birds in western populations. Our tracking data highlights (1) a joint migration corridor of eastern populations through eastern China, (2) long autumn stopovers likely used for moult and re-fuelling, and (3) very long occurrences at wintering sites. These areas should be given priority for future conservation measures. We call for an increased monitoring of adult survival and breeding output in multiple populations (including western ones) of this critically endangered species to determine (1) the causes for the observed differences in apparent local survival and (2) whether the current survival rates are sufficient to sustain viable breeding populations.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Reports
Published
2024-12-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83138-4
Citations
6
Primary Topic
Avian ecology and behavior
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.75

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article

Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola

Norbert Hölzel, А П Левашкин, Gleb Nakul, Nyambayar Batbayar et al.
6 citations
Scientific Reports
Avian ecology and behavior
2.75
article

Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola

Norbert Hölzel, А П Левашкин, Gleb Nakul, Nyambayar Batbayar, Yury Anisimov, Batmunkh Davaasuren, Valentina Anisimova, Arend Heim, Martha Maria Sander, Wieland Heim, Ilka Beermann, Friederike Kunz, Alexander Thomas, Tuvshinjargal Erdenechimeg, Wangworn Sankamethawee, Marc Bastardot, Johannes Kamp, Steffen Hahn, Ramona Julia Heim, Leo Damrow, Thiri Dae We Aung
article en
6 citations

Abstract

Migratory animals rely on multiple sites during their annual cycles. Deteriorating conditions at any site can have population-level consequences, with long-distance migrants seen as especially susceptible to such changes. Reduced adult survival caused by persecution at non-breeding sites has been suggested a major reason for the catastrophic decline of a formerly abundant, long-distance migratory songbird, the Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola. However, it is unknown whether the ongoing extinction of this Eurasian species especially in the west of its range could be related to differences in survival or migration routes. We investigated survival rates of populations from both western and eastern parts of the breeding range and successfully tracked the migration of individuals from two eastern populations with light-level geolocators. We found moderate apparent local survival rates in eastern populations, but observed no returning birds in western populations. Our tracking data highlights (1) a joint migration corridor of eastern populations through eastern China, (2) long autumn stopovers likely used for moult and re-fuelling, and (3) very long occurrences at wintering sites. These areas should be given priority for future conservation measures. We call for an increased monitoring of adult survival and breeding output in multiple populations (including western ones) of this critically endangered species to determine (1) the causes for the observed differences in apparent local survival and (2) whether the current survival rates are sufficient to sustain viable breeding populations.

Scientific ReportsVol. 14(1)
University of Kassel (DE), Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (DE), Khon Kaen University (TH), University of Zurich (CH), University of Münster (DE), Swiss Ornithological Institute (CH), ETH Zurich (CH), Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (MM), Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK), Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (RU), Nizhny Novgorod State University of Engineering and Economics (RU), University of Göttingen (DE), University of Latvia (LV), Irkutsk State University (RU)
British Ornithologists' Union, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Avian ecology and behavior
2.75
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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