Constructing habitat networks to protect endangered migratory birds in the Jiaozhou Bay area

The bay areas along migratory bird flyways are essential stopover habitats. However, urbanization has led to fragmentation and loss of coastal habitats, resulting in rapid declines in migratory bird populations. Although habitat networks have proven effective in enhancing habitat connectivity, many studies of migratory bird habitat networks oversimplify coastal areas, treating them as nodes in a graphical structure and failing to adequately address the relationship between environmental characteristics and bird distribution. This study proposes a habitat network approach focused on the conservation of endangered migratory birds. We first assessed the habitat suitability of seven endangered species in the bay area separately using the MaxEnt model, then constructed and analyzed habitat networks for three groups of migratory birds using the least-cost path model and circuit theory, and finally identified ecologically critical areas that should be prioritized for conservation and restoration. Our findings revealed that (1) land use, food source, and human disturbance are the three primary environmental variables influencing habitat suitability; (2) habitat networks in the bay area are centered around estuarine wetlands and mudflats, with a fragmentation trend of habitats from the ocean to inland areas; and (3) habitat patches and corridors closer to the ocean have higher centrality levels in the network compared to those further inland. This study offers innovative insights into the construction and management of habitat networks for endangered migratory birds in bay areas, providing valuable decision support for the conservation of migratory bird diversity in coastal regions. • Propose an integrated connectivity approach for migratory bird habitat networks along coastal bays. • MaxEnt model used to assess habitat suitability for seven endangered species. • Offshore habitats and corridors show higher centrality, indicating the importance of connectivity. • Coastal wetlands are critical for migratory bird conservation as stopovers in the habitat network. • This habitat network approach significantly addresses protection gaps for migratory birds along coastal bays.