Suitability assessment of waterbird habitats in Jiangsu coastal wetlands, China

The Jiangsu coast located mid-way along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, supports extensive natural mudflats that serve as critical stopover sites for millions of migratory waterbirds annually. However, diverse land uses—including wind farms, photovoltaic installations, fishing ports, and invasive Sporobolus alterniflorus—create potential conflicts between habitat suitability and human activity. This study integrates 11 environmental factors, including estuaries, fishing ports, wind power, photovoltaics, Spartina alterniflora, climatic conditions, and vegetation normalized difference indices, to comprehensively analyze the suitability of habitats for migratory waterbirds along the Jiangsu coast. According to species distribution models, the environmental factor that most significantly affects the habitat suitability for migratory waterbirds is Spartina alterniflora, followed by the distribution of fisheries, chemical factories, and estuaries. The main suitable distribution areas for migratory waterbirds in Jiangsu’s coastal region are located in the Yancheng Rare Bird Protection Zone, Dongtai Tiaozini Wetland, Lianyungang Linhong Estuary, Rudong Xiaoyangkou, and Dongling. Based on these findings, a multi-tiered management strategy is proposed: enhancing invasive species control and habitat restoration in core heritage zones; establishing ecological redlines and optimizing spatial planning to reduce fragmentation in developed areas; and creating localized wetland reserves with improved water-level management to maintain high-tide roosting function in scattered suitable habitats. We recommend integrating these spatial measures into provincial ecological planning to synergize wetland restoration with blue-carbon development, forming a coherent conservation network along the Jiangsu coast.