Modeling Habitat Suitability of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius Collurio) in the Irano-Anatolian Biodiversity Hotspot

Authors

  • Sayyad Sheykhi Ilanloo Department of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran
  • Sohrab Ashrafi Department of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran
  • Afshin Alizadeh Shabani Department of Environment, University of Tehran, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jzr.v3i2.2897

Abstract

Identifying suitable habitats of species is essential knowledge to conserve them successfully. Human activities cause the reduction of population size and habitat suitability of many species. Red-backed Shrike is widespread in western Palearctic. However, the population of this specie has declined in its geographical range due to the loss of suitable habitats. Therefore, it is necessary to identify its suitable habitats and factors affecting species habitat suitability and to protect its reduction population size. The aim of the present study was to identify the suitable habitat of the Red-backed Shrike and determine the most important predictors of its suitable habitat in Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot.To achieve this goal,species presence points were first collected and seven environmental variables related to climate, topography and anthropogenic activities, were used to construct the species habitat suitable model. Models were built using five distribution modeling methods: Maxent, GAP, GLM, RF and GBM in sdm package. Then the models were ensemble from 5 different models and the final model was constructed. The results of this study showed that the most suitable habitats of this species are in the western and northern parts of the area of study. The mean annual temperature with 41% contribution was the most important variable in constructing the habitat suitability model for this specie. In addition, climate variables with 75% contribution were identified as the most important habitat suitability factor for this specie.Also in relation to conservation of the Red-backed Shrike species in the Irano-Anatolian region, it can be stated that the extent of distribution and presence of this specie has been extended to the northern latitudes due to climate change. As a result, the temperature and climate factor should be given special attention in the management of bird habitats in this area.

Keywords:

Habitat management, Climate change, Red-backed shrike, Grassland, Biodiversity

References

[1] Sala, O.E. Chapin, F.S. Armesto, J.J. Berlow, E.Bloomfield, J. Dirzo, R. Huber-Sanwald, E. Huenneke, L.F. Jackson, R.B. Kinzig, A. and Leemans,R. (2000), Global biodiversity scenarios for the year 2100, Science, 287(5459), 1770-1774.

[2] Donald, P.F. Green, R.E. and Heath, M.F. (2001), Agricultural intensification and the collapse of Europe’s farmland bird populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences,268(1462), 25-29.

[3] Walther, G.R. Post, E. Convey, P. Menzel, A. Parmesan, C. Beebee, T.J. Fromentin, J.M.Hoegh-Guldberg, O. and Bairlein, F. (2002), Ecological responses to recent climate change,Nature,416(6879), 389.

[4] Fahrig, L. (2003), Effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity, Annual review of ecology,evolution,and systematics, 34(1), 487-515.

[5] Gaston, K.J. Blackburn, T.M. and Goldewijk, K.K.(2003), Habitat conversion and global avian biodiversity loss, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences,270(1521),1293-1300.

[6] Root, T.L. Price, J.T. Hall, K.R. Schneider, S.H.Rosenzweig, C. and Pounds, J.A. (2003), Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants.Nature, 421(6918), 57.

[7] Root, T.L. MacMynowski, D.P. Mastrandrea, M.D.and Schneider, S.H. 2005. Human-modified temperatures induce species changes: joint attribution,Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,102(21), 7465-7469.

[8] Groom, M.J. Meffe, G.K. Carroll, C.R. and Andelman, S.J. (2006), Principles of conservation biology (No. Sirsi) i9780878935185). Sunderland: Sinauer Associates.

[9] Onrubia, A. and Andrés, T. (2005), Impact of human activities on steppic-land birds: a review in the context of the Western Palearctic, Ecology and Conservation of Steppe-land Birds’.(Eds G. Bota, MB Morales, S. Mañosa and J. Camprodon.), 185-211.

[10] Bota, G. Morales, M.B. Mañosa, S. and Camprodon,J. (2005) Ecology and conservation of steppe-land birds, Lynx Edicions & Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya, Barcelona.

[11] Majnonian, H. Kiabi, B.H. and Danesh, M. (2005),Reading in zoogeography of Iran (part1).Department of environment of Iran, Tehran.

[12] Alghoraishi, Z.K. Sarab, A.A. and Kiabi, B.H. (2011),Impacts of ecological factors on the distribution of wild sheep in Khojir and Sorkhe Hessar National Parks. Journal of Natural Environment,63(4), 359-372.

[13] Clements, T. John, A. Nielsen, K. An, D. Tan, S. and Milner-Gulland, E.J. (2010), Payments for biodiversity conservation in the context of weak institutions:Comparison of three programs from Cambodia, Ecological economics, 69(6), 1283-1291.

[14] Clements, C.F. Collen, B. Blackburn, T.M. and Petchey, O.L. (2014), Effects of recent environmental change on accuracy of inferences of extinction status,Conservation Biology, 28(4),971-981.

[15] Royle, J.A. Chandler, R.B. Yackulic, C. and Nichols,J.D. (2012), Likelihood analysis of species occurrence probability from presence‐only data for modelling species distributions, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 3(3), 545-554.

[16] Yackulic, C.B. Chandler, R. Zipkin, E.F. Royle, J.A.Nichols, J.D. Campbell Grant, E.H. and Veran, S.(2013), Presence‐only modelling using MAXENT:when can we trust the inferences?.Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 4(3), 236-243.

[17] Smeraldo, S. Di Febbraro, M. Ćirović, D. Bosso, L.Trbojević, I. and Russo, D. (2017). Species distribution models as a tool to predict range expansion after reintroduction: A case study on Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber). Journal for Nature Conservation, 37,12-20.

[18] Pearson, R.G. Raxworthy, C.J. Nakamura, M. and Townsend Peterson, A. (2007), Predicting species distributions from small numbers of occurrence records: a test case using cryptic geckos in Madagascar, Journal of biogeography, 34(1), 102-117.

[19] Sheykhi, I.S. Moeinaddini, M. Gholipour, M.Sheykhi, A. And Kerachi, H. (2016), Habitat suitability assessment for Black Billed Sandgrous (Pteroclesorientalis) Using Maximum Entropy In Shirahmad Wildlife Refuge, Journal of Natural Environment,69(1), 231-245.

[20] Bosso, L. Russo, D. Di Febbraro, M. Cristinzio, G.and Zoina, A. (2016), Potential distribution of Xylella fastidiosa in Italy: a maximum entropy model.Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 55(1), 62-72.

[21] Ashoori, A. Kafash, A. Varasteh Moradi, H. Yousefi,M. Kamyab, H. Behdarvand, N. Mohammadi,S.(2018), Habitat modeling of the Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus (Galliformes:Phasianidae) in a highly modified landscape: application of species distribution models in the study of a poorly documented bird in Iran, The European Zoological Journal, 85 (1),373-381.

[22] Na, X.D. Zang, S. Zhang, Y.H. Li, W. (2015), Assessing breeding habitat suitability for the Endangered red-Crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) based on multi-source remote sensing data,Wetlands 35, 955-967.

[23] Yousefi, M. Kafash, A. Malakoutikhahh, Sh. Ashoori,A. Khani, A. Mehdizade, Y. Ataei, F.Sheykhi Ilanloo, S. Rezaei, H.R. Silva, J.P. (2018), Distance to international border shapes the distribution pattern of the growing Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax winter population in Northern Iran. Bird Conservation International, 28, 499-508.

[24] Na, X.D. Zhou, H.T. Zang, S.Y. Wu, C.S. Li, W.L.Li, M. (2018), Maximum Entropy modeling for habitat suitability assessment of Red-crowned crane,Ecological Indicators, 91, 439-446.

[25] Platts, P.J. McClean, C.J. Lovett, J.C. and Marchant,R. (2008), Predicting tree distributions in an East African biodiversity hotspot: model selection, data bias and envelope uncertainty. Ecological Modelling 218,121-134.

[26] Moradi, S. Sheykhi Ilanloo, S. Kafash, A. Yousefi, Y.(2019), Identifying high-priority conservation areas for avian biodiversity using species distribution modeling. Ecological Indicators, 97,159-164.

[27] Pearson, R.G. Dawson, T.P. Berry, P.M. and Harrison, P.A. (2002), SPECIES: a spatial evaluation of climate impact on the envelope of species, Ecological modelling, 154(3), 289-300.

[28] Kafash, A. Ashrafi, S. Ohler, A. Yousefi, M. Malakoutikhah, Sh. Koehler, G. Schmidt, B.R.(2018),Climate change produces winners and losers: Differential responses of amphibians in mountain forests of the Near East. Global Ecology and Conservation, 16,e00471.

[29] Cramp, S. and Brooks, D.J. (1992), Handbook of the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.The birds of the western Palearctic, vol. VI. Warblers (396-405). Oxford University Press,oxford.

[30] Vanhinsbergh, D. and Evans, A. (2002), Habitat associations of the red-backed shrike (Red-backed Shrike) in Carinthia, Austria. Journal für Ornithologie, 143(4), 405-415.

[31] Tucker, G.M. and Evans, M.I. (1997), Habitats for Birds in Europe: A Conservation Strategy for the Wider Environment. Birdlife International, Cambridge.

[32] Peach, W. Baillie, S. and Underhill, L. (1991),Survival of British Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus in relation to West African rainfall.Ibis, 133(3), 300-305.

[33] Saino, N. Szép, T. Romano, M. Rubolini, D. Spina,F. and Møller, A. P. (2004), Ecological conditions during winter predict arrival date at the breeding quarters in a trans‐Saharan migratory bird,Ecology letters, 7(1), 21-25.

[34] Karlsson, S. (2004), Season-dependent diet composition and habitat use of red-backed shrikes Redbacked Shrike in SW Finland. Ornis Fennica, 81(3),97-108.

[35] Casale, F. Bionda, R. Falco, R. Siccardi, P. Toninelli,V. Rubolini, D. and Brambilla, M. (2007),Misure gestionali in campo agro-pastorale per la conservazione dell’averla piccola Red-backed Shrike, Atti del XIV Convegno Italiano di Ornitologia, Trieste.

[36] Sheykhi Ilanloo, S. and Karimi, S. (2016), Determination of the focus centers with high-priority conservation for birds Case Study: Naqadeh Township.Journal of Animal Environment, 8(3), 29-38.

[37] Fick, S.E. and Hijmans, R.J. (2017), WorldClim 2:new 1-km spatial resolution climate surfaces for global land areas. International Journal of Climatology, 37, 4302-4315.

[38] Warren, D.L. Glor, R.E. and Turelli, M. (2010), ENM Tools: a toolbox for comparative studies of environmental niche models. Ecography, 33(3), 607-611.

[39] Broxton, P. D. Zeng, X. Scheftic, W. and Troch. P. A.(2014), A MODIS‐based global 1‐km maximum green vegetation fraction dataset, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 53,1996-2004.

[40] Venter, O. Sanderson, E.W. Magrach, A. Allan, J.R.Beher, J. Jones, K.R. Possingham, H.P.Laurance,W.F. Wood, P. Fekete, B.M. and Levy, M.A. (2016),Global terrestrial Human Footprint maps for 1993 and 2009. Scientific data, 3(1), 1-10.

[41] Fick, S.E. and Hijmans, R.J. (2017), WorldClim 2:new 1‐km spatial resolution climate surfaces for global land areas. International journal of climatology, 37(12), 4302-4315.

[42] Elith. J, Leathwick J.R. (2009), Species distribution models: ecological explanation and prediction across space and time, Annual review of ecology, evolution and systematics, 40, 677-697.

[43] Phillips, S. Elith, J. (2013), on estimating probability of presence from use-availability or presence-background data, Ecology. 94(6), 1409-19.

[44] Araujo, M.B. and New, M., 2007. Ensemble forecasting of species distributions. Trends in ecology &evolution, 22(1), pp.42-47.

[45] Fechter, D. and Storch, I. (2014), How many wolves (Canis lupus) fit into Germany? The role of assumptions in predictive rule-based habitat models for habitat generalists, PloS one, 9(7), p.e101798.

[46] Naimi, B. and Araújo, M.B. (2016), sdm: a reproducible and extensible R platform for species distribution modelling, Ecography, 39(4), 368-375.

[47] Reino, L. Beja, P. and Heitor, A.C. (2006). Modelling spatial and environmental effects at the edge of the distribution: the red‐backed shrike Red-backed Shrike in Northern Portugal. Diversity and distributions, 12(4), 379-387.

[48] Pimm, S.L., 2008. Biodiversity: climate change or habitat loss—which will kill more species?.Current Biology, 18: R117-R119.

[49] Spear, R.W. (1989), Late‐Quaternary history of high‐elevation vegetation in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Ecological Monographs, 59(2),125-151.

[50] Botkin, D.B. Janak, J.F. and Wallis, J.R. (1972),Some ecological consequences of a computer model of forest growth, The Journal of Ecology, 849-872.

[51] Rodenhouse, N.L. Matthews, S.N. McFarland, K.P.Lambert, J.D. Iverson, L.R. Prasad, A. Sillett,T.S.and Holmes, R.T. (2008), Potential effects of climate change on birds of the Northeast.Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change, 13(5-6), 517-540.

[52] de Juana Aranzana, E. (1980), Atlas ornitológico de la Rioja (Vol. 34). Servicio de Cultura de la Excma.Diputación Provincial.

[53] Tryjanowski, P.S.T.H. and Sparks, T.H. (2001), Is the detection of the first arrival date of migrating birds influenced by population size? A case study of the red-backed shrike Red-backed Shrike. International Journal of Biometeorology, 45(4), pp.217-219.

[54] Tryjanowski, P. Goławski, A. Kuźniak, S. Mokwa,T. and Antczak, M. (2007), Disperse or stay?Exceptionally high breeding-site infidelity in the Redbacked Shrike Red-backed Shrike, Ardea,95(2), 316-321.

[55] Hampe, A. and Petit, R.J. (2005), Conserving biodiversity under climate change: the rear edge matters.Ecology letters, 8(5), 461-467.

[56] Epstein, P.R. Diaz, H.F. Elias, S. Grabherr, G. Graham, N.E. Martens, W.J. MosIey-Thompson, E.and Susskind, J. (1998), Biological and physical signs of climate change: focus on mosquito-borne diseases.Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society,79(3), 409-418.

[57] Buckley, A. Dawson, A. Moss, S.R. Hinsley, S.A.Bellamy, P.E. and Gould, E.A. (2003),Serological evidence of West Nile virus, Usutu virus and Sindbis virus infection of birds in the UK, Journal of General Virology, 84(10), 2807-2817.

[58] Fornasari, L. and Massa, R. (2000), Habitat or climate? Influences of environmental factors on the breeding success of the red-backed shrike (Redbacked Shrike). The Ring, 22(1).

[59] Sfougaris, A.I. Plexida, S.G. and Solomou, A.D.(2014), Assessing the effects of environmental factors on the presence and density of three shrike species in a continental and a coastal area of central Greece, North-Western Journal of Zoology, 10(1).

[60] Yousefi, M. Kafash, A. Valizadegan, N. Ilanloo, S.S.Rajabizadeh, M. Malekoutikhah, S.Yousefkhani,S.S.H. and Ashrafi, S. (2019), Climate Change is a Major Problem for Biodiversity Conservation: A Systematic Review of Recent Studies in Iran, Contemporary Problems of Ecology,12(4), 394-403.

[61] Askins, R.A. (1990), Population declines in migratory birds in eastern North America, Current ornithology, 7, 1-57.

[62] Gregory, R.D. Noble, D.G. and Custance, J. (2004).The state of play of farmland birds: population trends and conservation status of lowland farmland birds in the United Kingdom, Ibis, 146, 1-13.

[63] Schulze, C.H. Waltert, M. Kessler, P.J. Pitopang,R. Veddeler, D. Mühlenberg, M. Gradstein, S.R.Leuschner, C. Steffan-Dewenter, I. and Tscharntke,T. (2004), Biodiversity indicator groups of tropical land‐use systems: comparing plants, birds, and insects, Ecological applications, 14(5),1321-1333.

[64] Kuzniak, S. and Tryjanowski, P. (2000), Distribution and breeding habitat of the Red-backed Shrike (Redbacked Shrike) in an intensively used farmland, The Ring, 22(1).

[65] Golawski, A. and Golawska, S. (2008), Habitat preference in territories of the red-backed shrike Redbacked Shrike and their food richness in an extensive agriculture landscape, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 54(1), 89-97.

[66] Tryjanowski, P. Golawski, A. Kuzniak, S. Mokwa, T.Antczak, M. (2007), Disperse or stay?Exceptionally high breeding-site infifidelity in the red-backed shrike Lanius collurio, Ardea, 95,316-320.

[67] Brambilla, M. Guidali, F. and Negri, I. (2009),Breeding-season habitat associations of the declining Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra–a potential indicator of the overall bunting richness, Ornis Fennica,86(2), 41-51.

[68] Goławski, A. and Meissner, W. (2008), the influence of territory characteristics and food supply on the breeding performance of the Red‐backed Shrike (Red-backed Shrike) in an extensively farmed region of eastern Poland. Ecological Research, 23(2), 347-353.

[69] Fornasari, L. Kurlavicius, P. Massa, R. (1997), Redbacked Shrike red-backed strike. In:Hagemeijer,E.J.M., Blair, M.J. (Eds.), the EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T&AD Poyser, London, 660-661.

Downloads

Issue

Article Type

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)