Autumn migration of black‐necked crane (Grus nigricollis) on the Qinghai‐Tibetan and Yunnan‐Guizhou plateaus
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Pu Z
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10485337 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:The Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis is a globally vulnerable species whose food is the factor determining its long-term survival. Understanding dietary habits, food preferences, and related factors will facilitate the development of effective conservation plans for the protection of this vulnerable species. For this purpose, we used video recordings and sampling of food availability to examine the dietary composition and temporal variation in food selection of Black-necked Cranes wintering in the Dashanbao National Nature Reserve, China. The Black-necked Crane's diet consists primarily of domestic food crops such as grains (74%) and potatoes (8%), in addition to invertebrates (14%). A much smaller proportion of the diet was comprised of turnips and wild herbaceous plants and tubers. There was monthly variation in food selection, partially related to food availability. Grains were most available in November and decreased through the winter, whereas invertebrates were more available in November and February than in December and January. Grain consumption was lowest in November but higher from December through February. Invertebrate consumption was highest in November and February. The cranes preferred to eat grains throughout winter months, while they mainly selected invertebrates in November and February. We suggested invertebrate populations sharply declined in December and January due to the low temperature. In addition, grain consumption was negatively associated with invertebrate availability. In November, when invertebrates were most abundant, and despite a concomitant peak in grain abundance, we suggested cranes exhibited a preference for invertebrates over grains. We recommend that the protection administration provide appropriate supplemental foods for cranes during freezing weather.
| S-EPMC4846803 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) which inhabits high-altitude areas has the largest body size of the world's 15 crane species, and is classified as threatened by the IUCN. To support further studies on population genetics and genomics, we present a high-quality genome assembly based on both Illumina and nanopore sequencing. In total, 54.59 Gb Illumina short reads and 116.5 Gb nanopore long reads were generated. The 1.23 Gb assembled genome has a high contig N50 of 17.89 Mb, and has a longest contig of 87.83 Mb. The completeness (97.7%) of the draft genome was evaluated with single-copy orthologous genes using BUSCO. We identified 17,789 genes and found that 8.11% of the genome is composed of repetitive elements. In total, 84 of the 2,272 one-to-one orthologous genes were under positive selection in the black-necked crane lineage. SNP-based inference indicated two bottlenecks in the recent demographic trajectories of the black-necked crane. The genome information will contribute to future study of crane evolutionary history and provide new insights into the potential adaptation mechanisms of the black-necked crane to its high-altitude habitat.
| S-EPMC7145580 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) is a vulnerable species and the only species that lives in the plateau. Five migration routes of different populations have been identified, but for cranes wintering in Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet, the migration route and breeding/summering area are still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatio-temporal migration patterns of black-necked cranes in this area and to identify important areas for conservation.MethodsIn 2016, we fitted seven black-necked cranes in Nyingchi with GPS-GSM satellite transmitters to record their migration routes. We used ArcGIS 10.2 to visualize important stopover sites and the 'ggplot' function in R to analyze the migration patterns.ResultsFrom March 2016 to May 2019, we recorded nine spring migration and four autumn migration tracks from five individuals. Four individuals spent the breeding/summering season in Qinghai Lake, while the other spent the breeding/summering season in the Jinzihai Wetland of Dulan County, Qinghai Province. Detailed spatio-temporal information showed that the spring migration lasted 8.7 ± 4.6 days and covered 1,182.5 ± 90.4 km, while the autumn migration lasted 30 ± 10.6 days and covered 1,455.7 ± 138 km. Basom Lake and the Shazhuyu River were the most important stopover sites during the spring and autumn migrations, respectively. The cranes spent 4.4 ± 3.7 days in Basom Lake and 26.3 ± 10.7 days in the Shazhuyu River. The black-necked cranes mainly migrated during the daytime (>85 % of the fly points), and 81 % (17/21) of all stopover and roosting sites were in the valley or at lakeside swamps. Only 17.7% (516 / 2,914) of the data points for stopover and roosting sites were in protected areas.Main conclusionsOur study revealed the breeding/summering areas and migration routes of the black-necked cranes wintering in Nyingchi. These results contribute to a better understanding of the annual spatio-temporal migration patterns and the development of conservation plans for this vulnerable species.
| S-EPMC7443078 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Climate change is affecting biodiversity by altering the geographical distribution range of species, and this effect is amplified in climate-sensitive areas. Studying the geographic distribution of flagship species in response to climate change is important for the long-term conservation of species and the maintenance of regional biodiversity. Therefore, we collected field survey records from 2016 to 2020 and conducted field surveys of black-necked cranes in the Shaluli Mountains (SLLMs) in May-June and August-October 2021; 103 breeding records were acquired totally, and the geographical distribution range under the current and four future climate scenarios was modeled with the MaxEnt model to predict the impact of climate change on its distribution and habitat quality. The results showed that 152 black-necked cranes were surveyed in seven counties of SLLMs in total; the estimated number of black-necked cranes in the entire SLLMs was about 200. The currently suitable habitat area is 27,122 km2, mainly distributed in gentle meadows and wetland habitats along the lake where the Annual Mean Temperature is -1 °C and the Mean Diurnal Range (16 °C) and Precipitation Seasonality (105) are comparatively large. Furthermore, the breeding range would expand to varying degrees under future climate scenarios and showed a migration trend toward the northwest and higher elevation. Besides, as time goes by, the habitat for black-necked cranes in SLLMs would become more homogeneous and more suitable. The conservation effectiveness of the existing reserve network would keep stable with climate change, although there are large conservation gaps between protected areas, and these gaps will gradually expand over time. Overall, this study provides a preliminary understanding of the population and distribution and predicts the future distribution of black-necked cranes in the SLLMs. It also demonstrates the importance of SLLMs for protecting the central population of black-necked cranes and maintaining regional biodiversity. Therefore, we recommend long-term monitoring and conservation of the black-necked crane population and wetland resources in the region.
| S-EPMC9558536 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Variation in grassland vegetation structure influences the habitat selection of insectivorous birds. This variation presents a trade-off for insectivorous predators: Arthropod abundance increases with vegetation height and heterogeneity, but access to arthropod prey items decreases. In contrast, grazing by large herbivores reduces and homogenizes vegetation, decreasing total arthropod abundance and diversity. However, the presence of livestock dung may help counteract the overall reduction in invertebrates by increasing arthropods associated with dung. It is unclear, however, how the presence of arthropod prey in dung contributes to overall habitat selection for insectivorous birds or how dung-associated arthropods affect trade-offs between vegetation structure, arthropod abundance, and access to prey. To explore these relationships, we studied habitat selection of the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), a large omnivorous bird that breeds on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We assessed the relationships between habitat selection of cranes and vegetation structure, arthropod abundance, and the presence of yak dung. We found that Black-necked Cranes disproportionately foraged in grassland patches with short sward height, low sward height heterogeneity, and high numbers of dry yak dung, despite these habitats having lower total arthropod abundance. Although total arthropod abundance is lower, these habitats are supplemented with dry yak dung, which are associated with coleopteran larvae, making dung pats an indicator of food resources for breeding Black-necked Cranes. Coleopteran adults and larvae in yak dung appear to be an important factor influencing the habitat selection of Black-necked Cranes and should be considered when assessing grassland foraging trade-offs of insectivorous birds. This research provides new insights into the role of livestock dung in defining foraging habitats and resources for insectivorous predators.
| S-EPMC6392495 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMigratory birds exhibit heterogeneity in foraging strategies during wintering to cope with environmental and migratory pressures, and gut bacteria respond to changes in host diet. However, less is known about the dynamics of diet and gut fungi during the wintering period in black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis).ResultsIn this work, we performed amplicon sequencing of the trnL-P6 loop and ITS1 regions to characterize the dietary composition and gut fungal composition of black-necked cranes during wintering. Results indicated that during the wintering period, the plant-based diet of black-necked cranes mainly consisted of families Poaceae, Solanaceae, and Polygonaceae. Among them, the abundance of Solanaceae, Polygonaceae, Fabaceae, and Caryophyllaceae was significantly higher in the late wintering period, which also led to a more even consumption of various food types by black-necked cranes during this period. The diversity of gut fungal communities and the abundance of core fungi were more conserved during the wintering period, primarily dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. LEfSe analysis (P < 0.05, LDA > 2) found that Pyxidiophora, Pseudopeziza, Sporormiella, Geotrichum, and Papiliotrema were significantly enriched in early winter, Ramularia and Dendryphion were significantly enriched in mid-winter, Barnettozyma was significantly abundant in late winter, and Pleuroascus was significantly abundant in late winter. Finally, mantel test revealed a significant correlation between winter diet and gut fungal.ConclusionsThis study revealed the dynamic changes in the food composition and gut fungal community of black-necked cranes during wintering in Dashanbao. In the late wintering period, their response to environmental and migratory pressures was to broaden their diet, increase the intake of non-preferred foods, and promote a more balanced consumption ratio of various foods. Balanced food composition played an important role in stabilizing the structure of the gut fungal community. While gut fungal effectively enhanced the host's food utilization rate, they may also faced potential risks of introducing pathogenic fungi. Additionally, we recongnized the limitations of fecal testing in studying the composition of animal gut fungal, as it cannot effectively distinguished between fungal taxa from food or soil inadvertently ingested and intestines. Future research on functions such as cultivation and metagenomics may further elucidate the role of fungi in the gut ecosystem.
| S-EPMC11218170 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Invertebrates greatly support the growth, development, and reproduction of insectivorous birds. However, the influence of human activity (e.g., pesticide use, deforestation, and urbanization) inevitably leads to a decrease in global arthropods. The diversity and variation in invertebrate diet influence the food composition of birds, especially species living in rapidly changing environments, such as the Tibetan Plateau. However, little is known of the seasonal variation in invertebrate diet in response to environmental changes. Here, we characterized the invertebrate diet composition in pre- and post-breeding black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) using fecal metabarcoding. We identified 38 invertebrate genera; the top three were Tipula (82.1% of relative abundance), Ceramica (3.0%), and unclassified_Hymenoptera (2.5%), with Tipula predominated the diet in both seasons. We also observed 20 and 16 unique genera in the pre- and post-breeding periods, and the genera composition was distinct between seasons (R = .036, p = .024). In pre-breeding, black-necked cranes tended to consume more diverse foods, and individual cranes exhibited greater heterogeneity at the genus level. At the genera and species level, pre-breeding black-necked cranes showed a wider dietary niche than post-breeding cranes. We observed season-specific features, with Tipula (common crane fly) and Stethophyma (grasshoppers) being enriched in the post-breeding period and Ceramica (moth) being more abundant in the pre-breeding period. Three Tipula species had the greatest importance in discriminating between seasonal diets. This study demonstrated a seasonal pattern of invertebrate diet in the black-necked crane, suggesting diet composition in response to resource and species availability. These results elaborate on the foraging ecology of highland birds and can inform the management of black-necked crane conservation.
| S-EPMC11362503 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Understanding the habitat use and spatial distribution of wildlife can help conservationists determine high-priority areas and enhance conservation efforts. We studied the wintering habitat use, preference, and utilization distribution of two crane species, that is, the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis, Przevalski, 1876) and common crane (Grus grus, Linnaeus, 1758), in Huize National Natural Reserve, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, southwestern China. Line transects indicated that anthropogenic farmland habitat was highly utilized and was positively selected by both crane species (>90% of flocks observed for both species). Black-necked cranes preferred marshland in spring (February and March) but avoided grassland during the entire wintering period, whereas common cranes avoided both marshland and grassland throughout the entire period. The two cranes species had communal nightly roosting sites and separate daily foraging sites. Black-necked cranes were distributed within two km (1.89 ± 0.08 km) of the roosting site, covering an area of 283.84 ha, with the core distribution area encompassing less than 100 ha. In contrast, common cranes were distributed far from the roosting site (4.38 ± 0.11 km), covering an area of 558.73 ha, with the core distribution area encompassing 224.81 ha. Thus, interspecies competition may have influenced the habitat preference and spatial distribution divergence of these two phylogenetically related species. This study should help guide habitat management as well as functional zoning development and adjustment in the future. Based on our results, we recommend restoration of additional wetlands, retention of large areas of farmland, and protection of areas that cranes use most frequently.
| S-EPMC6054782 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Fecal microbiota is essential for host health because it increases digestive effectiveness. The crane species Grus nigricollis (G. nigricollis) is considered to be near threatened. The fecal microbial composition of crane is less understood, particularly in the Tibet, China. This study was performed to investigate the differences in fecal microbial composition and diversity of crane in different wintering areas using third-generation single-molecule real-time sequencing technology in the Tibet, China. According to the findings, 20 samples were used to generate 936 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and 1,800 fungal ASVs, only 4 bacterial ASVs and 20 fungal ASVs were shared in four distinct locations. Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phylum in all samples, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungal phylum. At the genus level, Lactobacillus was the dominant genus in Linzhi City (LZ), Shannan City (SN), and Lasa City (LS), whereas Megamonas was the dominant genus in Rikaze City (RKZ). Naganishia and Mycosphaerella were the dominant fungal genera in SN and RKZ. Mycosphaerella and Tausonia were the dominant fungal genera in LZ. Naganishia and Fusarium were the dominant fungal genera in LS. And the fecal microbial composition varied between the four groups, as shown by the underweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means and principal coordinates analysis. This study offers a theoretical basis for understanding the fecal microbial composition of crane.
| S-EPMC10840423 | biostudies-literature
