Poole Harbour
Poole Harbour
Case Study A
Bird species included in model
Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Environmental issues simulated
Unspecified drivers affecting loss of terrestrial habitats and food supply, plus sea-level rise and extreme weather, changing habitat area and availability time, food quality and energy requirements
Recommendations from modelling
Terrestrial habitat loss and sea-level rise can reduce shorebird survival, but effects vary between species.
More information
Stillman, R.A., West, A.D., dit Durell, S.E.A.V., Caldow, W.R.G., McGrorty, S., Yates, M.G., Garbutt, R.A., Yates, T.J., Rispin, W.E. and Frost, N.J., 2005. Estuary Special Protection Areas – Establishing baseline targets for shorebirds, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Dorchester, Dorset.
Durell, S.E.A.L.V.d., Stillman, R.A., Caldow, R.W.G., McGrorty, S., West, A.D. and Humphreys, J., 2006. Modelling the effect of environmental change on shorebirds: A case study on Poole Harbour, UK. Biological Conservation, 131(3): 459-473.
Funding
English Nature
Case Study B
Bird species included in model
Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Environmental issues simulated
Invasive species changing food density / quality
Recommendations from modelling
Presence of non-native shellfish, by providing additional food, can increase Oystercatcher survival.
More information
Caldow, R.W.G., Stillman, R.A., dit Durell, S., West, A.D., McGrorty, S., Goss-Custard, J.D., Wood, P.J. and Humphreys, J., 2007. Benefits to shorebirds from invasion of a non-native shellfish. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 274(1616): 1449-1455.
Funding
English Nature
Case Study C
Bird species included in model
Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
Environmental issues simulated
Sea-level rise and shoreline change, plus sensitivity tests changing habitat area and availability time and food quality
Recommendations from modelling
Sea-level rise can reduce avocet survival, but mitigation by creation of non-tidal lagoon can offset this.
More information
Ross, K.E., 2013. Investigating the physical and ecological drivers of change in a coastal ecosystem: From individual-to population-scale impacts. PhD thesis, Bournemouth University.
Funding
Bournemouth University and HR Wallingford
Case Study D
Bird species included in model
Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Environmental issues simulated
Unspecified driver, sea-level rise and regime shifts changing habitat area, habitat availability time and food quality
Recommendations from modelling
Habitat loss, sea-level rise and changes in invertebrate communities (especially loss of larger prey) can reduce shorebird survival, but effects vary between species.
More information
Bowgen, K.M., Stillman, R.A. and Herbert, R.J.H., 2015. Predicting the effect of invertebrate regime shifts on wading birds: Insights from Poole Harbour, UK. Biological Conservation, 186: 60-68.
Bowgen, K.M., 2016. Predicting the effect of environmental change on wading birds: insights from individual-based models. PhD thesis, Bournemouth University in collaboration with HR Wallingford.
Funding
Bournemouth University and HR Wallingford
Case Study E
Bird species included in model
Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
Environmental issues simulated
Shellfishery management changing food density / quality
Recommendations from modelling
Increased shellfishing intensity does not reduce Oystercatcher survival rate.
More information
Clarke, L.J., 2018. Ecosystem impacts of intertidal invertebrate harvesting: from benthic habitats to bird predators. PhD thesis, Bournemouth University.
Funding
Bournemouth University, Natural England and Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (SIFCA)
Case Study F
Bird species included in model
Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Environmental issues simulated
Human activity, sea-level rise and prey availability, changing habitat area and availability time and food quality
Recommendations from modelling
Increased disturbance from human activities only reduces shorebird survival if associated with decline in site quality.
More information
Collop, C., 2016. Impact of human disturbance on coastal birds: Population consequences derived from behavioural responses. PhD thesis, Bournemouth University.
Funding
British Association for Shooting and Conservation and Bournemouth University
