Baie de Seine

Baie de Seine

by | Oct 1, 2019

Baie de Seine

Bird species included in model

Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Port development. Mitigation for habitat area and habitat availability time.

Recommendations from modelling

Port development can reduce shorebird survival, but mitigatation by reducing disturbance and habitat creation can offset this. 

More information

dit Durell, S.E.A.L.V., Stillman, R.A., Triplet, P., Aulert, C., dit Biot, D.O., Bouchet, A., Duhamel, S., Mayot, S. and Goss-Custard, J.D., 2005. Modelling the efficacy of proposed mitigation areas for shorebirds: a case study on the Seine estuary, France. Biological Conservation, 123(1): 67-77.

Funding

 Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Baie de Somme

Baie de Somme

by | Sep 30, 2019

Baie de Somme

Case Study A

Bird species included in model

Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Shellfishery management changing habitat area

Recommendations from modelling

Shellfishery management needs to reserve up to 8 times more shellfish biomass than consumed by Oystercatcher populations.

More information

Goss-Custard, J.D., Stillman, R.A., West, A.D., Caldow, R.W.G., Triplet, P., le V dit Durell, S.E.A. and McGrorty, S., 2004. When enough is not enough: shorebirds and shellfishing. Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B. Biological sciences, 271(1536): 233-237.

Funding

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Case Study B

Bird species included in model

Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Extreme cold weather increasing energy requirements, plus a recreation, shellfishery and unspecified drivers causing disturbance

Recommendations from modelling

Disturbance from human activities more likely to reduce shorebird survival when feeding conditions or weather poor.

More information

Goss-Custard, J.D., Triplet, P., Sueur, F. and West, A.D., 2006. Critical thresholds of disturbance by people and raptors in foraging wading birds. Biological Conservation, 127(1): 88-97.

Funding

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Case Study C

Bird species included in model

Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Hunting, cockle fishing, human recreation, Spartina encroachment, changing sediment levels

Recommendations from modelling

Intertidal hunting, shellfishing of large prey, and many short-term (rather than fewer long-term) disturbances had greatest negative effects on shorebird survival.

More information

Durell, S. E. A. le V. dit, Stillman, R. A., Triplet, P., Desprez, M., Fagot, C., Loquet, N., Sueur, F. & Goss-Custard, J. D. (2008) Using an individual-based model to inform estuary management in the Baie de Somme, France. Oryx, 42, 265-277.

Funding

European Commission. Project number: EVK2-2000-00612

Bridgwater Bay

Bridgwater Bay

by | Sep 27, 2019

Bridgwater Bay

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), Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Red knot (Calidris canutus), Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Environmental issues simulated

Nuclear power station developing a warm-water outflow affecting food availability

Recommendations from modelling

Warm-water outflow from nunclear power station, by reducing prey abundance, could reduce survival of Red Knot, but other birds were not predicted to be affected.

More information

Garcia, C., Stillman, R. A., Forster, R. & Bremner, J. (2011) Investigations of the links between intertidal macrofauna and their avian predators in Bridgwater Bay with an Individual-Based Model. Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science Report TR161, pp 65.

Funding

EDF, NNB, Genco

Colne Estuary

Colne Estuary

by | Sep 22, 2019

Colne Estuary

Bird species included in model

Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), Common redshank (Tringa totanus), Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Environmental issues simulated

Pacific oyster reef development and removal, changing habitat area and food density / quality

Recommendations from modelling

Pacific oyster reefs can provide important feeding habitat for shorebirds, especially in sites with lower food availablity in other habitats.

More information

Herbert, R.J.H., Davies, C.J., Bowgen, K.M., Hatton, J. and Stillman, R.A., 2018. The importance of nonnative Pacific oyster reefs as supplementary feeding areas for coastal birds on estuary mudflats. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 28(6): 1294-1307.

Funding

Natural England 

Dungarvan Harbour

Dungarvan Harbour

by | Sep 18, 2019

Dungarvan Harbour

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), Red knot (Calidris canutus), Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula), Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Environmental issues simulated

Effects on birds of habitat loss and disturbance due to oyster cultivation.

Recomendations from modelling

Current extent of oyster cultivation not predicted to be affecting survival of priority bird species. Increases in extent of oyster cultivation likely to push system closer to the point at which a predicted effect on the birds would occur.

More information

Stillman, R. A., Biermann, L. K. & Morris, S. E. (2023) Intertidal oyster cultivation and shorebirds in Dungarvan Harbour: predictions from an individual-based model. BU Global Environmental Solutions report BUG2889 to WS Atkins Ireland Limited. 74 pp.

Funding

WS Atkins Ireland Limited