Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Terrestrial Vertebrates Group, University of Valencia, Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
PLoS One. 2011 Mar 2;6(3):e17196. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017196.
Man-induced mortality of birds caused by electrocution with poorly-designed pylons and power lines has been reported to be an important mortality factor that could become a major cause of population decline of one of the world rarest raptors, the Spanish imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti). Consequently it has resulted in an increasing awareness of this problem amongst land managers and the public at large, as well as increased research into the distribution of electrocution events and likely mitigation measures.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We provide information of how mitigation measures implemented on a regional level under the conservation program of the Spanish imperial eagle have resulted in a positive shift of demographic trends in Spain. A 35 years temporal data set (1974-2009) on mortality of Spanish imperial eagle was recorded, including population censuses, and data on electrocution and non-electrocution of birds. Additional information was obtained from 32 radio-tracked young eagles and specific field surveys. Data were divided into two periods, before and after the approval of a regional regulation of power line design in 1990 which established mandatory rules aimed at minimizing or eliminating the negative impacts of power lines facilities on avian populations. Our results show how population size and the average annual percentage of population change have increased between the two periods, whereas the number of electricuted birds has been reduced in spite of the continuous growing of the wiring network.
Our results demonstrate that solving bird electrocution is an affordable problem if political interest is shown and financial investment is made. The combination of an adequate spatial planning with a sustainable development of human infrastructures will contribute positively to the conservation of the Spanish imperial eagle and may underpin population growth and range expansion, with positive side effects on other endangered species.
因设计不良的塔架和电线而导致鸟类触电死亡已被报道为一种重要的致死因素，可能成为世界上最稀有的猛禽之一——西班牙兀鹰（Aquila adalberti）数量减少的主要原因。因此，这一问题引起了土地管理者和广大公众的日益关注，并促使人们对触电事件的分布和可能的缓解措施进行了更多的研究。
方法/主要发现：我们提供了有关信息，说明在西班牙兀鹰保护计划下，在区域层面实施的缓解措施如何导致西班牙的人口趋势发生积极转变。我们记录了 1974 年至 2009 年期间西班牙兀鹰死亡率的 35 年时间数据集，包括人口普查数据以及鸟类触电和非触电数据。还从 32 只受过无线电追踪的幼鹰和特定的实地调查中获得了额外信息。数据分为两个时期，一个是 1990 年批准区域电力线路设计法规之前，另一个是之后，该法规确立了旨在最大限度减少或消除电力线路设施对鸟类种群负面影响的强制性规定。我们的研究结果表明，在两个时期之间，人口规模和人口平均年变化率有所增加，而尽管电线网络不断增加，触电鸟类的数量却有所减少。
我们的研究结果表明，如果表现出政治意愿并进行财务投资，解决鸟类触电问题是一个负担得起的问题。通过适当的空间规划和人类基础设施的可持续发展相结合，将有助于西班牙兀鹰的保护，并可能支持其种群增长和范围扩大，对其他濒危物种产生积极的影响。
