He Jinjie, Wang Chang, Han Ying, Zhang Wen, Yang Yucheng, Guo Li, Li Fengli
School of Civil Engineering, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan, 114051, China.
The Forestry and Wetland Protection Service Centre of Panjin, Panjin Forestry and Wetland Bureau, Panjin, 124000, China.
J Environ Manage. 2025 Feb;374:124165. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124165. Epub 2025 Jan 18.
The Liaohe River Estuary (LRE) wetland is a critical stopover on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), vital to coastal ecological balance and biodiversity. However, the drivers of changes in waterbird diversity remain unclear. This study utilised random forests to produce reliable time-series wetland mapping from 2010 to 2023. Spatial and temporal changes in wetlands and landscape structures were analysed using landscape pattern indices-the Alpha and Beta diversity analyses were based on monitoring records that assessed waterbird diversity and community structure. The response of waterbirds to wetland, landscape, and climate changes was quantified using a Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM). Between 2010 and 2023, 78 species of waterbirds from 8 orders and 14 families were recorded. In 2023, waterbird counts reached 1,014,908, marking an increase of 868,102 compared to 2010. Over 14 years, waterbird diversity consistently increased, with community structure becoming more stable. Positive responses to climatic factors, such as seasonal precipitation and mean temperatures (both year and seasonal), were observed, while extreme weather inhibited recovery, like heavy precipitation and strong winds. Changes in Suaeda salsa (Sua) and forested areas significantly impacted waterbird diversity compared to other land cover types. These findings highlight the strong influence of climate, wetland, and landscape changes on waterbird diversity and community structure. Managers are encouraged to prioritise monitoring temperature, precipitation, Sua, and forested landscapes while enhancing artificial wetland management to support waterbird diversity and ecological balance in the LRE.
辽河河口（LRE）湿地是东亚-澳大利西亚候鸟迁徙路线（EAAF）上的一个关键中途停留地，对沿海生态平衡和生物多样性至关重要。然而，水鸟多样性变化的驱动因素仍不明确。本研究利用随机森林方法生成了2010年至2023年可靠的湿地时间序列地图。使用景观格局指数分析了湿地和景观结构的时空变化，基于评估水鸟多样性和群落结构的监测记录进行了α和β多样性分析。使用广义线性混合效应模型（GLMM）量化了水鸟对湿地、景观和气候变化的响应。2010年至2023年期间，记录了来自8目14科的78种水鸟。2023年，水鸟数量达到1014908只，比2010年增加了868102只。在14年的时间里，水鸟多样性持续增加，群落结构变得更加稳定。观察到水鸟对季节性降水和平均温度（年度和季节）等气候因素有积极响应，而极端天气如暴雨和强风则抑制了水鸟数量的恢复。与其他土地覆盖类型相比，碱蓬（Sua）和森林面积的变化对水鸟多样性有显著影响。这些发现突出了气候、湿地和景观变化对水鸟多样性和群落结构的强烈影响。鼓励管理人员优先监测温度、降水、碱蓬和森林景观，同时加强人工湿地管理，以支持辽河河口的水鸟多样性和生态平衡。
