Wang Zhen-Qi, Wu Da-Wei, Hu Wei, Lu Chang-Hu
Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China.
Ecol Evol. 2025 Apr 2;15(4):e71204. doi: 10.1002/ece3.71204. eCollection 2025 Apr.
In the context of the prolonged invasion of smooth cordgrass , numerous native birds have progressively adapted to this invasive plant. Not only do certain non-specialist birds demonstrate an ability to inhabit and utilize smooth cordgrass, but a subset of specialist birds is also detected in the habitat as well. In this study, we provide evidence of the Slaty-breasted Rail (Rallidae) occurring in smooth cordgrass, which had not been previously documented. These rails exhibit a significant reliance on the invaded vegetative community during their breeding season, engaging in foraging, vocalization, and even successful reproduction within the smooth cordgrass. The observations of Slaty-breasted Rail utilizing invasive smooth cordgrass highlight the possibility that, as natural wetlands continue to decline, birds that are highly dependent on marsh ecosystems may increasingly resort to the invasive community as a critical refuge. Such a transition is poised to impact their distribution, foraging, and reproduction. With the backdrop of large-scale removal of smooth cordgrass on the China coast, the disappearance of smooth cordgrass may harm the population of these birds. Further dedicated investigations and tracking of more individuals are needed to understand the specific ecological impact on Slaty-breasted Rail.
在互花米草长期入侵的背景下，许多本地鸟类逐渐适应了这种入侵植物。不仅某些非 specialist 鸟类表现出栖息和利用互花米草的能力，而且在该栖息地还检测到了一部分 specialist 鸟类。在本研究中，我们提供了之前未记录过的白胸苦恶鸟（秧鸡科）出现在互花米草中的证据。这些秧鸡在繁殖季节对入侵的植被群落表现出显著的依赖，在互花米草中觅食、鸣叫，甚至成功繁殖。对白胸苦恶鸟利用入侵性互花米草的观察突出了这样一种可能性，即随着天然湿地持续减少，高度依赖沼泽生态系统的鸟类可能会越来越多地将入侵群落作为重要的避难所。这种转变可能会影响它们的分布、觅食和繁殖。在中国沿海大规模清除互花米草的背景下，互花米草的消失可能会损害这些鸟类的种群数量。需要进一步进行专门的调查并追踪更多个体，以了解对白胸苦恶鸟的具体生态影响。
