Conservation
Safeguarding Endangered Waterbirds & Shorebirds
We are currently experiencing the 6th mass extinction, and our lab not only investigates avian reproductive strategies but also takes various actions to preserve birds and their habitats. Our work emphasizes the global significance of comprehending and conserving waterbirds and shorebirds, particularly amidst anthropogenic and environmental challenges.
We have documented the vulnerability of waterbirds to Anthropocene impacts, revealing declines in species abundance, potential poleward shifts due to climate change, and the essential role of effective governance in conservation efforts. Additionally, we globally monitor shorebird populations, addressing challenges in obtaining comprehensive data and highlighting research efforts to bridge knowledge gaps, including the impact of climate change and introduced predators. We also generate basic life-history information to accurately assess the conservation status of species, focusing on various plover species worldwide and ongoing efforts with endangered shorebird populations.
(A and B) Historic rates of nest predation in shorebirds (1944–1999). (C and D) Recent rates of nest predation (2000–2016). (E and F) Changes between historic and recent nest predation rates. Taken from Kubelka et al. 2018.
Finally, we are actively participating in a practical conservation initiative, the European Union LIFE20 project LIFEforBUGS&BIRDS, with the aim of improving the conservation status of salt steppes, marshes, and grasslands in the Pannonian region. The project employs a balanced mix of conservation management strategies, encompassing traditional practices and innovative approaches such as insect-friendly grazing, habitat enhancements, and control of invasive species.
Collectively, our team believes in the multidimensional nature of avian conservation efforts and is always open to international cooperation for the development of innovative strategies to address the challenges faced by waterbirds and shorebirds worldwide.
"It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth." – Sir David Attenborough
Key Conceptual Publications
Amano, T., Székely, T., Wauchope, H. S., Sandel, B., Nagy, S., Mundkur, T., Langendoen, T., Blanco, D., Michel, N., & Sutherland, W. J. (2020). Responses of global waterbird populations to climate change vary with latitude. Nature Climate Change, 10(10), 959-964. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0872-3 📄
Amano, T., Székely, T., Sandel, B., Nagy, S., Mundkur, T., Langendoen, T., Blanco, D., Soykan, C. U., & Sutherland, W. J. (2018). Successful conservation of global waterbird populations depends on effective governance. Nature, 553(7687), 199-202. DOI: 10.1038/nature25139 📄
Kubelka, V., Šálek, M., Tomkovich, P., Végvári, Z., Freckleton, R. P., & Székely, T. (2018). Global pattern of nest predation is disrupted by climate change in shorebirds. Science, 362(6415), 680-683. DOI: 10.1126/science.aat8695 📄
Lopes, K., Passos, L., Rodrigues, J. G., Koenen, F., Stiebens, V., Székely, T., & Dutra, A. (2016). Sea turtle, shark, and dolphin bycatch rates by artisanal and semi-industrial fishers in Maio Island, Cape Verde. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 15(2), 279-288. DOI: 10.2744/CB-1213.1 📄
Rabenandrasana, M., Zefania, S., Long, P., Virginie, M. C., Randrianarisoa, M., Safford, R. & Székely, T. (2009). Distribution, habitat and status of ‘Endangered’Sakalava Rail of Madagascar. Bird Conservation International, 19(1), 23-32. DOI: 10.1017/S0959270908008058 📄
View publications listed of the following projects below. The publications listed are five key recent publications produced in Tamás Szekely's Lab of each topic. PDFs for all publications are available. Current and former lab member are highlighted in bold.
Understanding global extinction patterns is vital for shaping international conservation efforts. Waterbirds, being particularly susceptible to Anthropocene impacts with main threats like wetland reclamation, agriculture, pollution, and land development, serve as an ideal group for studying human-induced demographic consequences. Our commitment to waterbird biodiversity and conservation involves employing extensive comparative analyses to identify both extrinsic and intrinsic factors contributing to their population decline.
We revealed a distinct pattern in species abundance trends, indicating a steeper decline at lower latitudes, particularly in the tropics, compared to higher latitudes. These contrasting responses suggest potential global-scale poleward shifts in species abundance due to climate change. However, this shift comes with challenges, as climate change adversely affects ecological conditions in northern latitudes, impacting food resource availability, pathogen and parasite prevalence, and increasing predation rates. Formerly considered safe ecosystems for shorebirds are transforming into inhospitable environments. Addressing this, our team emphasizes the pivotal role of effective governance in implementing successful conservation practices. Notably, Eastern Africa and Eastern China, identified as regions with the highest diversity of threatened waterbirds, demand urgent conservation efforts to mitigate substantial population declines.
Key Recent Publications
Kubelka, V., Sandercock, B. K., Székely, T., & Freckleton, R. P. (2021). Animal migration to northern latitudes: environmental changes and increasing threats. Trends in ecology & evolution, 37(1), 30-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.010 📄
Williamson, L., Hudson, M., O’Connell, M., Davidson, N., Young, R., Amano, T., & Székely, T. (2013). Areas of high diversity for the world’s inland-breeding waterbirds. Biodiversity and conservation, 22, 1501-1512. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-013-0488-2 📄
Amano, T., Székely, T., Wauchope, H. S., Sandel, B., Nagy, S., Mundkur, T., Langendoen, T., Blanco, D., Michel, N., & Sutherland, W. J. (2020). Responses of global waterbird populations to climate change vary with latitude. Nature Climate Change, 10(10), 959-964. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0872-3 📄
Long, P. R., Székely, T., Kershaw, M., & O'Connell, M. (2007). Ecological factors and human threats both drive wildfowl population declines. Animal conservation, 10(2), 183-191. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00087.x 📄
Thomas, G. H., Lanctot, R. B., & Székely, T. (2006). Can intrinsic factors explain population declines in North American breeding shorebirds? A comparative analysis. Animal Conservation, 9(3), 252-258. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2006.00029.x 📄
Monitoring shorebird populations is crucial for tracking changes that signal broader environmental issues, such as habitat degradation, and for making informed decisions to protect the overall biodiversity of coastal areas. Understanding the complex factors influencing shorebird populations, including the impact of climate change, habitat loss, and changing migration patterns, necessitates having clear goals. Hence, we are part of a global team of shorebird researchers focused on addressing natural, current anthropogenic, and future issues (see ÉLVONAL Shorebird Project).
One challenge lies in obtaining comprehensive and accurate data, particularly in remote or challenging-to-access habitats. As a response, our team is currently monitoring shorebird populations in remote areas, including Madagascar, Cape Verde, South Africa, Iceland, and Belarus.
Enhancing monitoring techniques and expanding research efforts can bridge these knowledge gaps, enabling more effective conservation strategies for shorebird populations and their habitats. For instance, we have developed composite indices to monitor changes in migrating wader communities in the East Asian-Australasian flyway. Additionally, we closely monitored the demographic rate of the Great Bustard after its reintroduction in the UK and Hungary, identifying a rapid decline. Furthermore, our research has tracked the impact of introduced predators on globally threatened shorebirds, as seen in the case of the St Helena Plover.
Key Recent Publications
Rice, R., Hejmadi, M., Silva, H., Kelsh, R. N., Agues, J., Engel, N., & Székely, T. (2023). Environmental education in the classroom: pilot study in Cabo Verde suggests differing impacts on students' local knowledge and environmental attitudes. Oryx, 1-8. DOI: 10.1017/S0030605323000303 📄
Liu, J., Chai, Z., Wang, H., Ivanov, A., Kubelka, V., Freckleton, R., Zhang, Z., & Székely, T. (2023). Egg characteristics vary longitudinally in Arctic shorebirds. Iscience, 26(6). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106928 📄
Sutherland, W. J., Alves, J. A., Amano, T., Chang, C. H., Davidson, N. C., Max Finlayson, C., Gill, J. A., Gill Jr, R. E., González, P. M., Gunnarsson, T. G., Kleijn, D., Spray, C. J., Székely, T. & Thompson, D. B. (2012). A horizon scanning assessment of current and potential future threats to migratory shorebirds. Ibis, 154(4), 663-679. DOI: 10.1111/j.1474-919X.2012.01261.x 📄
Amano, T., Székely, T., Koyama, K., Amano, H., & Sutherland, W. J. (2010). A framework for monitoring the status of populations: an example from wader populations in the East Asian–Australasian flyway. Biological conservation, 143(9), 2238-2247. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2010.06.010 📄
Zefania, S., Ffrench-Constant, R., Long, P. R., & Székely, T. (2008). Breeding distribution and ecology of the threatened Madagascar plover Charadrius thoracicus. Ostrich, 79(1), 43-51. DOI: 10.2989/OSTRICH.2008.79.1.5.362 📄
To accurately assess the conservation status of a species, obtaining basic life-history information is essential. Throughout our lab's history, we have dedicated our conservation efforts to uncovering the fundamental breeding biology of various plover species worldwide. For example, in Madagascar, we conducted studies on the Sakalava rail, the Madagascar Jacana, and the Madagascar Buttonquail. In Saudi Arabia, we documented the breeding distribution of the Crab Plover. Additionally, we utilized molecular ecology techniques to enhance our understanding of the White-Faced Plover in China and the Snowy Plover in Mexico.
Currently, we are actively engaged with three endangered shorebird populations: the Cream-colored Courser in Cabo Verde (1), the Black-banded Plover in Madagascar (2), and the Collared Pratincole in Hungary (3). In these species, our focus extends beyond population monitoring; we are also committed to implementing practical solutions to preserve their demographic health.
(1)
Key Recent Publications
(2)
(3)
Kiss, Á., Végvári, Z., Kubelka, V., Monoki, Á., Kapocsi, I., Gőri, S., & Székely, T. (2023). Breeding in an agricultural landscape: conservation actions increase nest survival in a ground-nesting bird. bioRxiv, 2022-10. DOI: 10.1101/2022.10.22.513330 📄
Rice, R., Valdebenito, J. O., Ottensmann, M., Engel, N., Adrião, A., & Székely, T. (2020). Breeding ecology of the Cream-coloured Courser in Cape Verde. Ostrich, 91(1), 65-73. DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2019.1704900 📄
Cruz-López, M., Eberhart-Phillips, L. J., Fernández, G., Beamonte-Barrientos, R., Székely, T., Serrano-Meneses, M. A., & Küpper, C. (2017). The plight of a plover: viability of an important snowy plover population with flexible brood care in Mexico. Biological Conservation, 209, 440-448. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.03.009 📄
Burns, F., McCulloch, N., Dos Remedios, N., Bolton, M., & Székely, T. (2013). Sex differences in incubation behaviour but not mortality risk in a threatened shorebird. Ibis, 155(4), 877-880. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12071 📄
Long, P. R., Zefania, S., Ffrench‐Constant, R. H., & Székely, T. (2008). Estimating the population size of an endangered shorebird, the Madagascar plover, using a habitat suitability model. Animal Conservation, 11(2), 118-127. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2008.00157.x 📄
We are participating in a European Union LIFE20 project named LIFEforBUGS&BIRD (click on the logo to see more). Its primary objective is to enhance the conservation status of Pannonic salt steppes, marshes, and steppic grasslands in the Pannonian region. The achievement of these goals is envisaged through the implementation of a well-balanced mix of conservation management strategies, encompassing best practices for traditional management and innovative approaches that elevate the project's added value on a European scale.
The conservation interventions include (among others):
Re-establishing low-intensity and insect-friendly sheep grazing.
Implementing mowing, prescribed burning, and cattle grazing to extend insect-friendly sheep grazing throughout the entire leased core area.
Collaborating with local farmers to further expand insect-friendly sheep and cattle grazing.
Enhancing habitat diversity for arthropods through the introduction of insect hotels.
Improving grassland quality and eliminating habitats of unwanted game species by controlling invasive alien shrubs.
Key Publications on further conservation implementations
Lopes, K., Passos, L., Rodrigues, J. G., Koenen, F., Stiebens, V., Székely, T., & Dutra, A. (2016). Sea turtle, shark, and dolphin bycatch rates by artisanal and semi-industrial fishers in Maio Island, Cape Verde. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 15(2), 279-288. DOI: 10.2744/CB-1213.1 📄
Gooch, S., Ashbrook, K., Taylor, A., & Székely, T. (2015). Using dietary analysis and habitat selection to inform conservation management of reintroduced Great Bustards Otis tarda in an agricultural landscape. Bird Study, 62(3), 289-302. DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1050993 📄
Burnside, R. J., Végvári, Z., James, R., Konyhas, S., Kovács, G., & Székely, T. (2014). Human disturbance and conspecifics influence display site selection by Great Bustards Otis tarda. Bird Conservation International, 24(1), 32-44. DOI: 10.1017/S0959270913000142 📄
Burns, F., McCulloch, N., Székely, T., & Bolton, M. (2013). No overall benefit of predator exclosure cages for the endangered St. Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae. Ibis, 155(2), 397-401. DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12021 📄
St Clair, J. J., Poncet, S., Sheehan, D. K., Székely, T., & Hilton, G. M. (2011). Responses of an island endemic invertebrate to rodent invasion and eradication. Animal Conservation, 14(1), 66-73. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2010.00391.x 📄