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Avian Research 2015, 6(1): 16 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-015-0026-x
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Effect of water level fluctuations on temporal-spatial patterns of foraging activities by the wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)

Show Author's Information Dongmei Zhang1,2,3,  Lizhi Zhou1,2,3( ),  Yunwei Song1,2,3,4
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei 230601, China
Institute of Biodiversity and Wetland Ecology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei 230601, China
Anhui Biodiversity Information Center, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei 230601, China
Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve of Anhui Province, Chizhou 247200, China
Keywords:
Hooded Crane, Water level fluctuations, Foraging activity, Temporal-spatial pattern, Grus monacha
Cite this article:
Zhang D, Zhou L, Song Y. Effect of water level fluctuations on temporal-spatial patterns of foraging activities by the wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha). Avian Research, 2015, 6(1): 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-015-0026-x
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

The Yangtze River floodplain provides important wintering habitats for Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) in China. Fluctuations in the water level change foraging habitat and food availability, affecting their temporal-spatial patterns of foraging activities. It is of considerable importance to investigate the effect of these fluctuations on food availability for wintering Hooded Cranes and their foraging response to these changes. Understanding their behavior patterns is beneficial in protecting the wintering crane population and restoring their wintering habitats.

Methods

A field survey of the winter behavior of cranes was carried out at Shengjin Lake from November in 2013 to April in 2014. Habitat variables, as well as the spatial distribution and behavior patterns of wintering cranes at their foraging sites during five stages of water level fluctuation were collected. Based on this data we analyzed the relationship of foraging behavior relative to water level fluctuations and habitat types.

Results

The foraging habitats used by Hooded Cranes varied at the different water level stages. As the water level decreased, the use of meadows and mudflats increased. When the water dropped to its lowest level, the use by the Hooded Crane in the mudflats reached a peak. There were statistically significant differences in time budget in the three types of habitats over the five stages of the water level. In the mudflats, the foraging behavior and maintenance behavior varied significantly with the water level, while the alert behavior showed little variation. Analysis of a generalized linear model showed that the five water level stages and three habitat types had a significant effect on foraging behavior, while the combined effect of these two variables was significant on the foraging time budget and the length of foraging activity of the Hooded Crane.

Conclusions

With the decrease in the water level, the use of mudflats by Hooded Cranes increased correspondingly. Food availability in different habitats was affected by changes in the water level. The Hooded Crane adjusted its foraging patterns and made full use of the three available types of habitat in order to acquire enough food in response to fluctuations in the water level.


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About this article

Effect of water level fluctuations on temporal-spatial patterns of foraging activities by the wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha)

Show Author's information Dongmei Zhang1,2,3, Lizhi Zhou1,2,3( ), Yunwei Song1,2,3,4
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei 230601, China
Institute of Biodiversity and Wetland Ecology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei 230601, China
Anhui Biodiversity Information Center, 111 Jiulong Road, Hefei 230601, China
Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve of Anhui Province, Chizhou 247200, China

Abstract

Background

The Yangtze River floodplain provides important wintering habitats for Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) in China. Fluctuations in the water level change foraging habitat and food availability, affecting their temporal-spatial patterns of foraging activities. It is of considerable importance to investigate the effect of these fluctuations on food availability for wintering Hooded Cranes and their foraging response to these changes. Understanding their behavior patterns is beneficial in protecting the wintering crane population and restoring their wintering habitats.

Methods

A field survey of the winter behavior of cranes was carried out at Shengjin Lake from November in 2013 to April in 2014. Habitat variables, as well as the spatial distribution and behavior patterns of wintering cranes at their foraging sites during five stages of water level fluctuation were collected. Based on this data we analyzed the relationship of foraging behavior relative to water level fluctuations and habitat types.

Results

The foraging habitats used by Hooded Cranes varied at the different water level stages. As the water level decreased, the use of meadows and mudflats increased. When the water dropped to its lowest level, the use by the Hooded Crane in the mudflats reached a peak. There were statistically significant differences in time budget in the three types of habitats over the five stages of the water level. In the mudflats, the foraging behavior and maintenance behavior varied significantly with the water level, while the alert behavior showed little variation. Analysis of a generalized linear model showed that the five water level stages and three habitat types had a significant effect on foraging behavior, while the combined effect of these two variables was significant on the foraging time budget and the length of foraging activity of the Hooded Crane.

Conclusions

With the decrease in the water level, the use of mudflats by Hooded Cranes increased correspondingly. Food availability in different habitats was affected by changes in the water level. The Hooded Crane adjusted its foraging patterns and made full use of the three available types of habitat in order to acquire enough food in response to fluctuations in the water level.

Keywords: Hooded Crane, Water level fluctuations, Foraging activity, Temporal-spatial pattern, Grus monacha

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements
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Publication history

Received: 15 February 2015
Accepted: 22 July 2015
Published: 05 August 2015
Issue date: January 2015

Copyright

© 2015 Zhang et al.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 31172117, 31472020) and the Graduate Student Innovation Research Projects of Anhui University (YQH100269). We express appreciation to Dr. Chunlin Li for his helpful comments and suggestions on our study and the staff of the Shengjin Lake National N. R. for their helps in the field work.

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