Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>)
The development of human society often interferes with wild animals and their natural habitats. Interference during resource exploitation is mostly negative; however, in some cases, it can be positive and even have significance for some species. In this study, we investigated the number of blue-tail...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/6/1112 |
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| author | Canchao Yang Gang Lu Ting Cai Xiaogang Yao Yan Cai |
| author_facet | Canchao Yang Gang Lu Ting Cai Xiaogang Yao Yan Cai |
| author_sort | Canchao Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of human society often interferes with wild animals and their natural habitats. Interference during resource exploitation is mostly negative; however, in some cases, it can be positive and even have significance for some species. In this study, we investigated the number of blue-tailed bee-eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>), a species under ‘state protection category II’ in China, between controlled and manipulated nesting habitats from 2017 to 2022. Our results indicated that commercial sand-digging activities, either illegal or approved, initially created suitable nesting habitats to attract blue-tailed bee-eaters but subsequently led to damage of nests or nesting habitats. However, sand digging can be modified by avoiding the breeding season to provide safe and suitable nesting habitats for bee-eaters. The number of breeding birds more than tripled when digging during the breeding season was avoided. We also found that conventional conservation strategies, which strictly prohibited sand-digging activities, did not contribute to the nesting habitats of bee-eaters. This study enriches the theories of conservation biology and emphasizes the importance of dialectical thinking regarding exploitative and seemingly destructive activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:01:20Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:01:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-42021d3d9cc042ea9d9ff8772847d9df2023-11-17T09:12:33ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-03-01136111210.3390/ani13061112Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>)Canchao Yang0Gang Lu1Ting Cai2Xiaogang Yao3Yan Cai4Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, ChinaHaikou Duotan Wetland Institute, Haikou 570100, ChinaHaikou Duotan Wetland Institute, Haikou 570100, ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, ChinaThe development of human society often interferes with wild animals and their natural habitats. Interference during resource exploitation is mostly negative; however, in some cases, it can be positive and even have significance for some species. In this study, we investigated the number of blue-tailed bee-eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>), a species under ‘state protection category II’ in China, between controlled and manipulated nesting habitats from 2017 to 2022. Our results indicated that commercial sand-digging activities, either illegal or approved, initially created suitable nesting habitats to attract blue-tailed bee-eaters but subsequently led to damage of nests or nesting habitats. However, sand digging can be modified by avoiding the breeding season to provide safe and suitable nesting habitats for bee-eaters. The number of breeding birds more than tripled when digging during the breeding season was avoided. We also found that conventional conservation strategies, which strictly prohibited sand-digging activities, did not contribute to the nesting habitats of bee-eaters. This study enriches the theories of conservation biology and emphasizes the importance of dialectical thinking regarding exploitative and seemingly destructive activities.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/6/1112avian reproductionhuman disturbance<i>Merops philippinus</i>negative interferencepositive interference |
| spellingShingle | Canchao Yang Gang Lu Ting Cai Xiaogang Yao Yan Cai Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>) Animals avian reproduction human disturbance <i>Merops philippinus</i> negative interference positive interference |
| title | Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>) |
| title_full | Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>) |
| title_short | Illegal and Exploitative Sand-Digging Activities Could Be Managed to Create Suitable Nesting Habitats for Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters (<i>Merops philippinus</i>) |
| title_sort | illegal and exploitative sand digging activities could be managed to create suitable nesting habitats for blue tailed bee eaters i merops philippinus i |
| topic | avian reproduction human disturbance <i>Merops philippinus</i> negative interference positive interference |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/6/1112 |
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