Protected area networks are insufficient for the conservation of threatened farmland species: A case study on corncrake (Crex crex) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) in Serbia
To conserve threatened farmland species requires an estimate of the representation of their habitats within protected areas, especially in countries with inadequate mechanisms for protecting and managing habitats outside of protected areas. We conducted a gap analysis to evaluate the con...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Archives of Biological Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2019/0354-46641800053R.pdf |
| Summary: | To conserve threatened farmland species requires an estimate of the
representation of their habitats within protected areas, especially in
countries with inadequate mechanisms for protecting and managing habitats
outside of protected areas. We conducted a gap analysis to evaluate the
conservation status of suitable habitats for two threatened farmland bird
species - corncrake (Crex crex) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) -
within the networks of national protected areas (NPAs) and important bird
areas (IBAs) in Serbia. We determined the distribution of suitable habitats
using MaxEnt based on climate, topography and land-cover variables. We found
that the proportion of suitable habitats within the NPAs is very low (12.31%
and 2.04% for the corncrake and lesser grey shrike, respectively), although
it is significantly higher for both species within IBAs (25.86% and 9.91%,
respectively). Upland farmland habitats (preferred by corncrake) are better
represented within both networks (especially IBAs) than lowland habitats
(preferred by lesser grey shrike). Our spatially explicit distribution models
identify suitable habitats within and beyond the NPAs and IBAs that require
monitoring and appropriate conservation measures. The low representation of
suitable habitats within these networks is an obstacle to the conservation of
both species and other farmland birds in Serbia. [Project of the Serbian
Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. OI
173002: Conservation strategy for protected and strictly protected hoverflies
(Insecta: Diptera: Syrphidae) species in Serbia - Case study] |
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| ISSN: | 0354-4664 1821-4339 |