¡¡¡¡Abstract
¡¡¡¡Global change,particularly extreme droughts,threatens critical migratory bird habitats like Poyang Lake,a key wintering ground on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway,forcing waterbirds such as geese to increasingly utilize artificial wetlands.Using satellite tracking,ground surveys,and remote sensing,we assessed how wintering geese adjusted their habitat use during an extreme drought year compared to a normal year.Geese expanded their home ranges during drought,with the artificial wetland area composition increased from 1.90¡À1.84 km2 to 26.82¡À4.58 km2.Habitat use peaked in artificial wetlands during mid-winter,then declined in late winter as natural forage recovered.Diel patterns revealed species-specific strategies:Swan Geese(Anser cygnoides)maintained high day¨Cnight reliance on artificial wetlands,Bean Geese(A.fabalis)favored nocturnal use,and Greater White-fronted Geese(A.albifrons)showed minimal dependence,indicating greater ecological risks for the first two species.Vegetation indices confirmed a drought-driven decline and delayed regrowth in natural Carex meadows,closely matching habitat use shifts.These findings demonstrate behavioral plasticity in response to fluctuating resource availability but raise concerns that artificial wetlands,while acting as temporary refuges,may negatively affect waterbirds and lead to human-wildlife conflicts.Although we do not assess fitness consequences directly,our results highlight the potential for ecological mismatch under increasing hydrological variability.We recommend a joined-up effort by prioritizing natural wetland restoration via hydrological management and vegetation recovery,alongside strategic artificial wetlands management to mitigate human disturbances.This study provides essential guidance for adaptive wetland management and waterbird conservation in floodplain ecosystems facing climate change.
¡¡¡¡ÂÛÎÄÁ´½Ó£ºhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320725005828