This study encoded the complete mitochondrial genomic sequence of the little ringed plover Charadrius dubius. The mitochondrial genome has a total length of 16,864 bp, consisting of 13 protein-coding ...genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a control region. The nucleotide composition was 23.8% T, 31.6% A, 30.8% C, and 13.8% G. This study provides the basic information on the mitogenome of C. dubius and supports the understanding of mitogenomic information and its phylogenetic relationship within Charadriiformes.
Abstract In 2006–2017, annual censuses of breeding bird species regarded as indicators of natural rivers were carried out on the 38.9 km long lowland stretch of the Drava riverbed between Maribor and ...Zavrč with altered flow regime due to the operating hydropower plants. Gravel bar habitats were surveyed in four years of the study period by combining orthophoto analysis and analysis of field photographs. Effects of gravel bar management were evaluated based at 20 locations. The Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius occurred on 39.8% of the gravel bars, but most were occupied only in a few years and held just one breeding pair. Low numbers between 2009 and 2012 (< 30 pairs) were followed by a steep population increase from 2014 onwards to a maximum of 66–73 pairs (1.7–1.9 p/km). Such population dynamics was attributed to the lack of large discharges (>500 m 3 /s) and consequent overgrowing of riverbed in the first part of the study period, while the increase in the second part was due to the creation of extensive shingle areas (from 20,6 ha in 2009/10 to 37,8 ha in 2014) by the extreme flood in early November 2012, subsequent regular occurrence of large discharges outside the breeding seasons and large-scale removals of woody vegetation. Breeding population of Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos remained at a rather similar low level (<20 p) during most of the period studied after an initial decline, and did not reflect changes in the overall surface area of riverbed habitats. Contrary to the general situation, the number of breeding pairs on gravel bars subjected to management increased several-fold. Maximum number of pairs on these bars was reached up to four years after the initiation of management measures, as only then the optimal mosaic of early successional stages interspersed with shingle areas developed at main sites. The species was widespread only on lower part of the Drava. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis was fairly widely distributed along the riverbed, but occurred in rather low densities throughout (c. one pair on 2–3 km of the studied riverbed on average), probably as a result of limited bank erosion and consequent overgrowing/lack of suitable nest sites. The population was estimated as stable with effects of harsh winter conditions on breeding numbers in some years. The majority of nest holes were excavated in eroded river banks along the main river channel (77.8%), followed by similar sites located in mouth areas of small tributaries of the Drava (14.8%). Regular breeding of Sand Martin Riparia riparia since 2012 (up to 259, mostly at only one location annually) was almost exclusively the result of the annual artificial nest site preparation programme. Fairly large gravel bar-breeding population of White Wagtail Motacilla alba , monitored since 2013 and predominantly ground nesting in sparsely vegetated areas, seems unusual considering the prevalent breeding habits of the species at the European scale. Conservation implications and guidelines for future management efforts are discussed.
Številčnost in razširjenost izbranih gnezdilk struge reke Drave med Mariborom in Središčem ob Dravi (SV Slovenija) v letih 2006 in 2009 ter vzroki za zmanjšanje njihovih populacij
Between mid-April ...and mid-June of 2006 and 2009, breeding Little Ringed Plovers Charadrius dubius, Common Sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos and Kingfishers Alcedo atthis were surveyed along the bed of the Drava River between Maribor and Središče ob Dravi. The entire bed (56.1 km) was surveyed in this area in 2006, and the part between Maribor and the state border at Zavrč (38.8 km) in 2009. Birds were mostly counted from a moving boat and during stops on the river's gravel bars. The area was divided into five sections, and birds counted twice in each. Special criteria for breeding pair definition were applied during interpretation of the results. In 2006, the size of the Little Ringed Plover's breeding population was estimated at 75-87 pairs, the Common Sandpiper's at 56-65 pairs, and the Kingfisher's at 17-24 pairs. The part of the Drava River surveyed in 2009 was used as a breeding ground by 16-22 Little Ringed Plover pairs, 22-24 Common Sandpiper pairs, and 14 Kingfisher pairs. In 2006, the linear density in the entire study area was 1.3-1.6 Little Ringed Plover pairs/km, 1.0-1.2 Common Sandpiper pairs/km and 0.3-0.4 Kingfisher pairs/km of the river stream, while in 2009 their densities were somewhat lower. The differences in densities between survey sections were similar in both years. In both 2006 and 2009, 1-2 Little Ringed Plover pairs bred on most of the occupied gravel bars. In 2006, this species bred on 33 of a total of 92 gravel bars (35.9%) in the part of the river between Maribor and Zavrč, and in 2009, on 15 bars (16.3%). In the upper part of the Drava River, the Common Sandpiper was a relatively sparse breeding bird during the two surveys, but much more numerous in the middle and lower parts of the river. With an average of one pair per 2-3 km of the river stream, the Kingfisher was fairly evenly distributed along the entire bed of the Drava River during both surveys. In 2009, the number of Little Ringed Plover breeding pairs in the part of the river between Maribor and Zavrč was by 62% lower than in 2006. Consideration of all possible causes for these results leads the authors to conclude that the major cause of the birds' reduced abundance over this period lies in the increased overgrowing of gravel bars with woody plants and herbs and thus reduced surface area of bare shingle that is, apart from the height of gravel bars, the most significant factor for the settling of this species. The increased overgrowing of gravel bars in 2009 can be explained by the difference in the number of days with large discharges (≥ 400 m3/s) in the years prior to the two surveys, given that during the three years before the 2009 survey there were considerably fewer (3/1) than in the same period before the 2006 survey (6/6). The condition in 2009 was thus the direct result of the absence of floods that maintain the surfaces of bare shingle on gravel bars and reduce their overspreading with herbage. In the study area, the linear densities of Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper are among the highest in Central Europe, while those of the Kingfisher are approximately the same as on other rivers in this geographical region. The large Little Ringed Plover population that breeds here in its natural habitat is of special significance for conservation. In fact, the Drava River is of a great national significance for all three species, it being the breeding ground of more than 10% or 15% of the national population of Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, and 8% of the Kingfisher's national population.
Recopilación de observaciones de una subespecie de Chorlitejo chico (Charadrius dubius curonicus) realizadas durante numerosas salidas de campo a Toro (Zamora) y diferentes enclaves ribereños de las ...provincias de Valladolid, León y Burgos, entre el 1 de abril de 1944 y el 13 de mayo de 1952.
Compilation of field observations of a subspecies of the Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius curonicus) achieved through several trips to Toro (Zamora) and different riverside habitats of the provinces of Valladolid, León and Burgos, between the 1st of April of 1944 and the 13th of May of 1952.
River plover (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) comes to the nest.
DFG project: worldviews (2015-2017), record author: Deutsche Fotothek/SLUB Dresden (DF)
Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) kommt ...zum Nest.
Negativ aus Glas in schwarzweiß, quer
DFG-Projekt: Weltsichten (2015-2017), Datensatz-Urheber: Deutsche Fotothek / SLUB Dresden (Förderung)
River plover (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) comes to the nest.
DFG project: worldviews (2015-2017), record author: Deutsche Fotothek/SLUB Dresden (DF)
Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) kommt ...zum Nest.
Negativ aus Glas in schwarzweiß, quer
DFG-Projekt: Weltsichten (2015-2017), Datensatz-Urheber: Deutsche Fotothek / SLUB Dresden (Förderung)
Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) beim Brüten.
Negativ aus Glas in schwarzweiß, quer
DFG-Projekt: Weltsichten (2015-2017), Datensatz-Urheber: Deutsche Fotothek / SLUB Dresden (Förderung)
...DFG project: worldviews (2015-2017), record author: Deutsche Fotothek/SLUB Dresden (DF)
Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) bedeckt die Eier.
Negativ aus Glas in schwarzweiß, quer
DFG-Projekt: Weltsichten (2015-2017), Datensatz-Urheber: Deutsche Fotothek / SLUB Dresden ...(Förderung)
River plover (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) covers the eggs.
DFG project: worldviews (2015-2017), record author: Deutsche Fotothek/SLUB Dresden (DF)
River plover (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) comes to the nest.
DFG project: worldviews (2015-2017), record author: Deutsche Fotothek/SLUB Dresden (DF)
Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) kommt ...zum Nest.
Negativ aus Glas in schwarzweiß, hoch
DFG-Projekt: Weltsichten (2015-2017), Datensatz-Urheber: Deutsche Fotothek / SLUB Dresden (Förderung)
Flussregenpfeifer (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) wendet die Eier.
Negativ aus Glas in schwarzweiß, hoch
DFG-Projekt: Weltsichten (2015-2017), Datensatz-Urheber: Deutsche Fotothek / SLUB Dresden ...(Förderung)
River plover (Charadrius dubius Scopoli) turns the eggs.
DFG project: worldviews (2015-2017), record author: Deutsche Fotothek/SLUB Dresden (DF)