scholarly journals Conserving unprotected important coastal habitats in the Yellow Sea: shorebird occurrence, distribution and food resources at Lianyungang

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Chi Chan ◽  
He-Bo Peng ◽  
Yong-Xiang Han ◽  
Sheena Suet-Wah Chung ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Intertidal Flats

AbstractCoastal wetlands around the world are being destroyed and degraded rapidly. In most developing and recently developed countries, the ecological data required for wetland conservation are scarce, and expertise to collect them are less-established. One of the most rapidly deteriorating coastal regions is the Yellow Sea in East Asia, an important staging area for migratory shorebirds. Conserving the declining shorebird populations that rely on the Yellow Sea requires habitat protection and management based on sound ecological knowledge, especially on the seasonal occurrence of shorebirds, their daily movements and their food resources. Here we gather and assimilate such information for the coastal wetlands at Lianyungang on the Chinese Yellow Sea coast, an understudied and unprotected area where we found 27% of intertidal soft sediment habitats have been destroyed in 2003-2018. In 2008-2018, 43 shorebird species were recorded along this coastline, including 11 globally threatened or ‘Near Threatened’ species. We recorded 18 shorebird species of numbers exceeded 1% of the Flyway populations, which is the second-highest among the >300 shorebird sites in East Asia. Shorebirds stopping there during migration are probably attracted by the highly-abundant small soft-shelled bivalve species (including 9399 individuals/m2 of Potamocorbula laevis) that dominate the benthic mollusc community of the intertidal flats. Satellite tracked bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica) and great knots (Calidris tenuirostris) stopped at Lianyungang for 5-28 days during northward and southward migration. The tidal movements of satellite-tagged birds indicated high tide roosts which are inaccessible on-ground. These movements can also be used to evaluate whether high-tide roosts and low-tide foraging areas are close enough to each other, and direct where to create new roost sites. Potential measures to increase the capacity of Lianyungang to support shorebirds include reducing human disturbances, creating roosts at undeveloped parts of the reclaimed land, and the removal of recently-built sea dikes to restore intertidal flats.

The southern Jiangsu coast is a critical moulting site for Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea and Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-660
Author(s):  
ZIYOU YANG ◽  
BENJAMIN J. LAGASSÉ ◽  
HUI XIAO ◽  
MICHA V. JACKSON ◽  
CHUNG-YU CHIANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Intertidal Flats ◽  
Jiangsu Coast ◽  
Waterbird Species ◽  
Southern Jiangsu ◽  
Near Threatened

SummaryThe extent of intertidal flats in the Yellow Sea region has declined significantly in the past few decades, resulting in severe population declines in several waterbird species. The Yellow Sea region holds the primary stopover sites for many shorebirds during their migration to and from northern breeding grounds. However, the functional roles of these sites in shorebirds’ stopover ecology remain poorly understood. Through field surveys between July and November 2015, we investigated the stopover and moult schedules of migratory shorebirds along the southern Jiangsu coast, eastern China during their southbound migration, with a focus on the ‘Critically Endangered’ Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmaea and ‘Endangered’ Nordmann’s Greenshank Tringa guttifer. Long-term count data indicate that both species regularly occur in globally important number in southern Jiangsu coast, constituting 16.67–49.34% and 64.0–80.67% of their global population estimates respectively, and it is highly likely that most adults undergo their primary moult during this southbound migration stopover. Our results show that Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank staged for an extended period of time (66 and 84 days, respectively) to complete their primary moult. On average, Spoon-billed Sandpipers and Nordmann’s Greenshanks started moulting primary feathers on 8 August ± 4.52 and 27 July ± 1.56 days respectively, and their moult durations were 72.58 ± 9.08 and 65.09 ± 2.40 days. In addition, some individuals of several other shorebird species including the ‘Endangered’ Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, ‘Near Threatened’ Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, ‘Near Threatened’ Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata and Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii also underwent primary moult. Our work highlights the importance of the southern Jiangsu region as the primary moulting ground for these species, reinforcing that conservation of shorebird habitat including both intertidal flats and supratidal roosting sites in this region is critical to safeguard the future of some highly threatened shorebird species.

scholarly journals Distribution and air-sea exchange of mercury (Hg) in the Yellow Sea

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2881-2892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. J. Ci ◽  
X. S. Zhang ◽  
Z. W. Wang ◽  
Z. C. Niu ◽  
X. Y. Diao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
East China ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Concentration

Abstract. The Yellow Sea, surrounded by East China and the Korea Peninsula, is a potentially important receptor for anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions from East Asia. However, there is little documentation about the distribution and cycle of Hg in this marine system. During the cruise covering the Yellow Sea in July 2010, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM or Hg(0)) in the atmosphere, total Hg (THg), reactive Hg (RHg) and dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM, largely Hg(0)) in the waters were measured aboard the R/V Kexue III. The mean (±SD) concentration of GEM over the entire cruise was 2.61 ± 0.50 ng m−3 (range: 1.68 to 4.34 ng m−3), which were generally higher than other open oceans. The spatial distribution of GEM generally reflected a clear gradient with high levels near the coast of East China and low levels in open waters, suggesting the significant atmospheric Hg outflow from East China. The mean concentration of THg in the surface waters was 1.69 ± 0.35 ng l−1 and the RHg accounted for a considerable fraction of THg (RHg: 1.08 ± 0.28 ng l−1, %RHg/THg = 63.9%). The mean concentration of DGM in the surface waters was 63.9 ± 13.7 pg l−1 and always suggested the supersaturation of Hg(0) in the surface waters with respect to Hg(0) in the atmosphere (the degree of saturation: 7.8 ± 2.3 with a range of 3.6–14.0). The mean Hg(0) flux at the air-sea interface was estimated to be 18.3 ± 11.8 ng m−2 h−1 based on a two-layer exchange model. The high wind speed and DGM levels induced the extremely high Hg(0) emission rates. Measurements at three stations showed no clear vertical patterns of DGM, RHg and THg in the water column. Overall, the elevated Hg levels in the Yellow Sea compared with other open oceans suggested that the human activity has influenced the oceanic Hg cycle downwind of East Asia.

Atmospheric Deposition of Nitrogen and Sulfur in the Yellow Sea Region: Significance of Long-Range Transport in East Asia

2009 ◽  
Vol 205 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 259-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Y. Kim ◽  
Y. S. Ghim ◽  
S. B. Lee ◽  
K.-C. Moon ◽  
S.-G. Shim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Deposition ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Yellow Sea ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
Long Range Transport ◽  
Range Transport

scholarly journals Persistent use of a shorebird staging site in the Yellow Sea despite severe declines in food resources implies a lack of alternatives

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 534-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHOU-DONG ZHANG ◽  
ZHIJUN MA ◽  
CHI-YEUNG CHOI ◽  
HE-BO PENG ◽  
QING-QUAN BAI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Coastal Wetland ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
The North ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Port Construction

SummaryMany shorebird populations are in decline along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. The rapid loss of coastal wetlands in the Yellow Sea, which provide critical stop-over sites during migration, is believed to be the cause of the alarming trends. The Yalu Jiang coastal wetland, a protected area in the north Yellow Sea, supports the largest known migratory staging populations of Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica (menzbieri and baueri subspecies) and Great Knots Calidris tenuirostris. Monitoring of the macrozoobenthos food for these shorebirds from 2011 to 2016 showed declines of over 99% in the densities of the bivalve Potamocorbula laevis, the major food here for both Bar-tailed Godwits and Great Knots. The loss of the bivalve might be caused by any combination of, but not limited to: (1) change in hydrological conditions and sediment composition due to nearby port construction, (2) run-off of agrochemicals from the extensive shoreline sea cucumber farms, and (3) parasitic infection. Surprisingly, the numbers of birds using the Yalu Jiang coastal wetland remained stable during the study period, except for the subspecies of Bar-tailed Godwit L. l. menzbieri, which exhibited a 91% decline in peak numbers. The lack of an overall decline in the number of bird days in Great Knots and in the peak numbers of L. l. baueri, also given the published simultaneous decreases in their annual survival, implies a lack of alternative habitats that birds could relocate to. This study highlights that food declines at staging sites could be an overlooked but important factor causing population declines of shorebirds along the Flyway. Maintaining the quality of protected staging sites is as important in shorebird conservation as is the safeguarding of staging sites from land claim. Meanwhile, it calls for immediate action to restore the food base for these beleaguered migrant shorebirds at Yalu Jiang coastal wetland.

scholarly journals Numerical Modeling of Meteotsunami–Tide Interaction in the Eastern Yellow Sea

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki-Young Heo ◽  
Jae-Seon Yoon ◽  
Jae-Seok Bae ◽  
Taemin Ha
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Atmospheric Modeling ◽  
Tidal Currents ◽  
Coastal Communities ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Western Coast

Meteotsunamis originating from atmospheric pressure disturbances have frequently occurred in oceans worldwide and their destructive long waves have recently threatened local coastal communities. In particular, meteotsunamis occurring in the Yellow Sea caused unexpected casualties and property damage to local communities on the western coast of the Korean Peninsula in 2007 and 2008. These events attracted the attention of many engineers and scientists because abrupt extreme waves have struck several coasts and ports even under fine weather conditions. Furthermore, the Yellow Sea has the highest tide and most powerful tidal currents in the world, and consequently, meteotsunami events there could be more destructive and harmful to local coastal communities when such events occur during high tide or a critical phase with strong tidal currents. In this study, numerical experiments were conducted to identify the qualitative effect of the interaction between a meteotsunami and the tide on the generation and amplification mechanisms of meteotsunamis occurring in the Yellow Sea. In general, small-scale meteotsunamis, such as those that occur in the Yellow Sea, should be analyzed using a high-resolution modeling system because water motions can be affected by local terrain. To achieve this objective, high-resolution atmospheric modeling was conducted to reproduce the atmospheric pressure disturbances observed in the Yellow Sea; then, the generation and propagation of the meteotsunami over real topographies was simulated using a phase-resolving wave model. Both an atmospheric model (Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF)) and a shallow water equation model (COrnell Multigrid COupled Tsunami Model (COMCOT)) were employed to simulate the generation and transformation of the meteotsunami.

scholarly journals Distribution and air-sea exchange of mercury (Hg) in the Yellow Sea

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1511-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. J. Ci ◽  
X. S. Zhang ◽  
Z. W. Wang ◽  
Z. C. Niu ◽  
X. Y. Diao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Yellow Sea ◽  
Elemental Mercury ◽  
Degree Of Saturation ◽  
The Yellow Sea ◽  
East China ◽  
Emission Rates ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Concentration

Abstract. The Yellow Sea, surrounded by East China and the Korea Peninsula, is a potentially important receptor for anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions from East Asia. However, there is little documentation about the distribution and cycle of Hg in this marine system. During the cruise covering the Yellow Sea in July 2010, gaseous elemental mercury (GEM or Hg(0)) in the atmosphere, total Hg (THg), reactive Hg (RHg) and dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM, largely Hg(0)) in the waters were measured aboard the R/V Kexue III. The mean (±SD) concentration of GEM over the entire cruise was 2.61±0.50 ng m−3 (range: 1.68 to 4.34 ng m−3), which were generally higher than other open oceans. The spatial distribution of GEM generally reflected a clear gradient with high levels near the coast of East China and low levels in open waters, suggesting the significant atmospheric Hg outflow from East China. The mean concentration of THg in the surface waters was 1.69±0.35 ng l−1 and the RHg accounted for a considerable fraction of THg (RHg: 1.08±0.28 ng l−1, %RHg/THg=63.9%). The mean concentration of DGM in the surface waters was 63.9±13.7 pg l−1 and always suggested the supersaturation of Hg(0) in the surface waters with respect to Hg(0) in the atmosphere (the degree of saturation: 7.83±2.29 with a range of 3.58–14.00). The mean Hg(0) flux at the air-sea interface was estimated to be 22.58±14.56 ng m−2 h−1 based on a two-layer exchange model. The high wind speed and DGM levels induced the extremely high Hg(0) emission rates. Measurements at three selected stations showed no clear vertical patterns of all three species of Hg in the water column. Overall, the elevated Hg levels in the Yellow Sea compared with other open oceans suggested that the human activity has significantly influenced the oceanic Hg cycle downwind of East Asia.

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