Identifying the wetlands of international importance in Beibu Gulf along the East Asian - Australasian Flyway, based on multiple citizen science datasets

Tang, Ningxin1,2; Ma, Yanju1,2; Li, Sixin1,2; Yan, Yizhu1,2; Cheng, Cheng4; Lu, Gang5,6; Li, Fei7; Lv, Liuxuan1,2; Qin, Peilin1,2; Nguyen, Hoai Bao8; Nguyen, Quang Hao9; Le, Trong Trai10; Wee, Shelby Qi Wei11; He, Tao12; Yong, Ding Li11; Choi, Chi-Yeung13,14

2023-09-15

10.3389/fmars.2023.1222806

FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE   Impact Factor & Quartile

2296-7745

The Beibu Gulf (Gulf of Tonkin, Vinh Bac Bo in Vietnamese), located midway along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), is a critical stopover and wintering region for migratory waterbirds. This transboundary coastal region, spanning between China and Vietnam, harbors diverse wetland habitats that provide refuge to waterbird species, including highly threatened species such as the spoon-billed sandpiper (CR) and the black-faced spoonbill (EN). However, the scarcity of comprehensive assessments regarding waterbird abundances, distribution, key wetland habitats, and regional threats hinders our understanding of its conservation significance at the flyway level. Further research is needed to address these knowledge gaps and facilitate effective conservation efforts in the Beibu Gulf. By synthesizing accessible citizen science datasets and published records from wetland sites in south China and northeast Vietnam, we concluded that at least 97 waterbird species used the Gulf's wetlands during their annual cycle. Among surveys conducted from 2014 to 2022, 6 and 13 waterbird species were considered as first and second class protected species under the National Key Protected Wild Animal List in China; 2 species were listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, 5 as Endangered and 2 as Vulnerable, underlying the critical importance of the Beibu Gulf for the survival of these species. Our study identified 25 sites in the Beibu Gulf that met the criteria for designation as internationally important wetlands. Alarmingly, less than a quarter (n = 6, or 24%) of these sites benefit from national or international protection. Localized threats, including aquatic resource harvesting, hunting, and aquaculture/fisheries, were widespread in the region. This study provides a crucial scientific baseline for continued waterbird monitoring, site prioritization, and the development of effective habitat management plans to conserve vital coastal wetland habitats in the Beibu Gulf in China and Vietnam.

waterbird bird conservation the Gulf of Tonkin conservation priorities East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) citizen science

SCI

English

Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China[31970496] ; Shenzhen Science and Technology Program["JCYJ20190809115207397","JCYJ20210324104205014","JSGG20210802153535002"] ; Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, China[ERESEP2022Z08] ; Basic Ability Enhancement Program for Young and Middle-aged Teachers of Guangxi[2023KY0066] ; Guangxi Science and Technology Base and Talent Special Project[AD23026102]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Marine & Freshwater Biology

Environmental Sciences ; Marine & Freshwater Biology

WOS:001073130500001

FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

Web of Science

1.Guangxi Normal Univ, Key Lab Ecol Rare & Endangered Species & Environm, Minist Educ, Guilin, Guangxi, Peoples R China
2.Guangxi Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Guangxi Key Lab Rare & Endangered Anim Ecol, Guilin, Guangxi, Peoples R China
3.Guangxi Biodivers Res & Conservat Assoc, Nanning, Peoples R China
4.Hainan Acad Mangrove, Hainan Acad Forestry, Haikou, Hainan, Peoples R China
5.Haikou Duotan Wetlands Inst, Haikou, Peoples R China
6.Hainan Bird Watching Soc, Haikou, Peoples R China
7.Kadoorie Farm & Bot Garden, Hong Kong, Peoples R China
8.Vietnam Natl Univ, Univ Sci, Ecol & Evolutionary Biol Dept, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
9.WildTour Ltd, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
10.Viet Nat Conservat Ctr, Hanoi, Vietnam
11.Tanglin Int Ctr, BirdLife Int Asia Div, Singapore, Singapore
12.Zhanjiang Mangrove Natl Nat Reserve Bur, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, Peoples R China
13.Duke Kunshan Univ, Div Nat & Appl Sci, Kunshan, Jiangsu, Peoples R China
14.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Peoples R China

Tang, Ningxin,Ma, Yanju,Li, Sixin,et al. Identifying the wetlands of international importance in Beibu Gulf along the East Asian - Australasian Flyway, based on multiple citizen science datasets[J]. FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE,2023,10.

Tang, Ningxin.,Ma, Yanju.,Li, Sixin.,Yan, Yizhu.,Cheng, Cheng.,...&Choi, Chi-Yeung.(2023).Identifying the wetlands of international importance in Beibu Gulf along the East Asian - Australasian Flyway, based on multiple citizen science datasets.FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE,10.

Tang, Ningxin,et al."Identifying the wetlands of international importance in Beibu Gulf along the East Asian - Australasian Flyway, based on multiple citizen science datasets".FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE 10(2023).