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

Authors

Keywords:

farmland birds, protected areas, Lanius minor, Crex crex, gap analysis

Abstract

Paper description:

  • Protected areas are often insufficient for the conservation of threatened farmland birds like the Corncrake (Crex crex) and the Lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor).
  • Gap analysis showed that protected areas in Serbia harbor a small proportion of suitable habitats for both species (determined by maximum entropy modelling (MaxEnt)). Habitats of the Corncrake, a species predominantly found in hilly areas, are more prevalent compared to the lowland habitats favored by Lesser grey shrike.
  • Mechanisms for habitat protection outside protected areas in Serbia are lacking. Distribution modelling enabled us to direct conservation measures within and beyond protected areas.

Abstract: 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.

https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS180924053R

Received: September 24, 2018; Revised: November 25, 2018; Accepted: November 28, 2018; Published online: December 4, 2018

How to cite this article: Radišić D, Mišković M, Jovanović S, Nikolić T, Sekulić G, Vujić A, Milić D. 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. Arch Biol Sci. 2019;71(1):111-21.

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2019-04-02

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Radišić D, Mišković M, Jovanović S, Nikolić T, Sekulić G, Vujić A, Milić D. 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. Arch Biol Sci [Internet]. 2019Apr.2 [cited 2024Dec.22];71(1):111-2. Available from: https://serbiosoc.org.rs/arch/index.php/abs/article/view/3440

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