2025/07/01 by Haiying Fan, Weibin Guo, Yan‐Hui Deng +3
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Plant and animal studies #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation #Animal Behavior and Reproduction
paper · doi:10.1002/ece3.71828
ABSTRACT Anthropogenic activities are among the primary drivers of global biodiversity decline. In conservation practice, monitoring population parameters and clarifying habitat requirements constitute fundamental prerequisites for developing effective strategies. Long‐term research addresses these needs through systematic population monitoring and comprehensive data analysis, establishing critical foundations for biodiversity preservation. This study presents a 15‐year dataset on Merops viridis —a nationally protected avian species in China—documenting spatial shifts in nest‐site selection driven by anthropogenic habitat modification and revealing a consistent annual population decline. Our results demonstrate that alterations in nesting habitat critically influence population dynamics, providing theoretical support for evidence‐based conservation strategies. We further discuss potential drivers of observed changes in nest‐site selection and population decline, advocating for the urgent establishment of large‐scale protected areas targeting sandy floodplands to safeguard this species.