Bird Conservation International (2011) 21:241-259. © BirdLife International, 2011
doi:10.1017/S0959270911000086
Impacts of tidal land reclamation in Bohai Bay,
China: ongoing losses of critical Yellow Sea
w aterbird staging and w intering sites
H O N G - Y A N Y A N G , B IN G C H E N , M A R K B A R T E R , T H E U N I S P I E R S M A ,
C H U N -F A Z H O U , F E N G -S H A N LI and Z H E N G -W A N G Z H A N G
Summary
T he coast o f B ohai Bay, n o rth -w e s te rn Y ellow Sea, is critical for w a terb ird s m ig ra tin g along th e East
A sia -A u stra la sia n Flyw ay. B etw een 1994 a n d 2010, a to ta l o f 450 k m ’ of offsh o re area, inclu d in g
218 k m ’ of in te rtid a l flats (one th ird of th e original tidal area in th e bay), has b e en reclaim ed
alo n g the b a y for tw o in d u stria l projects. T his has caused th e n o rth w a rd m ig ra n ts to becom e
c o n cen trated in a n e v er sm aller re m a in in g area, o u r core stu d y site. T he sp rin g peak n u m b e rs of
tw o R ed K n o t subspecies in th e East A sia -A u stra la sia n Flyw ay, Calidris c a n u tu s p iersm a i a n d C.
c. rogersi, in th is so far little affected area increased fro m 1 3 % in 2007 to 6 2 % in 2010 o f the
global populations; th e sp rin g peak n u m b e rs o f C u rlew S an d p ip er C. ferru g in ea increased from
3 % in 2007 to 2 3% in 2010 o f the fly w ay p o p u latio n . T he decline in the e x te n t o f in te rtid a l
m u d flats also affected Relict G ulls Larus relictus, listed b y IU C N as 'V u ln e ra b le '; d u rin g n o rm al
w in te rs 5 6 % of the global p o p u latio n m o v ed fro m the w in te rin g h a b ita ts th a t w ere re m o v e d in
T ia n jin to the re la tiv e ly in ta c t areas a ro u n d T an g sh an . D ensities of w in te rin g E u rasian C urlew
N u m e n iu s arquata, a n d sp rin g -sta g in g B road-billed S an d p ip er Lim icola fa lc in ellu s a n d S an d erlin g Calidris alba have also increased in th e re m a in in g areas. W ith the p roposed c o n tin u a tio n of
lan d reclam atio n in B ohai Bay, w e predict w a terb ird d ensities in th e re m a in in g areas to increase to
a p o in t o f collapse. To ev aluate the fu tu re o f these fragile, sh ared in te rn a tio n a l resources, it is vital
to p ro m o te an im m ed iate c o n serv atio n action plan fo r th e re m a in in g coastal w etlan d s in this
reg io n , a n d c o n tin u e d p o p u latio n m o n ito rin g to d e te rm in e the effects of th is action.
Introduction
C oastal areas provide im p o rta n t h a b ita ts for m a n y w a te rb ird species, especially shorebirds,
w ildfow l, gulls a n d te rn s (van de K am et al. 2004, 2008, W etlan d s In te rn a tio n a l 2006, B am ford
et al. 2008). D espite th e ir im p o rtan ce as p ro v id ers of m arin e food reso u rces a n d livelihoods for
fishing c o m m u n itie s, in te rtid a l areas for c en tu ries h ave b e en c o n v erted in to lan d for ag ric u ltu ra l
a n d resid en tial use, p o rt c o n stru ctio n a n d in d u stria l estates (D alby 1957, G lue 1971, D avidson
et al. 1991, S uchaneck 1994, BirdLife In te rn a tio n a l 2004). W h e re a s reclam atio n activities have
n o w ceased in n o rth -w e s t E urope (P iersm a 2009), the co n v ersio n o f in te rtid a l flats in to fish- o r
salt ponds, a g ric u ltu ra l, recreational, o r in d u stria l lan d has accelerated in e a ste rn A sia, especially
in the Y ellow Sea region, in o rd e r to accom m odate the p re ssu re o f in creasin g h u m a n p o p u latio n s
a n d econom ic g ro w th (B arter 2002, M o o res 2006, v a n de K am et al. 2008, S O A PR C 2009, W a n
et al. 2009). T he p o p u latio n s o f m ig ra tin g w a terb ird s th a t depend o n coastal w etlan d s have
declined in parallel w ith the losses of in te rtid a l areas, in ex tre m e cases leading to th re a te n e d o r
n e a rly ex tin ct p o p u latio n s (S yroechkovskiy 2004, C ro sb y a n d C h a n 2006, W etlan d s In te rn a tio n a l
2006, M o o res et al. 2008, v a n de K am et al. 2008, A m a n o et al. 2010, Z öckler et al. 2010). In v iew
H - Y . Y a n g e t al.
242
of the rapid decrease of in te rtid a l h ab itats, th e safeg u ard in g o f th e re m a in in g in te rtid a l flats from
fu rth e r losses and deg rad atio n s m u st becom e a global p rio rity .
H ere w e present the case of Bohai Bay in the n o rth -w est Yellow Sea, C hina, strategically located in
the m iddle of the East A sian-A ustralasian Flyw ay (hereafter EAAF). T he coast of Bohai Bay is crucial to
w aterbirds, especially shorebirds and gulls th at m ake stopovers there d u rin g n o rth w a rd and southw ard
m igration, o r w in ter there, including Relict G uii Larus relictus, listed as 'V u ln erab le' b y IU C N (2010)
and BirdLife In ternational (2010a), S aunders's G uii L. saundersi, E urasian C urlew N u m e n iu s
arquata, Red K not Calidris canutus, C urlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea and M a rsh Sandpiper Tringa
stagnatilis (Li et al. 1996, B arter 2002, B attley et al. 2005, M in to n et al. 2006, Y ang and Z h an g 2006,
Liu et al. 2007, Y ang et al. 2008). T he m ajo rity of Red K not du rin g n o rth w a rd m igration, and the
largest w in terin g populations o f E urasian C urlew and Relict Guii, w ere counted in Bohai Bay along
the EAAF (Barter et al. 2001, 2003, Liu et al. 2006, Cao et al. 2009). C oncerns about the accelerating
tidal flat reclam ation along the Bohai Bay coast, and the potential effects o n w aterbirds dependent on
the bay, have been voiced earlier (Barter et al. 2003, Liu et al. 2006, Y ang et al. 2008). N o evidence
o n the im pacts of the land reclam ation in recent decade has so far b een provided.
Bohai Bay sits next to a densely hum an -p o p u lated and rapidly developing region. Tw o industrial
developm ents have been u n d e r construction o n the w estern and n o rth e rn coasts of Bohai B ay since
1994 (Table 1): T ianjin B inhai N ew A rea, located in the m unicipality of T ianjin, w estern Bohai Bay, and
Caofeidian N ew A rea, in the d t y of T angshan, H ebei Province, n o rth e rn Bohai Bay, started in 1994 and
2002, respectively (Fig. 1). In the past decade, the developm ents have tu rn e d large areas of sea into
industrial land and the rate of land reclam ation has accelerated (this study). In future, the planned
developm ent will lead to a c ontinuing reduction of b o th land and shallow sea habitats (Table 1).
Loss o f w a terb ird h a b ita ts can lead to a decline in w a terb ird n u m b e rs (e.g. M o o res et al. 2008,
K raan et al. 2009, C a try et al. in press), o r to th e m o v e m e n t o f b ird s to n e a rb y suitable
h a b ita ts (B u rto n et al. 2006); th e la tte r can lead to increased d ensities o n o th e r sites and
c o n seq u en t increase in m o rta lity of th e displaced birds, th u s leading to a n overall loss o f birds
(G o ss-C u stard 1980). T he reclam a tio n o f th e tw o m ajo r in d u stria l d e v elo p m en ts has changed, and
w ill fu rth e r change, w a te rb ird h a b ita ts alo n g th e B ohai B ay coast. T he aim of this stu d y w as to
d e te rm in e if w a terb ird s h ave declined already, o r h ave becom e c o n cen trated in the re m a in in g
suitable areas. W e conducted su rv e y s of m ig ra to ry a n d w in te rin g w a terb ird s alo n g the coasts of
T ia n jin a n d T an g sh a n d u rin g 2 0 0 6 -2 0 1 0 , a n d w ere fo rtu n a te to have c o n cen trated m o st su rv e y
efforts in a n area re la tiv e ly little im pacted so far. W e in te rp re t these c o u n ts in th e lig h t of
the h istorical e x te n t o f lan d reclam ation, re co n stru c te d o n th e basis o f satellite ph o to g rap h s.
Methods
S t u d y area a n d s t u d y sites
T he stu d y area focused o n th e coasts of T ia n jin (3 8 °4 5 '-3 9 °i2 'N , 117°34-57'E ) a n d T an g sh an
( 3 9 ° o i- io 'N , i i 8 °0 7 -2 i 'E). T h e area has a typical tem p erate clim ate w ith cold, d ry w in te rs and
Table 1. Details of the industrial reclamation projects in Bohai Bay.3
Project
Reclamation Location
period
Total
Planned intertidal Total planned
Main industries
planned
area reclamation offshore area
area b(km2) (km3) 3
reclamation (km2)
Tianjin
1994-2020
Binhai
New Area
NW
2,270
Bohai Bay
205
266
Caofeidian 2002-2020
New Area
N
1,943
Bohai Bay
142
130
3Data sources: SOAPRC (2009) lTncludes total land and offshore areas cThis study.
ports, logistics,
heavy equipment
manufacturing,
petrochemical
ports, steel,
chemical, energy
Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y lanci r e c la m a tio n o n w a te rb ird s
243
Beijing
an<
Tianjin
-
Y ellow
CK!
Nanpu
Zuidong Ï
Dagukou
v
Lujuhe f
Haibinyuchang
£
Tianjin Binhai
New Area
£
Legend
"^■^Ikjliujian estuary'
B o u n d ary
Bohai
S u rv ey r o u te
Bay
River a n d c h a n n el
0
1 I
10
I
I
20
I
J
L
i
40 Km
I
I-
I S altp an s
Figure 1. L ocation o f stu d y sites and reclaim ed areas o f the T ia n jin B inhai a n d C aofeidian N e w
A re a in d u stria l reclam a tio n projects in B ohai Bay b y 2010.
ho t, h u m id su m m ers. T he average te m p e ra tu re in Ja n u a ry is -4°C and in July 26°C (H PD LR
2007). T he in te rtid a l area re m a in s frozen fro m D ecem ber for th ree m o n th s. T he m ain ha b ita ts
are tidal m udflats, saltpans a n d sh rim p ponds; a sea w all separates th e saltpans a n d sh rim p
pon d s fro m th e m udflats. T ides have a n average ra n g e o f 2.5 m (H PD LR 2007). T he in te rtid a l
flats outside th e d ykes are 1 -3 k m w ide a t low tide (see Fig. 2) a n d co m p letely su b m erg ed
fro m ab o u t 2 h rs b efore tim e o f h ig h tide. T here are salt w orks, w harfs, oil fields a n d in d u stria l
areas alo n g th e coast. Local people collect shellfish a n d catch fish o n th e m u d fla ts fro m sp rin g to
a u tu m n .
W e w o rk ed at seven stu d y sites in T ianjin: D u liu jia n e stu a ry , H a ib in y u c h an g , L ujuhe,
D agukou, C h e n g to u g u , H a iy a n a n d D a sh e n tan g , a n d fo u r in T angshan: H eiy an zi, B eipu, N a n p u
a n d Z u id o n g (Fig. 1). T he sites in T an g sh an w ere situ ate d b e tw ee n T ia n jin B inhai N e w A re a and
C aofeidian N e w A rea, b u t closer to th e latter. H ow ever, d u rin g th e stu d y period, m o st stu d y sites
in T ia n jin w ere lost g ra d u ally to lan d reclam atio n b y th e T ia n jin B inhai N e w A rea. T he o rd e r in
w h ic h th e m u d flats w ere enclosed b y sea w alls was: fro m east o f H a iy a n to D a sh e n tan g in O cto b er
2007, fro m L u ju h e to D ag u k o u in D ecem ber 2007, fro m east o f H a ib in y u c h a n g to L u ju h e and
C h e n g to u g u in S e p tem b e r 2008. In T an g sh an , the core stu d y sites B eipu, N a n p u a n d Z u id o n g
w ere o n ly a little affected b y lan d reclam a tio n u n til late 2009, w ith p a rtial lan d loss in Z u id o n g in
2010.
R e m o t e s e n s in g d a ta collection a n d p roce ssin g
To d o c u m e n t the e x te n t o f loss o f sea areas, especially o f th e in te rtid a l zone, w e a cquired a set of
L andsat M S S /T M /E T M + im ages w h ich covered a p erio d o f 36 years: 1974, 1984, 1993, 2000,
20 0 2 -2 0 1 0 . L and cover in the stu d y area w as classified in to land, in te rtid a l area a n d w a ter, u sin g
visual in te rp re ta tio n a n d d ig italizatio n w ith technical su p p o rt fro m A rcM ap 9.3 (ESRI Inc. 2008).
W e e stim a te d th e total area of tidal flats at low tide in sp rin g alo n g th e T ia n jin a n d T an g sh an
coasts in each year, m ea su re d the tidal flats a t each stu d y site a n d the total offsh o re area,
H - Y . Y a n g e t al.
T ia n jin
244
1
Tangshan
B ohai
F igure 2. C hanges in reclaim ed offsh o re areas in th e T ia n jin B inhai a n d C aofeidian N e w A reas
o ver years. T he lined areas are in te rtid a l flats, the area in th e circle is the core stu d y area in
T an g sh an (Beipu, N a n p u a n d Z uid o n g ), th e d a rk g re y areas p re se n t th e cum u lativ e e x te n t of
p re v io u sly reclaim ed areas a n d th e black areas sh o w th e n e w reclaim ed areas b e tw ee n years,
in clu d in g n e w land, sea w alls a n d m u d flats o r shallow w a te r w ith in closed sea w alls. (The data set
is p rovided b y In te rn a tio n a l Scientific D ata Service P latfo rm , C o m p u te r N e tw o rk In fo rm atio n
C enter, C hinese A cadem y o f Sciences, (h ttp ://d a ta m irro r.c s d b .c n ))
in clu d in g tidal flats a n d shallow w ater, to be reclaim ed according to p roject plans, and calculated
the changes in lan d -u se w ith in in d u stria l dev elo p m en ts b e tw ee n y ears u sin g A rcM ap 9.3.
S u r v e y m ethods
S urveys w ere conducted along the seawall at each stu d y site. S u rv e y len g th s w ere: D u liujian e s tu a ry 1.5 km , H a ib in y u ch an g to L u ju h e -3 km , L ujuhe to D ag u k o u -6 .5 km , C h e n g to u g u -2 .5 km , H a iy an
to D a sh e n ta n g -6 km , H e iy an z i-2 km , B e ip u -4 km , N a n p u -1 0 km , and Z u id o n g -6 km .
From S e p tem b e r 2006 to D ecem ber 2008, w e carried o u t su rv e y s d u rin g th ree periods each
year: o n e su rv e y in S ep tem b er, th ree (2007) o r six (2008) su rv e y s in M ay , a n d m o n th ly su rv ey s
fro m D ecem ber to F eb ru ary . In 2009, su rv e y s w ere conducted m o n th ly in T an g sh a n except in
Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y lanci r e c la m a tio n o n w a te rb ird s
245
M ay , w h e n e ig h t su rv e y s w ere carried ou t. In T an g sh an in 2010, o n e su rv e y w as conducted
in Ja n u a ry , one in F e b ru a ry a n d seven su rv e y s d u rin g M ay . W aterb ird s o n th e in te rtid a l m udflats
w ere co u n ted u sin g telescopes (25-60X) a n d /o r b in o cu lars (10x40) d u rin g th e o u tg o in g tide.
W e recorded air te m p e ra tu re s d u rin g su rv e y periods, as te m p e ra tu re can affect th e d istrib u tio n of
w in te rin g w a terb ird s (Liu et al. 2006). C o m b in atio n s o f sites (e.g. H a ib in y u c h an g to D agukou,
H a ib in y u c h a n g to L ujuhe, H a iy a n to D ash en tan g ) w ere each u su a lly su rv e y ed w ith in one day,
w ith ad ditional sites re q u irin g e x tra c o u n tin g days. S tu d y site su rv e y s w ere ad ju sted w h e n
n ecessary to account fo r h a b ita t loss, b u t also occasionally d u e to bad w e a th e r o r access p roblem s
caused b y bad ro a d conditions.
I n t e r n a t i o n a l l y i m p o r t a n t species
In te rn a tio n a lly im p o rta n t species are defined as those w h ic h w e re p re se n t in n u m b e rs > 1 % of
th e ir flyw ay p o p u latio n s at least once d u rin g the stu d y p eriod according to th e C o n v e n tio n o n
W etlan d s (R am sar, Iran , 1971); sh o re b ird fly w ay p o p u latio n s follow B am ford et al. (2008) except
for Red K not a n d E urasian C u rlew fly w ay p o p u latio n sizes w h e re w e u se d th e u p d a te b y R ogers
et al. (2010) a n d Cao et al. (2009) respectively. For o th e r w a terb ird species w e follow ed W etlan d s
In te rn a tio n a l (2006), IU C N (2010) a n d BirdLife In te rn a tio n a l (2011).
D a ta collection a n d a n a ly s is
In o rd e r to com pare a n n u a l n u m b e rs b etw ee n re g io n s a n d a n n u a l changes in a bundance w ith in the
regions, w e org an ised th e d ata as follows:
(1)
S u rv e y s w ere c arried o u t d u rin g M ay , the peak p eriod o f n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n in the
stu d y area, fro m 2007 to 2010. M e a n w a terb ird densities w ere calculated to show
p o p u latio n tren d s o f w a terb ird s d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n in d iffere n t areas.
(2)
M o n th ly su rv e y s w ere conducted in e v ery w in te r m o n th fro m 2 0 06/2007 to 2009/2010.
T ren d s in w in te rin g w a te rb ird p o p u latio n s w ere d e te rm in e d b y co m p arin g th e m ea n s of
w a terb ird d ensities co u n te d in D ecem ber, Ja n u a ry a n d F e b ru a ry b e tw ee n years.
(3)
To assess changes in sh o re b ird p o p u latio n s in the stu d y area b efore a n d a fte r tidal land
reclam ation, w e u se d th e data fro m Z u id o n g . T h is w as th e o n ly site w ith in th e core
stu d y area in T an g sh a n th a t h a d a series o f com parable m o n th ly su rv e y s conducted since
2004, w h e n lan d reclam atio n activities h a d n o t y e t started.
(4)
To v e rify w h e th e r th is increase in w a terb ird s at th e core stu d y sites is indeed m a in ly due
to h a b ita t loss elsew here in B ohai Bay, w e u se d all in fo rm a tio n o n k n o w n n u m b e rs of
R ed K n o t a n d C u rlew S andpiper, th e tw o m o st c o m m o n m ig ra n t shorebirds, in
co m b in a tio n w ith th e k n o w n lan d reclam ation. A ssu m in g th e stag in g p o p u latio n s in
n o r th e rn B ohai B ay to h ave re m a in e d stable, w e predicted th e y e a rly peak n u m b e rs
b ased o n th e su m of the peak n u m b e rs co u n ted in the core stu d y area d u rin g the
p re v io u s y e a r p lu s th e k n o w n n u m b e r of b ird s th a t occurred in the reclaim ed in te rtid a l
flats elsew here in T ia n jin a n d T an g sh an along w e ste rn a n d n o rth e rn B ohai B ay in th a t
y e a r (B arter et al. 2001, 2003). T h e observed peak n u m b e rs o f R ed K not a n d C urlew
S an d p ip er in 2004 a n d 2006 w ere calculated o n th e a ssu m p tio n th a t peak n u m b e rs
co u n te d o n ly a t Z u id o n g re p re se n te d a th ird of th e stag in g p o p u latio n in th e e n tire core
stu d y area (of w h ich Z u id o n g is a p p ro x im ate ly one th ird ). W e also assu m e d th a t 2004
follow ed o n 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 2 a n d th a t 2006 follow ed o n 2004.
Results
T h e re cen t h is to r y o f loss o f in te rtid a l la n d
A ccording to analysis o f th e re m o te sensing im ages fro m 1974 to 1993, a total o f 313 k m ’ of
in te rtid a l area w as reclaim ed m a in ly for salt w o rk s in T ia n jin a n d T an g sh an alo n g w e ste rn
H - Y . Y a n g e t al.
246
a n d n o r th e rn B ohai Bay. In the follow ing 16 y ears (1994-2010), a p p ro x im ate ly 450 k m ’ of
offsh o re area, inclu d in g 218 k m ’ of in te rtid a l m u d flats (34% o f th e total in te rtid a l area in 1993 in
w e ste rn a n d n o rth e r n B ohai Bay) w as reclaim ed fo r th e T ian jin B inhai a n d C aofeidian N e w A reas
(Figs. 2 a n d 3). N o ta b ly , reclam atio n accelerated d u rin g th e p ast five y ears (2005-2010) w ith
a rem o v al o f 78 % of the total reclaim ed tidal area fo r th e tw o dev elo p m en ts (Figs. 2, 3 a n d 4). T he
T ia n jin B inhai a n d C aofeidian N e w A reas h a d reclaim ed a total o f 110 k m ’ a n d 108 k m ’ in te rtid a l
lands, respectively, b y 2010.
A b u n d a n c e o f w a te rb ird s in Tia n jin a n d T a n g s h a n
A total o f 58 w a terb ird species w ere recorded in th e stu d y areas o f T ia n jin a n d T an g sh an d u rin g
the stu d y (Fig. 1, T able 2). S ix tee n o f th e m occurred in in te rn a tio n a lly im p o rta n t c o n ce n tra tio n s in
the stu d y region: 14 species d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n a n d fo u r species d u rin g so u th w a rd
m ig ra tio n a n d w in te r. D u rin g th e su rv e y periods, sh o reb ird s a n d gulls com prised m o st o f the
w a terb ird s o c cu rrin g in th e in te rtid a l area. S h o re b ird s clearly fo rm ed the g re at m ajo rity ,
acco u n tin g for 9 9 % o f all w a terb ird s in M ay , 7 5 % in w in te r a n d 6 6 % in Septem ber.
S p r i n g c o u n ts
(2007-2010)
A t th e b e g in n in g of the su rv e y p eriod in 2006/2007, th e sp rin g d e n sity o f w a terb ird s o n m udflats
in T an g sh an w as h ig h e r th a n th a t in T ian jin (Table 3). W ith th e o n g o in g losses o f in te rtid a l
h a b ita ts in w e ste rn a n d n o rth e rn B ohai Bay, d ensities o f w a terb ird s increased dram atically d u rin g
the su b seq u e n t springs, w hile densities in th e ra p id ly disap p earin g stu d y area in T ia n jin declined
fro m 2007 to 2008 (Table 3). Red K not, C u rlew S andpiper, B road-billed S an d p ip er Lim icola
fa lc in ellu s a n d S a n d e rlin g C alidris alba increased ra p id ly a t th e stu d y sites in T an g sh an o v e r the
y ears, as the loss o f in te rtid a l m u d flats in B ohai B ay continued.
1000
900
800
700
t i co
600
—
S -c
500
c o
—
CD 400
- z
300
cu E
J2 °2J
'5 5
<
c
tí
óT '
S E
c a.
-
200
100
0
220 200 180 ■
160 ■
140 120 100 80
804020-
•
Caofeidian New Area
♦ Tianjin Binhai New Area
1970 1975 1 9 8 0 1 9 8 5 1 9 9 0 1995 2 0 0 0 2005 2010 2015 2020
Year
F igure 3. C hanges in th e available in te rtid a l area in T ian jin a n d T an g sh an alo n g w e ste rn and
n o rth e rn B ohai B ay fro m 1974 to 2015 (above) a n d changes in the reclaim ed in te rtid a l area due to
the T ia n jin B inhai a n d C aofeidian N e w A reas respectively fro m 1994 to 2015 (below). T h e dotted
lines p re se n t th e possible situ atio n according to the plan o f th e T ia n jin B inhai a n d C aofeidian
N e w A reas.
Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y lanci r e c la m a tio n o n w a te rb ird s
247
Figure 4. L and reclam atio n a ctiv ity o n th e m udflats in C aofeidian N e w A rea in sp rin g 2007.
W i n t e r c o u n ts ( 2 0 0 6 I 2 0 0 J to 2 0 0 9 /2 0 1 0 )
Since th e sta rt o f w in te r c o u n ts in 2006/2007, the d e n sity o f w a terb ird s u n d e rw e n t a rapid
increase in b o th T ia n jin a n d T an g sh an , c o n cu rre n t w ith th e ra p id loss of tidal flats in the
su rro u n d in g area (Table 4, Fig. 2). A lth o u g h w a te rb ird den sities in T an g sh an w ere re la tiv e ly
stable fro m 2 007/2008 to 2008/2009, th e y decreased d u rin g 2009/2010, a r a th e r severe w in te r
(Table 4). W ith the exception of th is last cold w in te r, w a te rb ird p o p u latio n s increased at the
s tu d y sites, m a in ly due to the large in flu x of E u rasian C u rlew s a n d R elict G ulls, w h ich w ere the
m o st c o m m o n w in te rin g w a terb ird s (Fig. 5). T he peak c o u n t o f w in te rin g E urasian C urlew s in
th e core stu d y area in T an g sh a n increased fro m 6 % o f th e fly w ay p o p u latio n in 2006 to 1 7% in
2009; for Relict G uii th e p ro p o rtio n o f th e global p o p u latio n increased fro m 6 % in 2006 to 6 1%
in 2009.
S e a s o n a l c h a n g e s in s h o r e b ir d n u m b e r s in T a n g s h a n b e tw e e n 2009. a n d 20 09
T he o n ly co u n t sector th a t w as c o m p re h en siv e ly covered b y m o n th ly su rv e y s in b o th 2004 and
2009 w as Z u id o n g (Fig. 1). T he seasonal p a tte rn of change in sh o re b ird ab u n d an ce w as sim ilar in
2004 a n d 2009, w ith a large peak o c cu rrin g d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n in b o th y ears (Fig. 6).
Fiow ever, com pared to th e 2004 su rv e y , w h ich w as carried o u t before the tidal flat reclam atio n in
T an g sh an , th e densities of sh o reb ird s in this sector su b sta n tia lly increased d u rin g n o rth w a rd
m ig ra tio n 2009 (Fig. 6), especially in th e th ree species for w h ich this area is o f special im p o rtan ce
in flyw ay term s: S an d erlin g (11% o f th e ir flyw ay p o p u latio n o n 24 M a y 2009), E u rasian C urlew
(8.7% o n 3 F e b ru a ry 2009) a n d Red K not (8.5% o n 10 M a y 2009); the 1 % c riterio n of E urasian
C u rlew a n d R ed K not follow B am ford et al. (2008) to com pare w ith the percentage in 2004 (Yang
et al. 2008).
C h a n g e s in p r ed icted a n d o b s e r v e d n u m b e r s o f R e d K n o t a n d C u r le w S a n d p ip e r in
T a n g s h a n b e tw e e n 2002 a n d 2 01 0
In th e core stu d y area in T an g sh an , th e peak c o u n ts of Red K not a n d C u rlew S an d p ip er increased
dram atically fro m 1 3% a n d 3 % o f th e ir fly w ay p o p u latio n s in 2007 to 6 2 % a n d 2 3 % in 2010,
respectively. A s sh o w n in Fig. 7, increasin g n u m b e rs o f Red K not a n d C u rlew S andpiper, th e tw o
H - Y . Y a n g e t al.
248
Table 2. W aterbird species and their maximum numbers recorded in Tianjin and Tangshan during the study.
Species are listed in order of abundance. "IUCN" shows the conservation status of each species; "1% "
indicates species whose maximum num ber was more than 1% of their estimated flyway population (Wetlands
International 2006, Bamford et a l 2008, Cao et a l 2009, Rogers et a l 2010, IUCN 2010 and BirdLife
International 2011).
Species
English name
Scientific name
Red Knot
Curlew Sandpiper
Eurasian Curlew
Red-necked Stint
Dunlin
Relict Guii
Great Knot
Black-headed Guii
Kentish Plover
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Grey Plover
Pied Avocet
Sanderling
Common Shelduck
Marsh Sandpiper
Bar-tailed Godwit
Herring Guii
Mew Guii
Asian Dowitcher
Black-tailed Guii
Black-tailed Godwit
Oriental Pratincole
Mallard
Common Green shank
Slaty-backed Guii
Lesser Sand Plover
Common Tern
Ruddy Turnstone
Gull-billed Tern
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Little Tern
Terek Sandpiper
W himbrel
Black-winged Stilt
Saunders's Guii
Far Eastern Curlew
Pacific Golden Plover
Caspian Tern
Spotted Redshank
Common Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Little Stint
Wood Sandpiper
Little Curlew
Calidris canutus
Calidris ferruginea
Numenius arquata
Calidris ruficollis
Calidris alpina
Larus relictus
Calidris tenuirostris
Larus ridibundus
Charadrius alexandrinus
Limicola falcinellus
Calidris acuminata
Pluvialis squatarola
Recurvirostra avosetta
Calidris alba
Tadorna tadorna
Tringa stagnatilis
Limosa lapponica
Larus argentatus
Larus canus
Limnodromus semipalmatus
Larus crassirostris
Limosa limosa
Glareola maldivarum
Anas platyrhynchos
Tringa nebularia
Larus schistisagus
Charadrius mongolus
Sterna hirundo
Arenaria interpres
Sterna nilotica
Egretta garzetta
Ardea cinerea
Sterna albifrons
Xenus cinereus
Numenius phaeopus
Himantopus himantopus
Larus saundersi
Numenius madagascariensis
Pluvialis fulva
Sterna caspia
Tringa erythropus
Tringa totanus
Actitis hypoleucos
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Calidris m inuta
Tringa glareola
Numenius minutus
Period of
presence3
M
M
W,
M
W,
W,
M
W,
M,
M
M
W,
M,
M
W,
M
M
W,
W,
M
W,
M
M
W
M
W,
M
M
M
M
M
M
M,
M
M
M
W,
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M aximum number
Number
Date
64958
M ay-10
M ay-10
Feb-09
May-08
May-09
Jan-09
May-07
Sep-06
M ay-10
May-09
May-09
Dec-07
Sep-08
May-09
Dec-07
M ay-10
May-08
Sep-06
Jan-08
May-08
Sep-07
Sep-08
Sep-06
Feb-09
Sep-06
Sep-08
May-08
May-07
May-07
May-08
Sep-06
Sep-07
M ay-10
May-08
May-07
May-07
Dec-06
May-08
May-08
Sep-06
Sep-08
May-07
Sep-07
May-09
M ay-10
May-09
M ay-10
4° 73 °
I8OO6
II522
995O
M
M
8477
7613
7031
6910
5280
5242
4340
3167
243°
235°
229O
1679
818
790
M
755
634
M
B
M
B
M
533
510
4OO
M
399
359
336
331
211
192
170
162
B
95
73
7°
68
M
56
54
32
26
19
18
H
10
4
3
3
IUCN1,
1%
LC
LC
NT
LC
LC
VU
VU
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
NT
LC
NT
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
VU
VU
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
>
>
>
>C
>
>C
>C
>
>
>C
>
>
>
>
>
>C
Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y lanci r e c la m a tio n o n w a te rb ird s
249
Table 2. Continued.
Species
English name
Scientific name
Great Egret
Cattle Egret
Spotted Greenshank
Ruff
Greater Sand Plover
Grey-tailed Tattler
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Grey-headed Lapwing
Glaucous Guii
Chinese Egret
Chinese Pond Heron
Casmerodius albus
Bubulcus ibis
Tringa guttifer
Philomachus pugnax
Charadrius leschenaultii
Heteroscelus brevipes
Haematopus ostralegus
Vanellus cinereus
Larus hyperboreus
Egretta eulophotes
Ardeola bacchus
Period of
presence3
M aximum number
Number
Date
M
M
M
M
M
M
W, M
M
W
M
M
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Sep-07
May-07
May-10
May-08
May-07
May-07
May-07
May-08
Jan-09
May-07
May-07
IUC
LC
LC
EN
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
LC
VU
LC
aW , M and B are w inter, m igration and breeding period respectively l’LC - Least Concern, NT - N ear
T h re a te n e d , VU - Vulnerable, EN - Endangered, as listed by IU CN (2010) cthe flyw ay population is the world
population.
m o st c o m m o n m ig ra n t sh o re b ird s d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n , could p a rtially be accounted
for b y d isplacem ent o f b ird s fro m lost areas. T h at th e predicted increases are sm aller th a n the
actual increases sh o u ld n o t su rp rise us, as m a n y areas w ere n o t co u n te d p re v io u sly a t the peak
p eriod (B arter et al. 2001, 2003). T he g en eral p a tte rn of increase is c o n sisten t w ith th e idea th a t
o v e r the course o f th e y ears, as m o re m u d flat areas in B ohai B ay w ere reclaim ed, th e staging
p o p u latio n s becam e e v er m o re c o n cen trated in w h a t rem ain ed , as sh o w n d irectly for Red K not
(Fig. 8). In 2010, w ith 970 birds km - ’, th e d e n sity of R ed K not w as fo u r tim es h ig h e r th a n in the
y e ars up to 2007 (211 b ird s km - ’) in th e core stu d y area.
Discussion
T he Y ellow Sea is a critical sto p o v er site fo r w a terb ird s in the EAAF (B arter 2002, M in to n et al.
2006). T he large n u m b e rs a n d d iv ersity o f w a terb ird s in th e p re se n t stu d y area d u rin g m ig ra tio n
periods (especially d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n ) a n d in w in te r confirm th e critical im p o rtan ce of
th e B ohai B ay coast fo r m ig ra tin g w aterb ird s. B ohai B ay su p p o rts h ig h p ro p o rtio n s of th e flyw ay
p o p u latio n s o f Relict G uii, Red K not, B road-billed S andpiper, C u rlew S an d p ip er a n d E urasian
C u rlew (Table 2). W ith th e c u rre n t rap id econom ic g ro w th in C h in a leading to increasin g h u m a n
p o p u latio n s a n d in d u stria l projects in coastal areas, h a b ita t loss re su ltin g fro m w e tla n d
reclam atio n re m a in s a m ajo r th re a t for b io d iv e rsity conservation.
D u rin g 1994-2010 o n e th ird o f the in te rtid a l m udflats in th e w e ste rn a n d n o rth e r n B ohai Bay
sy ste m w ere lost to in d u stria l d evelopm ent, w ith the speed o f lan d reclam atio n a ctually
Table 3. Changes in the available intertidal area along w estern and n o rth ern Bohai Bay and w aterbird
densities in M ay in the study areas in Tianjin and T angshan from 2007 to 2010.
Period
Average
temperature
r q
2007
2008
2009
2010
1 9 .4
1 7 .8
20.6
18.4
■
Retained
mudflats in
W & N Bohai
Bay(km2)
Average mudflats
surveyed (km2)
Average density of
waterbirds (bird/km2)
Tianjin
Tangshan
Tianjin
49 2
447
396
370
46
67
67
59
67
252
292
145
—
—
574
755
961
H
—
—
“Average tem p eratu re in M ay in Tangshan (CMDSSS 2010)
Tangshan
H -Y. Yang
et al.
Table 4. Changes in the available intertidal area along western and northern Bohai Bay, densities of waterbirds and of the two main groups (shorebirds and gulls) in w inter
(December, January and February) in the study areas in Tianjin and Tangshan from 2006 to 2010.
Period
Average
temperature
in Tianjin (°C) a
Average
temperature
in Tangshan
(0C) a
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
- 0 .4
- 1 .4
- 1 .4
- 3-3
—0.2
—1.6
- 1-5
- 3-2
Retained
mudflats in
W & N Bohai
Bay (km2)
2
Average mudflats
surveyed (km2)
Average density of
waterbirds (birds
km“2)
Average density of
shorebirds (birds
km“2)
Average density of
gulls (birds km"2)
„. ..
iianjin
„
,
iangshan
Tianjin
Tangshan
Tianjin
Tangshan
Tianjin
Tangshan
492
447
396
370
46
25
12
—
67
43
67
56
24
112
326
—
85
269
5
38
234
—
19
7°
90
—
10
225
174
83
247
88
68
25
59
5
aAverage temperature in winter months (December, January and February) in Tianjin and Tangshan (CMDSSS 2010)
250
Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y lanci r e c la m a tio n o n w a te rb ird s
18000
251
-
16000
E u r a s i a n C u rle w
14000
□ T ianjin
■ T angshan
12 0 00
10000
-
8000
-
6000
-
II
1000 ¿000
8000
7000
-
6000
-
Rel ict Guii
□ T ianjin
T a n g th a n
5000
4000
3000
-
2000
-
1000
D -0 6 F -0 7
D -0 7
1-08
F -0 8
D -0 8 J-0 9
F-09
D -09
J -1 0
F -1 0
M onth
Figure 5. M o n th ly n u m b e rs o f E u rasia n C u rlew a n d Relict G uii, tw o m ain species, at stu d y sites
in T ia n jin a n d T an g sh a n d u rin g w in te r m o n th s fro m 2006 to 2010 (the re m a in in g stu d y sites in
T ia n jin w ere n o t su rv e y ed in th e last w in ter). A verage m udflats su rv e y ed in T ia n jin and
T an g sh a n in each w in te r show ed in T able 4. 1 % of th e flyw ay p o p u latio n o f E u rasian C u rlew is
1,000 b ird s (Cao et al. 2009) a n d th a t of th e w o rld p o p u latio n of R elict G uii is 120 b ird s (W etlands
In te rn a tio n a l 2006, B irdLife In te rn a tio n a l 2010a). D, J a n d F are D ecem ber, Ja n u a ry and
F eb ru ary , respectively.
accelerating since 2006. W h a t w o u ld h a p p en if th e in te rtid a l h a b ita ts c o n tin u e d to decrease?
W o u ld the n u m b e r o f w a terb ird s in B ohai B ay be reduced o r w o u ld th e y m ove to n e a rb y
re m a in in g w etlan d ? From 2007 to 2010 th e p o p u latio n s o f w aterb ird s, especially shorebirds,
n oticeably increased in th e core stu d y sites in T an g sh a n (Beipu, N a n p u a n d Z uidong) th a t w ere n o t
m u c h affected b y reclam atio n schem es (Tables 3, 4). T he increase in sh o re b ird n u m b e rs a t Z u id o n g
has b e e n goin g o n since a t least 2004 w h e n th e m ain reclam atio n s b eg an (Fig. 6; Y ang et al. 2008).
M eanw hile, R ed K not a n d C u rlew S andpiper, the tw o m ain species d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n ,
c o n tin u e d to c oncentrate in th e core area in T an g sh an as lan d reclam a tio n c o n tin u e d in B ohai Bay
(Figs. 7 a n d 8). T h is suggests th a t b ird s m oved fro m th e lost m u d flats to w h a t w as left n earb y ; it
m a y also m ea n th a t th e y h ave n o w h e re else to go.
T w o subspecies o f R ed K not, C. c. piersm ai and C. c. rogersi, stage a t th e in te rtid a l m u d flats of
B ohai Bay. A ccording to th e peak c ounts, b y 2010 at least 6 7 % o f the w o rld p o p u latio n of C.
c. piersm a i a n d 5 7 % o f C. c. rogersi, based o n th e figures in R ogers et al. (2010) refuelled a t the
core stu d y sites for several w eeks in A p ril a n d M ay . T he increase in R ed K n o t n u m b e rs co u n ted is
actu ally accom panied b y decreases in the total flyw ay p o p u latio n of the tw o subspecies, fro m
c.222,000 b ird s in 2000 (B am ford et al. 2008) to 130,000 b ird s in 2007 (P iersm a 2007) to 105,000
b ird s in 2009 (R ogers et al. 2010). S im ilarly, C u rlew S an d p ip er o n th e ir w in te rin g g ro u n d s in
H - Y . Y a n g e t al.
252
30000
25000
20000
<D
E
3
2
15000
2009
10000
5000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
M onth
F igure 6. M a x im u m m o n th ly n u m b e rs of sh o reb ird s a t Z u id o n g in T an g sh an (including 22 k m ’
of in te rtid a l flats) in 2004 a n d 2009 (2004 data fro m Y ang et al. 2008).
A u stra lia have also sh o w n decreasing n u m b e rs o v e r 30 y ears (G osbell a n d C lem ens 2006, R ogers
a n d G osbell 2006a, C. M in to n u n p u b l. data). T herefore, o u r stu d y confirm s the pred ictio n th a t
b ird s are forced in to ev er sm aller areas o f tidal flat in B ohai B ay d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n .
A large p ro p o rtio n o f th e w o rld 's declining p o p u latio n o f R elict G uii n u m b e rin g 12,000 birds
(BirdLife In te rn a tio n a l 2010a, IU C N 2010) w in te rs in B ohai Bay. T he T ia n jin coast w as
70-,
^ 60
oo 50
S . 40 -
10
Fted Knotpredcled
Fted Knot courted
-
50 -,
oO 40
0
X, 30
□ Curlew Sancfrÿer precicted
■ Clilew Sandpjjer courted
I—
_q 2D
1
z
10-
^
^
^
Year
F igure 7. Predicted a n d co u n ted peak n u m b e rs of R ed K not (A) a n d C u rlew S an d p ip er (B) in the
core stu d y area (Beipu, N a n p u a n d Z u idong) (including 67 k m ’ o f tidal flats) in T an g sh an d u rin g
n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n fro m 2000 to 2010. T he w h ite a n d black b a rs give th e predicted and counted
peak n u m b e rs a t th e core stu d y sites in 2000-2002, 2004 a n d 2006-2010 respectively.
I m p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y la n d r e c l a m a t io n o n w a te rb ird s
253
s
g 70 -
2010
t 60fD
Cüû
40S S 30-
2009
2008
* I. 2 0 o
2007^2006
^ 10-
S 3
^
2000-2002
c
300
400
500
600
700
Av a ila b le m u d f l a t s i n W & N Bo h ai Bay ( k m 2)
Figure 8. C hanges in peak n u m b e rs of Red K n o t in th e core stu d y area in T an g sh an (Beipu,
N a n p u an d Z uido ng) in parallel w ith changes in th e available in te rtid a l area in T ian jin and
T an g sh an along w e ste rn an d n o rth e rn B ohai B ay d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n fro m 2000 to 2010.
p re v io u sly th e m o st im p o rta n t k n o w n w in te rin g g ro u n d , especially for a d u lts (Liu et al. 2006).
In te re stin g ly , th e larg e st n u m b e r o f Relict G ulls occurred in T ian jin (8,230 birds, of w h ich 7,880
b ird s w ere fo u n d in the Jingqu sub-area, so u th o f th e D u liu jia n e stu a ry an d n o t p a rt o f o u r stu d y
area; Fig. 1) o n 17 D ecem ber 2005 a t th e b e g in n in g of the severe 2005/2 0 0 6 w in te r (Fig. 9) w h e n
exposed m udflats w ere still available (Y. L iu u n p u b l. data). H ow ever, th e im p o rta n ce o f T ianjin
has decreased since late 2007, as m u c h o f th e trad itio n a l w in te rin g h a b ita t has b een co n v erted in to
land for in d u stria l d evelopm ent. In th e 2008/2 0 0 9 w in te r th e y h ad a p p a re n tly m o v ed to
T an g sh an w h e re th e y w ere fo u n d in good n u m b e rs (7,318 birds, 6 1 % of th e ir global population,
in Ja n u a ry 2009), coinciding w ith h a b ita t loss in Jingqu (Fig. 2), w h ic h h eld the larg e st n u m b e r of
Relict G ulls c o u n te d in T ianjin. T h e n u m b e r of Relict G ulls p re se n t in o u r re m a in in g stu d y sites
in T ia n jin an d T an g sh an in th e 2008-2009 w in te r (8,477 birds) m atch ed th e p rev io u s m ax im u m
w in te r c o u n t in T ia n jin (8,230 bird s in 2005, Y. L iu u n p u b l. data). T h a t Relict G uii n u m b e rs w ere
so m u c h low er d u rin g th e follow ing w in te r (Fig. 5) m u s t have b e en d u e to th is w in te r b e in g the
m o st severe in B ohai B ay for 30 y e ars (Fig. 9). W e a th e r c onditions have p re v io u sly affected
th e w in te r d istrib u tio n o f Relict G uii (Liu et al. 2006, B irdLife In te rn a tio n a l 2010a). W e suggest
th a t th e T a n g sh an in te rtid a l area has becom e th e m o st im p o rta n t w in te rin g g ro u n d for Relict G uii
in n o rm a l w in ters.
E u rasia n C u rlew is n o w listed as 'N e a r T h re a te n e d ' (BirdLife In te rn a tio n a l 2010b, IU C N 2010)
a n d according to a n u p d a te d estim ate, th e ir EAAF p o p u latio n is n o w 100,000 bird s (Cao et al.
2009). T he difference b e tw ee n th e n e w e stim ate a n d th e old one o f 40,000 b ird s (B am ford et al.
2008) can be explained b y th e inclu sio n o f p re v io u sly u n k n o w n n u m b e rs o f bird s w in te rin g in
C h in a b u t n o t a n increase in th e flyw ay pop u latio n . E u rasian C u rlew w in te r o n th e coasts o f the
EAAF an d the m o st n o rth e rly an d a b u n d a n t area is Bohai B ay (Cao et al. 2009). In n o rm al
w in te rs fro m 2 006/2007 to 2008/2009, E u rasian C u rlew n u m b e rs increased ra p id ly in the
T an g sh an stu d y area (Fig. 5), p ossibly because p re v io u sly im p o rta n t w in te rin g areas n e a rb y w ere
reclaim ed b y C aofeidian N e w A re a (H.Y. Y ang u n p u b l. data; Fig. 2). T h a t 4 ,0 0 0 -5 ,0 0 0 E u rasian
C urlew s stay ed for the w hole o f th e coldest w in te r in 30 y e ars show s th a t th is sm all area of
in te rtid a l m udflats in T an g sh an is v e ry attrac tiv e (Figs. 5 a n d 9).
O n g o i n g la n d d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d p red icte d effects o n w a te rb ird s
A n e w big in d u stria l d evelopm ent, C a n g zh o u Bohai N e w A rea, has b e en u n d e r d ev elo p m en t in
so u th -w e ste rn Bohai B ay since 2007, w ith 3,321 km " o f p lan n e d d evelopm ents in clu d in g a 117
k i r r o ffshore area (SO A PR C 2009). A ccording to the land re clam a tio n plans (Table 1) an d the
1979-1980
1989-1990
1999-2000
2009-2010
Year
F igure 9. A verage w in te r te m p e ra tu re s (D ecem ber, Jan u a ry , F ebruary) in T ia n jin fro m 198 0 /
1981 to 2 0 09/2010 (C M D SS S 2010). W e used the average w in te r te m p e ra tu re in T ian jin as the
te m p e ra tu re is sim ilar in th e tw o areas (Table 4).
presence o f sea w alls still to be closed (pers. obs.), m o re m arin e h a b ita ts, in clu d in g large areas of
in te rtid a l m ud flat, w ill soon be lost a t all th re e d ev elo p m en t project sites. In addition, th e local
g o v e rn m e n t has sta rte d o th e r sm all reclam atio n projects in th e core stu d y area, w h ic h affect
in te rtid a l areas b y direct lan d c o n v ersio n as w ell as th e p u m p in g o f sand to fill-in n e a r-sh o re
saltpans (Fig. 10).
W e suggest th a t w a terb ird d ensities a t th e re m a in in g coastal sites in B ohai Bay, especially in
T an g sh an , w ill c o n tin u e to increase as in te rtid a l flats are lost. A s a re su lt, th e survival o f birds
forced to co n g reg ate to g e th e r o r to relocate is likely to decrease, leading to a decline in th e ir
flyw ay p o p u latio n s (Evans et al. 1979, G o ss-C u sta rd 1980, B aker et al. 2004, B u rto n et al. 2006,
G o ss-C u sta rd et al. 2006).
If th e e n tire in te rtid a l area in B ohai B ay disappears, w h a t w ill h a p p en to the w a terb ird s th a t
depend o n it no w ? A lo n g the Y ellow Sea coastline, m udflats are b ein g lost a t g re at speed (B arter
2002, M o o res 2006, M o o res et al. 2008, S O A P R C 2009, W a n et al. 2009), a n d it is believed th a t
declines in m ig ra to ry sh o re b ird p o p u latio n s in A u stra lia a n d N e w Z ealan d o v e r th e last 30 y ears
(G osbell a n d C lem ens 2006, S o u th e y 2009, C. M in to n u n p u b l. data, A W S G a n d A r th u r R ylah
In stitu te u n p u b l. data) are due to th e loss o f feeding h a b ita t at stopovers along th e Y ellow Sea
F igure 10. R eclam ation activities at Z u id o n g , one o f th e core stu d y sites in T an g sh an , since 2009
for in d u stry . A show s lan d reclam atio n o n th e m udflats. B a n d C are th e p u m p in g of sand from
the m u d flats (B) to fill-in n e a r-sh o re saltpans (C).
Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y lanci r e c la m a tio n o n w a te rb ird s
255
coast (B arter 2005, G osbell a n d C lem ens 2006, C. M in to n a n d D. R ogers pers. com m .). T h at the
Y ellow Sea m a y w ell be filled to capacity is d e m o n stra te d b y th e declines b e tw ee n 2006 a n d 2008
in 19 o f th e m o st a b u n d a n t sh o re b ird species at S a e m a n g eu m (137,000 sh o re b ird s in total; M oores
et al. 2008), a re ce n tly reclaim ed in te rtid a l area in S o u th K orea th a t w as p re v io u sly th e p re m ie r
sh o re b ird site in th e Y ellow Sea (M oores 2006, R ogers et al. 2006b). A m o n g th e m w as th e G reat
K not C alidris tenuirostris, endem ic to th is flyw ay, of w h ich 23 % of th e p o p u latio n depended o n
S a e m a n g eu m d u rin g n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n (R ogers et al. 2006b, M o o res et al. 2008). Since the
S a e m a n g eu m m u d flats w ere closed off, the w o rld p o p u latio n has declined b y 2 0 % (M oores et al.
2008) re su ltin g in G re at K not n o w bein g assessed as 'V u ln e ra b le ' b y IU C N (2010) a n d BirdLife
In te rn a tio n a l (2010c). A p p a ren tly , th is u n iq u e sh o re b ird species h a d n o w h e re else to go.
In view of th e a g ree m e n ts b e tw ee n C h in a a n d Japan (B eijing-1981), a n d C h in a a n d A u stra lia
(C a n b erra -1 9 8 8 ) to safeg u ard m ig ra to ry b ird s a n d th e ir e n v iro n m e n ts (A non. 1981, 1988), C hina
sh o u ld p ro tec t the re m a in in g in te rtid a l areas w ith in B ohai Bay to lim it fu rth e r declines in
w a te rb ird p o p u latio n s w ith in th e EAAF. A d d itio n ally , in o rd e r to m o n ito r the effects o f tidal flat
reclam atio n o n w aterb ird s, sy stem atic su rv e y s sh o u ld be conducted, especially d u rin g th e w in te r
a n d n o rth w a rd m ig ra tio n periods. A lso, m o re research sh o u ld be carried o u t to develop a good
u n d e rsta n d in g of th e re la tio n sh ip b e tw ee n m udflats, b e n th o s a n d w a terb ird s to u n d e rsta n d the
u n iq u e ecosystem in B ohai B ay th a t su p p o rts such large w a terb ird n u m b ers. It is also im p o rta n t
th a t decision m ak e rs a n d th e public are m ade fu lly aw are of th e g re at im p o rtan ce o f B ohai Bay
for w aterb ird s, a n d o f th e p o ten tial e n v iro n m e n ta l d isaster for all th o se th a t re ly o n the tidal flats
as a food source, in clu d in g th e m a n y h u m a n beings th a t h a rv est the B ay's finfish a n d shellfish
(Kim et al. 2006, Sato 2006, N ie a n d Tao 2008, W a n et al. 2009).
Acknowledgements
T his p roject w as su p p o rte d b y N a tio n a l Basic R esearch P ro g ra m o f C h in a (G ran t N o.
2006C B 403305), N a tio n a l N a tu ra l Science F o u n d a tio n o f C h in a-G u an g d o n g Joint F und (G rant
N o. U 0833005) a n d th e N a tio n a l Fish a n d W ildlife F oun d atio n -C o n o co P h illip s SPIR IT of
C o n se rv a tio n M ig ra to ry B ird P ro g ra m a n d th e In te rn a tio n a l C rane F oundation. W e acknow ledge
th e su p p o rt for o u r field research fro m M in g -L u W u , Section C h ief of th e F o re stry D e p artm en t,
H ebei Province, C hina. W e th a n k R u -L in G ao for his e n th u sia stic g u id in g to m o st o f th e stu d y
sites in T an g sh a n a n d his g e n e ro sity in sh a rin g his local know ledge . W e th a n k R u i-D in g Z hao,
Biao W an g , X u e -S o n g Feng, D ong-L ai Li, S i-H a n g C hen, Jia n -Q ian g Li, N in g W an g , Lei G uan,
Y ang Q iu, W ei-P a n Lei, S i-H ai Y an, T ian Fang, L an Z h a n g a n d X iao-Jing Li for field assistance
a n d D ong-L ai Li for h e lp in g d ra w th e m ap o f stu d y sites. T he m an u sc rip t w as im p ro v ed w ith help
fro m a n o n y m o u s review ers, P h il B attley, C live M in to n a n d P hil A tk in so n .
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K e y L a b o ra to ry fo r B io d iv ersity Science a n d Ecological E ngineering, B eijing N o rm a l U n iversity,
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BIN G C H E N
R o o m 2Ç11, B uild in g 1, 2 N a n -F a n g -Z h u a n g , F engtai D istrict, B eijing ïo o o y y , C hina.
M A R K BARTER
S chool o f Life Sciences, U n iv e rsity o f Science a n d T echnology o f C hina, H efei, A n h u i 230027,
C hina.
T H E U N IS PIE R SM A
A n im a l E cology G roup, C entre fo r Ecological a n d E v o lu tio n a ry Studies, U n iv e rsity o f
G roningen, P.O. B ox 1 1 1 03, 9700 CC G roningen, The N e th e rla n d s a n d D e p a rtm e n t o f M a rin e
E cology, R o y a l N e th e rla n d s In stitu te fo r Sea R esearch (N IO Z ), P.O. B ox 59, 1790 A B D en
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Im p a c ts o f B o h a i B a y la n d r e c la m a tio n on w a te rb ird s
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C H U N -F A Z H O U
K e y L a b o ra to ry fo r B io d iv ersity Science a n d Ecological E ngineering, B eijing N o rm a l U n iversity,
B eijing ïooSys;, C hina.
F E N G -S H A N LI
In te rn a tio n a l C rane F oundation, B am boo, W isconsin 53913, LISA.
Z H E N G -W A N G Z H A N G *
K e y L a b o ra to ry fo r B io d iv ersity Science a n d Ecological E ngineering, B eijing N o rm a l U n iversity,
B eijing ïooSys;, C hina.
*A u th o r fo r correspondence; e-m ail: zzw @ b n u .ed u .cn
R eceived 17 July 2010; re v isio n accepted 22 F e b ru a ry 2011;
Pub lish ed o n lin e 18 M a y 2011