TY  - JOUR
A1  - Heim, Wieland
A1  - Trense, Daronja
A1  - Sokolova, Galina V.
A1  - Kitagawa, Tamaki
T1  - Increased populations of endangered cranes after Amur River flood
JF  - Waterbirds
N2  - Dam construction on the Zeya River, which is an important tributary of the Amur River in Far East Russia, has caused significant declines in water levels and frequency of floods in the adjacent floodplains since 1980. However, an extreme flood event occurred in 2013. Populations of six crane species were monitored before and after these drastic water level changes at Muraviovka Park in Far East Russia, an important breeding and stop-over site. Individuals were counted by territory mapping during the breeding season (2000-2015) and by roosting site counts during autumn migration (2006-2015). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether changes in water levels had a significant impact on local and migratory crane populations. We found a positive effect of flooding on numbers of breeding Red-crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) and White-naped Cranes (Antigone vipio), as well as on numbers of roosting Hooded Cranes (Grus monacha) in autumn. Siberian Cranes (Leucogeranus leucogeranus) were only observed after the wetlands were flooded. The results of this study highlight the importance of elevated Amur River water levels for crane populations of global importance.
KW  - Antigone vipio
KW  - cranes
KW  - dam construction
KW  - East Asian flyway
KW  - floodplain
KW  - Grus japonensis
KW  - Grus monacha
KW  - Leucogeranus leucogeranus
KW  - population trend
KW  - water level
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1675/063.040.0309
SN  - 1524-4695
SN  - 1938-5390
VL  - 40
SP  - 282
EP  - 288
PB  - Waterbirds SOC
CY  - Washington
ER  -