Data from: Anthropogenic and environmental factors influence Kentish plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus) survival in a conservation-reliant coastal population
Data files
Mar 26, 2026 version files 14.98 KB
-
encounter_history_Galicia.csv
14.24 KB
-
README.md
743 B
Abstract
Bird survival is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors, including weather conditions and oil spills. In this study, we examined the impact of a major oil spill (Prestige oil tanker) and climatic conditions (precipitation and wind) on survival and recapture probability in the Kentish plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus) population in Galicia (NW Spain). To this end, we applied the Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) live recapture model to a sample of 372 adult birds captured between 1994 and 2023. The best-fit model indicated that survival was best explained by the interaction between precipitation and the Prestige oil spill, indicating a decrease in survival post-spill, especially in the periods Post1 (years 2003–2007) and Post2 (2008–2015). Precipitation showed a negative influence on adult survival, but wind had no significant influence. Recapture probability was influenced by the interaction between time, sex, and Prestige, with males showing higher values, probably due to behavioural and detectability differences. Environmental monitoring and preparedness for pollution events are therefore essential to improve the long-term viability of the species.
This dataset captures histories of Kentish plover adults from between 1994 and 2023.
Description of the data and file structure
File: encounter_history_Galicia.csv
This data is in CSV format and includes the capture history and the sex of each individual. The capture history is a string of 0's and 1's, and it has one of two options for each possible year (from 1994-2023). 0 is when the bird was not captured in a given year, and 1 is when a bird was captured. Here is an example of a 6-year capture history: 010110 - this bird was first captured (and ringed) in the second year, was not captured in the third year, was captured in the fourth and fifth years, and was not captured in the last year.
Adult plovers were captured in the nest with a funnel trap. Care was taken to avoid damaging eggs or attracting aerial or terrestrial predators to the nests. Each adult was marked with a unique combination of one to four colour leg rings and an alphanumeric metal ring. Body mass, bill length, tarsus length, and wing length were measured in all individuals captured. Sex was determined by differences in morphological characteristics that occur during the breeding season due to sexual dimorphism (Székely et al., 2011). Individuals were subsequently resighted when they were recaptured in the nest or by visual resighting with binoculars or a telescope.
References
Székely, T., Kosztolányi, A. & Küpper, C. 2011. Practical guide for investigating breeding ecology of Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus, v 4. University of Bath, UK.