Winter coexistence in herbivorous waterbirds: niche differentiation in a floodplain, Poyang Lake, China

In this study, we tested the ecological segregation mechanisms in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 wintering periods among eight herbivorous waterbirds (including the Siberian crane <i>Grus leucogeranus</i>, hooded crane <i>Grus monacha</i>, white-naped crane <i>Grus vipio</i>, common crane <i>Grus grus</i>, greater white-fronted goose <i>Anser albifrons</i>, bean goose <i>Anser fabalis</i>, swan goose <i>Anser cygnoides</i>, and tundra swan <i>Cygnus columbianus</i>) at Poyang Lake. Using field observations and species niche and foraging habitat selection models, we investigated the abundance, distribution, and food sources of these eight waterbird species to quantify and compare their habitat use and ecological niches.

本研究以鄱阳湖为研究区域，针对2015/2016与2016/2017两个越冬期的8种草食性水鸟，探究其生态分隔机制。本次研究涉及的物种包括白鹤（*Grus leucogeranus*）、白头鹤（*Grus monacha*）、白枕鹤（*Grus vipio*）、灰鹤（*Grus grus*）、白额雁（*Anser albifrons*）、豆雁（*Anser fabalis*）、鸿雁（*Anser cygnoides*）以及小天鹅（*Cygnus columbianus*）。研究通过野外调查结合物种生态位与觅食生境选择模型，对这8种水鸟的种群数量、分布特征与食物资源进行调查，以此量化并对比其生境利用模式与生态位特征。