Data from: Long-term changes in populations of rainforest birds in the Australia Wet Tropics bioregion: a climate-driven biodiversity emergency

Abstract [Related Publication]: Previous studies, based on species distribution modelling approaches, predicted significant declines and the potential for catastrophic levels of species extinctions in the upland vertebrate species in the rainforests of the Australian Wet Tropics bioregion in north-east Queensland. Here we use standardised bird surveys across the latitudinal/elevational gradients of the bioregion to assess the changes in abundance and total population size of rainforest birds over a 17-year period (2000-2016). We used measures of relative abundance in 1977 surveys across 62 different locations ranging from 0 to 1500 meters above sea level and utilised a trend analysis approach (TRIM) to investigate elevational shifts in abundance of species over time. Our aim was to determine if bird populations and assemblages were moving uphill as predicted in earlier studies. The data clearly demonstrate that bird species and assemblages are moving up. The local abundance of most mid and high elevation species has declined at the lower edges of their distribution by more than 40% while lowland species have increased dramatically by up to 190% into higher elevation areas. Upland, specialised species and regional endemics have undergone the most dramatic declines with overall declines of almost 50%. The species declines and the potential for species extinctions previously predicted is supported by the rapid and ongoing changes in populations and elevational distribution shifts demonstrated here. The “Outstanding Universal Value” of the Australian Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, one of the most irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots on Earth, is rapidly degrading. These observed trends truly represent a climate/biodiversity emergency requiring immediate action to protect this unique ecosystem.
This Data Publication includes:

Survey data (.csv file) from long-term monitoring conducted by Prof. Stephen E. Williams
Shiny application developed by Alejandro de la Fuente Piñero. The app includes 5 interactive tables (S1-S5) and figures (S1, S1.1(A), S2-S4) to accompany the publication, and is available from the link provided. 
Code and files to execute the application, archived on GitHub and available from the link provided.

The full methodology is available in the Open Access publication from the Related Publications link below.

【相关文献摘要】：既往研究基于物种分布建模方法，预测澳大利亚昆士兰州东北部湿润热带生物区雨林中的高地脊椎动物类群将出现种群数量显著下降，甚至可能发生灾难性的物种灭绝事件。本研究依托该生物区沿纬度与海拔梯度设置的标准化鸟类调查数据，评估了2000年至2016年这17年间雨林鸟类的种群丰度与总种群规模变化。我们整合了1977年在海拔0至1500米的62个不同调查点位获取的相对丰度数据，并采用趋势分析方法（TRIM）探究了物种丰度随时间推移的海拔分布偏移情况。本研究旨在验证鸟类种群与群落是否如既往研究所预测的那样向高海拔区域迁移。

调查数据清晰表明，鸟类物种及群落确实在向高海拔迁移。多数中海拔与高海拔物种在其分布下限区域的局域种群丰度下降幅度超过40%，而低地物种则向高海拔区域扩张，种群丰度最高增幅可达190%。高地特化物种与区域特有种的种群下降幅度最为显著，整体降幅接近50%。本研究观测到的种群快速持续变化与海拔分布偏移现象，印证了既往研究中预测的物种种群下降及潜在灭绝风险。作为地球上最不可替代的生物多样性热点区域之一，澳大利亚湿润热带世界遗产地的“突出普遍价值”正在快速丧失。本次观测到的种群变化趋势无疑标志着一场气候/生物多样性危机，亟需立即采取行动保护这一独特的生态系统。

本数据集包含以下内容：
- 由Stephen E. Williams教授开展的长期监测所获得的调查数据（.csv格式文件）
- 由Alejandro de la Fuente Piñero开发的Shiny应用程序。该应用包含5个交互式表格（S1-S5）与配套论文的插图（S1、S1.1(A)、S2-S4），可通过提供的链接获取。
- 可运行该应用的代码与相关文件，已归档至GitHub，可通过提供的链接获取。

完整的研究方法可通过下方相关文献链接获取的开放获取论文中查阅。