Relative importance of tidal flats and artificial habitats for two spoonbill species and related interspecific differences

Artificial/seminatural environments,such as aquacultural ponds,saltpans,and croplands,have recently been acknowledged as important habitats for coastal waterbirds.Although coastal waterbirds tend to use artificial habitats around tidal flats as roosting sites during high-tide,it remains unclear whether the importance of surrounding habitats relative to tidal flats varies among landscape types,seasons,species,or tidal conditions.The Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor)and Eurasian Spoonbill(P.leucorodia)are two closely related sympatric species in East Asia with narrow and wide distribution ranges and habitat requirements,respectively.We therefore expect that both species will use surrounding artificial habitats across seasons at high tides,but Blackfaced Spoonbills will use them less frequently than Eurasian Spoonbills.Here,we address these hypotheses in the Imazu tidal flat and its surrounding environments in southern Japan.We investigated the habitat use and behavioral patterns of both species through route and behavioral surveys during the fall migration and wintering seasons in 2021.We found that both species used surrounding habitats including artificial ones more frequently than the tidal flat regardless of the tidal condition or season,but spoonbills used these habitats more frequently in winter than in autumn.We also found that Eurasian Spoonbills foraged in surrounding artificial habitats more frequently than Black-faced Spoonbills.These results not only demonstrate how coastal waterbirds exploit surrounding habitats relative to tidal flats but also suggest that the importance of surrounding habitats varies among species and seasons.Our study thus emphasizes that valuing and managing surrounding habitats in addition to tidal flats are key to conserving globally declining waterbirds.

Migration routes,population status and important sites used by the globally threatened Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor):a synthesis of surveys and tracking studies

Background:The Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor)is a globally threatened species,nesting mainly in western Korea with smaller numbers breeding in Liaoning Province,China,and Far East Russia.Recent winter field surveys to estimate the species'population size were almost totally conducted in coastal areas,but tracking studies showed that some individuals now winter inland.To ensure its long-term survival,we need a more comprehensive assessment of the current distribution and abundance of the species.Methods:We combined the most recent count data and satellite tracking information to update existing informa-tion about the population abundance and distribution of the Black-faced Spoonbill at all stages of its annual life cycle,and how these have changed during 2004-2020.Results:Black-faced Spoonbills mainly breed on the west coast of the Korean peninsula,while immature birds show a wider summer distribution throughout Yellow Sea coastal areas,when a few remain on wintering sites in the south.Combined tracking results and mid-winter counts confirmed known wintering sites on the east and south coasts of China,but showed that the species also winters on wetlands in the Yangtze River floodplain and in Southeast Asia.During 2004-2020,counts of wintering birds in coastal habitats increased from 1198 to 4864,with numbers wintering on the island of Taiwan contributing most to the overall increase.Latest counts found 5222 in 2021.We also identify key wintering and stopover sites as well as their current conservation status.Conclusions:This study revised the known summering and wintering ranges of the Black-faced Spoonbill and assessed the conservation status of key sites based on a combination of field survey and satellite tracking data.We recommend prioritisation of further field research to identify and survey inland wintering areas in the Yangtze River floodplain and summering areas of immature birds.More tracking of adult individuals and birds during spring migration is necessary to fill these information gaps.We also suggest establishing a Black-faced Spoonbill monitoring platform to store,share and show real-time distribution range and population abundance data.

Fetal Instrumental Extractions at the Maternity Section of the Dakar Nabil Choucair Health Centre (Senegal) in 2017: Epidemio-Clinical Aspects, Indications and Prognosis

Introduction:?An instrumental extraction is performed in order to shorten the phase of expulsion of the fetus outside the maternal pelvic pathway, when there is a suspected fetal state or a defect in progression of the fetal mobile. It can be responsible for immediate or late maternal complications, which are not specific because they can occur after a normal delivery. The objectives of this work are to describe the epidemiological-clinical and prognosis aspects of deliveries assisted by instrumental extractions in a reference maternity unit in Dakar.?Materials and Methods:?This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017, a period of 12 months at the maternity ward of the Nabil Choucair Health Center. The collection was carried out using the survey form completed on the basis of the analysis of the files, the delivery register and the anaesthesia register of the operating room. The parameters studied were about socio-demographic?characteristics, indications and prognosis. The data entry was carried out using the Sphinx version 5 software and the data analysis using the Epi info version?3.5?software. Results:?During the period of our study, we collected 94 instrumental?extractions. The frequency of instrumental extractions was?1.7%. The average age of the patients was 25 years with extremes of 16 to 43 years old. The average parity was 1 with extremes 1 to 6. Among parturient women, 12?patients (12.8%) had a history of suction cup, two (2.1%) had received forceps and three (3.2%) had a cesarean section. The average gestational age was 39 Weeks of Amenorrhea (WA), the average uterine?height was 32?cm, fetal heart sounds were normal in 98% parturient’ cases. The vaginal?touch had found a fully dilated cervix, a rupture of the amniotic sac with clear amniotic?fluid in 98% of parturient women and a fetus with an anterior left iliac occipito topin 69.4% of cases. The pelvis was clinically normal in all parturient women. The indications were dominated by maternal fatigue (65.9%). The spatula was the?most commonly used instrument (82.7%). Episiotomy was performed in 97.3%?of cases. The average weight of the newborn was 3058 grams and an Apgar score of 8/10 was noted in 96% of newborns. We noted 3?cases of maternal complications with perineal tear type (3.2%) and 1 case of perineal tear associated with postpartum hemorrhage (1.06%). The neonatal prognosis was dominated by 2 caput succedaneum cases (2.1%). Newborns were alive and well in 97.8%. We noted 2 cases of death, i.e. 2.1% in?unsolved circumstances. All the mothers were alive and well at (100%). Conclusion:?Instrumental extractions must be integrated into our structures?to significantly reduce the number of abusive cesarean sections. The perfect mastery of extraction techniques and indications makes?it possible to?reduce fetal suffering while avoiding the morbidity associated with instrumental?extractions.