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Francesiaz C, Farine D, Laforge C, Béchet A, Nicolas S and Besnard A (2017), "Familiarity drives social philopatry in an obligate colonial breeder with weak interannual breeding-site fidelity", Animal Behaviour.
BibTeX:
@article{Francesiaz2017AB,
  author = {Francesiaz, Charlotte and Farine, Damien and Laforge, Charlotte and Béchet, Arnaud and Sadoul Nicolas and Besnard, Aurélien},
  title = {Familiarity drives social philopatry in an obligate colonial breeder with weak interannual breeding-site fidelity},
  journal = {Animal Behaviour},
  year = {2017}
}
Borghesi F, Enrico D, Migani F, Arnaud B, Rendón-Martos M, Amat JA, Sommer S and Gillingham MA (2016), "Assessing environmental pollution in birds: a new methodological approach for interpreting bioaccumulation of trace elements in feather shafts using geochemical sediment data", Methods in Ecology and Evolution. Wiley Online Library.
Abstract: 1. Environmental trace element composition can have an important impact on ecosystem and population health as well individual fitness. Therefore, carefully assessing bioaccumulation of trace elements is central to studies investigating the ecological impact of pollution. Colonial birds are important bioindicators since non-invasive sampling can easily be achieved through sampling of chick feathers, which controls for some confounding factors of variability (age and environmental heterogeneity). However, an additional confounding factor, external contamination (ExCo), which remains even after washing feathers, has frequently been overlooked in the literature.
2. We developed a new method to reliably interpret bioaccumulation of 10 trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn and Zn) in feathers using chicks of a colonial species: the Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus.First, only shafts were used to remove ExCo retained in vanes. Secondly, we applied a thorough washing procedure. Thirdly, we applied a new analytical method to control for ExCo, which assumes that ExCo is mainly due to adhered sediment particles and that the relative concentration of each trace element will be similar to the sediment geochemical composition of sampling sites. We validated this new methodology by comparing trace element composition and particle composition (by scanning electron microscopy and mass spectrometry) of washed and unwashed feathers.
3. The washing procedure removed >99% of K indicating that most of the ExCo from salt was removed. Scanning electron microscopy and mass spectrometry revealed that some sediment particles remained after washing, especially clays which are likely to severely bias bioaccumulation interpretation. We successfully controlled for ExCo by calculating the ratio of ExCo due to sediment using the geochemical fingerprint of sediment samples. Our methodology leads to conservative estimates of bioaccumulation for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn and Zn.
4. We have validated a new more reliable method of analysing trace element concentrations in feathers, which effectively controls for ExCo, if geochemical sediment data can be meaningfully compared to ExCo of feathers. We have demonstrated that overlooking ExCo leads to potentially erroneous conclusions, and we urge that the method applied in this study be considered in future studies.
BibTeX:
@article{Borghesi2016MEE,
  author = {Borghesi, Fabrizio and Enrico, Dinelli and Migani, Francesca and Arnaud, Béchet and Rendón-Martos, Manuel and Amat, Juan A and Sommer, Simone and Gillingham, Mark AF},
  title = {Assessing environmental pollution in birds: a new methodological approach for interpreting bioaccumulation of trace elements in feather shafts using geochemical sediment data},
  journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution},
  publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
  year = {2016}
}
Perrot C, Béchet A, Hanzen C, Arnaud A, Pradel R and Cézilly F (2016), "Sexual display complexity varies non-linearly with age and predicts breeding status in greater flamingos", Scientific reports.
BibTeX:
@article{Perrot2016SR,
  author = {Charlotte Perrot and Arnaud Béchet and Céline Hanzen and Antoine Arnaud and Roger Pradel and Frank Cézilly},
  title = {Sexual display complexity varies non-linearly with age and predicts breeding status in greater flamingos},
  journal = {Scientific reports},
  year = {2016}
}
Balkız Ö, Onmuş O.and Sıkı M, Döndürenc Ö.and Gül O, Arnaud A, Germain C, İsfendiyaroğlu S, Özbek M, Çağlayan E, Araç N, Parmak B, Özesmi U and Béchet A (2015), "Turkey as a crossroad for Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus: evidence from population trends and ring-resightings (Aves: Phoenicopteridae)", Zoology in the Middle East., June, 2015. Vol. 61(3), pp. 201-214.
Abstract: The Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus is a waterbird commonly found in sa-
line and brackish lagoons throughout the Mediterranean Region. We have gathered
existing data on Greater Flamingos in Turkey and carried out field surveys to present
the most up to date information on wintering (1999–2014) and breeding (1969–
2014). The wintering population of flamingos shows an increasing trend with
54,947±20,794 individuals mainly concentrated in the Gediz, Büyük Menderes and
Çukurova deltas, respectively. Breeding attempts were recorded in at least seven wet-
lands in Turkey in the past, yet after 1999 most of the colonies were abandoned due
to basin scale intensive water management practices in Central Anatolia. Currently,
only Tuz Lake and Gediz Delta are used as regular breeding sites, while breeding has
been recorded sporadically in Acıgöl and Akşehir Lakes. The breeding colony of Tuz
Lake is of prime importance at the Mediterranean scale, with the number of young
chicks in 2011, 2012 and 2013 accounting for the highest number of fledglings in the
Mediterranean Region and West Africa (18,418, 20,274 and 20,292 respectively). Fi-
nally, building upon the previous findings about Turkey and the western Mediterra-
nean metapopulation links, recent resightings of Turkish flamingos (despite the lim-
ited numbers) confirm post-fledging and natal dispersal reaching the western Medi-
terranean Basin and West Africa. Flamingos from Turkey were also found to disperse
to Israel and to a region outside the known flyways of the western Mediterranean and
West African flamingos (i.e. to Israel and UAE). Thus, Turkey, due to its geographic
position, appears to be a crossroad between the western and eastern Mediterranean
Region and southwest Asia.
BibTeX:
@article{Balkiz2015ZME,
  author = {Balkız, Ö. and Onmuş, O.and Sıkı, M. and Döndürenc, Ö.and Gül, O. and Arnaud, A. and Germain, C. and İsfendiyaroğlu, S. and Özbek, M. and Çağlayan, E. and Araç, N. and Parmak, B. and Özesmi, U. and Béchet, A},
  title = {Turkey as a crossroad for Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus: evidence from population trends and ring-resightings (Aves: Phoenicopteridae)},
  journal = {Zoology in the Middle East},
  year = {2015},
  volume = {61},
  number = {3},
  pages = {201--214},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2015.1058452},
  doi = {10.1080/09397140.2015.1058452}
}
Coreau A, Conversy P, Mermet L, Boisvert V, Bretagnolle V, Delay B, Gauthier O, Béchet A, Billé R, Déter J, Doré A, Doussan I, Dupouey M-A, Gosselin F, Halpern C, Jolivet S, Lecomte J, Lefeuvre C, Marty P, Michel C, Poinsot C, Séon-Massin N, Tatoni T, Thevenin E and Touroult J (2015), "Quelles questions émergentes pour les politiques publiques de biodiversité en France métropolitaine ? Résultats et perspectives", Natures Sciences Sociétés. Vol. 23, pp. 266-274.
Abstract: An horizon scan of emerging issues for biodiversity policies in France: results and
perspectives. Because drivers and pressures on biodiversity, societal expectations, and ecological
knowledge evolve rapidly, biodiversity conservation policies need to adapt continuously. Anticipating
such changes can however be difficult given the profusion and complexity of data and when signals
indicating future risks and opportunities may be weak. To tackle this challenge, the French Environment
ministry asked a research team at AgroParisTech to develop a new method for identifying emerging
issues for biodiversity policies by 2020 in France (except for overseas territories). This project, called
BioPIQuE 2013, involved both scientists and stakeholders in an interdisciplinary assessment. As a result,
25 emerging issues were identified, among which 10 issues were highlighted for their strategic interest. A
majority of these issues are current trends not yet taken into account by biodiversity policies (such as
“why do we have to and how can we improve our ability to restore – with ambitious biodiversity
objectives – urbanised and highly degraded areas?”), and a few of them are weak signals (such as “how
can we deal with trade-offs and conflicts between biodiversity policies and other environmental
policies?”). All stakeholders, including researchers, NGOs, public administrations, private companies
and politicians, can find in the results some inputs for developing their biodiversity conservation
strategies.
BibTeX:
@article{Coreau2015NSS,
  author = {Coreau, Audrey and Conversy, Pauline and Mermet, Laurent and Boisvert, Valérie and Bretagnolle, Vincent and Delay, Bernard and Gauthier, Odile and Béchet, Arnaud and Billé, Raphaël and Déter, Julie and Doré, Antoine and Doussan, Isabelle and Dupouey, Marie-Agnès and Gosselin, Frédéric and Halpern, Charlotte and Jolivet, Samuel and Lecomte, Jane and Lefeuvre, Cyrille and Marty, Pascal and Michel, Charlotte and Poinsot, Claire and Séon-Massin, Nirmala and Tatoni, Thierry and Thevenin, Emmanuel and Touroult, Julien},
  title = {Quelles questions émergentes pour les politiques publiques de biodiversité en France métropolitaine ? Résultats et perspectives},
  journal = {Natures Sciences Sociétés},
  year = {2015},
  volume = {23},
  pages = {266-274},
  url = {http://www.nss-journal.org/10.1051/nss/2015047},
  doi = {10.1051/nss/2015047}
}
Gillingham MA, Courtiol A, Teixeira M, Galan M, Béchet A and Cézilly F (2015), "Evidence of gene orthology and trans-species polymorphism, but not of parallel evolution, despite high levels of concerted evolution in the major histocompatibility complex of flamingo species", Journal of evolutionary biology.
Abstract: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a cornerstone in the study
of adaptive genetic diversity. Intriguingly, highly polymorphic MHC
sequences are often not more similar within species than between closely
related species. Divergent selection of gene duplicates, balancing selection
maintaining trans-species polymorphism (TSP) that predate speciation and
parallel evolution of species sharing similar selection pressures can all lead
to higher sequence similarity between species. In contrast, high rates of con-
certed evolution increase sequence similarity of duplicated loci within spe-
cies. Assessing these evolutionary models remains difficult as relatedness
and ecological similarities are often confounded. As sympatric species of
flamingos are more distantly related than allopatric species, flamingos repre-
sent an ideal model to disentangle these evolutionary models. We character-
ized MHC Class I exon 3, Class IIB exon 2 and exon 3 of the six extant
flamingo species. We found up to six MHC Class I loci and two MHC Class
IIB loci. As all six species shared the same number of MHC Class IIB loci,
duplication appears to predate flamingo speciation. However, the high rate
of concerted evolution has prevented the divergence of duplicated loci. We
found high sequence similarity between all species regardless of codon posi-
tion. The latter is consistent with balancing selection maintaining TSP, as
under this mechanism amino acid sites under pathogen-mediated selection
should be characterized by fewer synonymous codons (due to their common
ancestry) than under parallel evolution. Overall, balancing selection main-
taining TSP appears to result in high MHC similarity between species regard-
less of species relatedness and geographical distribution.
BibTeX:
@article{Gillingham2015JEB,
  author = {Gillingham, Mark AF and Courtiol, Alexandre and Teixeira, Maria and Galan, Maxime and Béchet, Arnaud and Cézilly, Frank},
  title = {Evidence of gene orthology and trans-species polymorphism, but not of parallel evolution, despite high levels of concerted evolution in the major histocompatibility complex of flamingo species},
  journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
  year = {2015}
}
Meineri E, Deville A-S, Gremillet D, Gauthier-Clerc M and Béchet A (2015), "Combining correlative and mechanistic habitat suitability models to improve ecological compensation", Biological Reviews. Vol. 90, pp. 314-329.
Abstract: Only a few studies have shown positive impacts of ecological compensation on species dynamics affected by
human activities. We argue that this is due to inappropriate methods used to forecast required compensation
in environmental impact assessments. These assessments are mostly descriptive and only valid at limited spatial
and temporal scales. However, habitat suitability models developed to predict the impacts of environmental
changes on potential species’ distributions should provide rigorous science-based tools for compensation
planning. Here we describe the two main classes of predictive models: correlative models and individual-based
mechanistic models. We show how these models can be used alone or synoptically to improve compensation
planning. While correlative models are easier to implement, they tend to ignore underlying ecological
processes and lack accuracy. On the contrary, individual-based mechanistic models can integrate biological
interactions, dispersal ability and adaptation. Moreover, among mechanistic models, those considering animal
energy balance are particularly efficient at predicting the impact of foraging habitat loss. However, mechanistic
models require more field data compared to correlative models. Hence we present two approaches which com-
bine both methods for compensation planning, especially in relation to the spatial scale considered. We show
how the availability of biological databases and software enabling fast and accurate population projections
could be advantageously used to assess ecological compensation requirement efficiently in environmental
impact assessments.
BibTeX:
@article{MeineriDeville2014BR,
  author = {Eric Meineri and Anne-Sophie Deville and David Gremillet and Michel Gauthier-Clerc and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Combining correlative and mechanistic habitat suitability models to improve ecological compensation},
  journal = {Biological Reviews},
  year = {2015},
  volume = {90},
  pages = {314-329},
  doi = {doi: 10.1111/brv.12111}
}
Moreno-Mateos D, Maris V, Béchet A and Curran M (2015), "The true loss caused by biodiversity offsets", Biological Conservation. Vol. OnlineFirst
Abstract: Biodiversity offsets aim to achieve a “no-net-loss” of biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services due to
development. The “no-net-less” objective assumes that the multi-dimensional values of biodiversity in complex
ecosystems can be isolated from their spatial, evolutionary, historical, social, and moral context. We examine
the irreplaceability of ecosystems, the limits of restoration, and the environmental values that claim to
be compensated through ecosystem restoration. We discuss multiple ecological, instrumental, and non-
instrumental values of ecosystems that should be considered in offsetting calculations. Considering this range
of values, we summarize the multiple ecological, regulatory, and ethical losses that are often dismissed when
evaluatingoffsetsandthe“no-net-loss”objective.Giventherisksthatbiodiversityoffsetsposeinbypassing strict
regulations,erodingourmoralresponsibilitytoprotectnature,andembracingmisplacedtechnologicaloptimism
relating to ecosystem restoration, we argue that offsets cannot fulfil their promise to resolve the trade-off
between development and conservation. If compensation for biodiversity loss is unavoidable, as it may well
be, these losses must be made transparent and adequate reparation must embrace socio-ecological uncertainty,
for example through a Multi-Criteria Evaluation framework. Above all, strict protection legislation should be
strengthened rather than watered down as is the current trend.
BibTeX:
@article{Moreno-Mateos2015BC,
  author = {Moreno-Mateos, David and Maris, Virginie and Béchet, Arnaud and Curran, Michael},
  title = {The true loss caused by biodiversity offsets},
  journal = {Biological Conservation},
  year = {2015},
  volume = {OnlineFirst}
}
Béchet A and Olivier A (2014), "Cossure : un exemple à ne pas suivre ? Regards critiques sur la première expérience de compensation par l’offre initiée en France", Le courrier de la nature. (284), pp. 40-45.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2014CN,
  author = {Arnaud Béchet and Anthony Olivier},
  title = {Cossure : un exemple à ne pas suivre ? Regards critiques sur la première expérience de compensation par l’offre initiée en France},
  journal = {Le courrier de la nature},
  year = {2014},
  number = {284},
  pages = {40-45}
}
Deville A-S, Labaude S, Robin J-P, Béchet A, Gauthier-Clerc M, Porter W, Fitzpatrick M, Mathewson P and Grémillet D (2014), "Impacts of extreme climatic events on the energetics of long-lived vertebrates: the case of the greater flamingo facing cold spells in the Camargue", The Journal of Experimental Biology. Vol. 217(20), pp. 3700-3707.
Abstract: Most studies analyzing the effects of global warming on wild populations focus on gradual temperature changes, yet it is also important to understand the impact of extreme climatic events. Here we studied the effect of two cold spells (January 1985 and February 2012) on the energetics of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in the Camargue (southern France). To understand the cause of observed flamingo mass mortalities, we first assessed the energy stores of flamingos found dead in February 2012, and compared them with those found in other bird species exposed to cold spells and/or fasting. Second, we evaluated the monthly energy requirements of flamingos across 1980–2012 using the mechanistic model Niche Mapper™. Our results show that the body lipids of flamingos found dead in 2012 corresponded to 2.6±0.3% of total body mass, which is close to results found in woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola) that died from starvation during a cold spell (1.7±0.1%), and much lower than in woodcocks which were fed throughout this same cold spell (13.0±2%). Further, Niche Mapper™ predicted that flamingo energy requirements were highest (+6–7%) during the 1985 and 2012 cold spells compared with ‘normal’ winters. This increase was primarily driven by cold air temperatures. Overall, our findings strongly suggest that flamingos starved to death during both cold spells. This study demonstrates the relevance of using mechanistic energetics modelling and body condition analyses to understand and predict the impact of extreme climatic events on animal energy balance and winter survival probabilities.
BibTeX:
@article{Deville2014JEB,
  author = {Deville, Anne-Sophie and Labaude, Sophie and Robin, Jean-Patrice and Béchet, Arnaud and Gauthier-Clerc, Michel and Porter, Warren and Fitzpatrick, Megan and Mathewson, Paul and Grémillet, David},
  title = {Impacts of extreme climatic events on the energetics of long-lived vertebrates: the case of the greater flamingo facing cold spells in the Camargue},
  journal = {The Journal of Experimental Biology},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {217},
  number = {20},
  pages = {3700-3707},
  url = {http://jeb.biologists.org/content/217/20/3700.abstract},
  doi = {10.1242/jeb.106344}
}
Ernoul L, Mesléard F, Gaubert P and Béchet A (2014), "Limits to agri-environmental schemes uptake to mitigate human–wildlife conflict: lessons learned from Flamingos in the Camargue, southern France", International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability. Vol. 12(1), pp. 23-36.
Abstract: Agri-environment schemes (AES) favouring the maintenance of hedges were implemented in
the Camargue (southern France) as it has previously been proven to reduce the risk of damage
caused by Greater Flamingo incursions into rice fields. Given the persistent incursions, we
estimated the economic cost of damage from 2007 to 2009, the uptake rate of hedge-related
AES and explored the limits of these schemes as a mitigation effort. Semi-structured and
key informant interviews, site mapping and field visits were made to verify claims and
estimate damage. Number of plants/m 2 and fertile stems/plant were estimated on 1,498 and
312 grids, respectively, spread over 26 rice fields. Damaged areas of rice fields forayed by
flamingos presented from 1.35 to 3.06 t/ha lower yield than undamaged areas. We estimated
228E/ha average loss in forayed fields for a total of 400,000E in yield loss in 2008.
Administrative constraints limited AES and free seedlings distribution, preventing the
problem from being addressed at an appropriate scale. The trivial financial support for
hedge management relative to more lucrative AES with lower constraints resulted in low
uptake rate. We propose that modifications of AES take into account landscape factors over
administrative boundaries and that the financial support for AES be scaled up relative to
other subsidies in order to address the efforts necessary to achieve landscape changes to
reduce human–wildlife conflict.
BibTeX:
@article{Ernoul2013IJAS,
  author = {Lisa Ernoul and François Mesléard and Pascal Gaubert and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Limits to agri-environmental schemes uptake to mitigate human–wildlife conflict: lessons learned from Flamingos in the Camargue, southern France},
  journal = {International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {12},
  number = {1},
  pages = {23-36},
  doi = {10.1080/14735903.2013.798897}
}
Ficheux S, Olivier A, Fay R, Crivelli A, Besnard A and Béchet A (2014), "Rapid response of a long-lived species to improved water and grazing management:The case of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Camargue, France", Journal for Nature Conservation. Vol. 22(4), pp. 342-348.
Abstract: Among human activities, the effect of habitat management by grazing on population viability is ambiguous. Indeed, beneficial effects of grazing are expected by maintaining open meadows, but overgrazing is supposed to increase mortality by trampling. Grazing has been shown to negatively impact the survival of European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Camargue. Consequently, a new management plan was defined. We investigated the consequences of this management using capture–recapture methods to estimate variations of population sizes in this managed site and a control site over a 17 years period. Results show an increase of the number of adults and juveniles on the managed site after the management change. Our results suggest that improved water management with flooding in autumn provided better hibernation conditions, and that reduced grazing intensity in autumn/winter likely decreased the risk of trampling. Population size significantly increased in less than 4 years following the management change, probably by the relaxation of density-dependence. It is an original result for a long lived-species supposed to have an important time of resilience to perturbations.
BibTeX:
@article{Ficheux2014JFC,
  author = {Sébastien Ficheux and Anthony Olivier and Rémi Fay and Alain Crivelli and Aurélien Besnard and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Rapid response of a long-lived species to improved water and grazing management:The case of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Camargue, France},
  journal = {Journal for Nature Conservation},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {22},
  number = {4},
  pages = {342-348},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jnc.2014.03.001}
}
Hamza F, Hammouda A, Chokri MA, Béchet A and Selmi S (2014), "Distribution et abondance du flamant rose Phoenicopterus roseus hivernant dans la zone centrale du Golfe de Gabès (Tunisie)", Alauda. Vol. 82(2), pp. 135-142.
BibTeX:
@article{Hamza2014ALAUDA,
  author = {Foued Hamza and Abdessalem Hammouda and Mohamed Ali Chokri and Arnaud Béchet and Slaheddine Selmi},
  title = {Distribution et abondance du flamant rose Phoenicopterus roseus hivernant dans la zone centrale du Golfe de Gabès (Tunisie)},
  journal = {Alauda},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {82},
  number = {2},
  pages = {135-142}
}
Wyss F, Wolf P, Wenker C, Hoby S, Schumacher V, Béchet A, Robert N and Liesegang A (2014), "Comparison of plasma vitamin A and E, copper and zinc levels in free-ranging and captive greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and their relation to pododermatitis", Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. Vol. 98(6), pp. 1102-1109.
Abstract: Pododermatitis is a worldwide problem in captive flamingos. Studies in domestic poultry showed that nutrition is a possible influencing factor for pododermatitis. Vitamin A and E, copper and zinc levels were analysed in two different diets (diet 1 = in-house mix and diet 2 = commercial diet) and in plasma of captive greater flamingos fed these diets and compared to those of free-ranging greater flamingos. Results were analysed with respect to type and severity of foot lesions of the individuals from the different groups. Juvenile and subadult/adult captive flamingos on diet 1 showed various types and severities of foot lesions, whereas no foot lesions were found at the time of blood sampling in juvenile captive flamingos on diet 2. Juvenile captive flamingos on diet 1 had significantly lower plasma zinc levels than juvenile captive flamingos on diet 2 and juvenile free-ranging flamingos; data were also lower than reference ranges for flamingos, poultry and cranes. There were no significant differences in plasma vitamin A, vitamin E, copper or zinc levels between animals with different types of foot lesions or with different severity scores. Shortly after the change to diet 2 (fed to juvenile captive flamingos that did not show any foot lesion), the flooring of the outdoor water pools was covered with fine granular sand. Because both factors (nutrition and flooring) were changed during the same evaluation period, it cannot be concluded which factor contributed in what extent to the reduction of foot lesions. While it is assumed that low plasma zinc levels identified in the group of juvenile captive flamingos on diet 1 were not directly responsible for foot lesions observed in these animals, they may have played a role in altering the skin integrity of the feet and predisposing them to pododermatitis.
BibTeX:
@article{Wyss2014JAPAN,
  author = {Wyss, F. and Wolf, P. and Wenker, C. and Hoby, S. and Schumacher, V. and Béchet, A. and Robert, N. and Liesegang, A.},
  title = {Comparison of plasma vitamin A and E, copper and zinc levels in free-ranging and captive greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and their relation to pododermatitis},
  journal = {Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition},
  year = {2014},
  volume = {98},
  number = {6},
  pages = {1102--1109},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpn.12184},
  doi = {10.1111/jpn.12184}
}
Deville A-S, Grémillet D, Gauthier-Clerc M, Guillemain M, Von Houwald F, Gardelli B and Béchet A (2013), "Non-linear feeding functional responses in the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) predict immediate negative impact of wetland degradation on this flagship species", Ecology and Evolution. Vol. 3(5), pp. 1413-1425.
Abstract: Accurate knowledge of the functional response of predators to prey density is essential for understanding food web dynamics, to parameterize mechanistic models of animal responses to environmental change, and for designing appropriate conservation measures. Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus), a flagship species of Mediterranean wetlands, primarily feed on Artemias (Artemia spp.) in commercial salt pans, an industry which may collapse for economic reasons. Flamingos also feed on alternative prey such as Chironomid larvae (e.g., Chironomid spp.) and rice seeds (Oryza sativa). However, the profitability of these food items for flamingos remains unknown. We determined the functional responses of flamingos feeding on Artemias, Chironomids, or rice. Experiments were conducted on 11 captive flamingos. For each food item, we offered different ranges of food densities, up to 13 times natural abundance. Video footage allowed estimating intake rates. Contrary to theoretical predictions for filter feeders, intake rates did not increase linearly with increasing food density (type I). Intake rates rather increased asymptotically with increasing food density (type II) or followed a sigmoid shape (type III). Hence, flamingos were not able to ingest food in direct proportion to their abundance, possibly because of unique bill structure resulting in limited filtering capabilities. Overall, flamingos foraged more efficiently on Artemias. When feeding on Chironomids, birds had lower instantaneous rates of food discovery and required more time to extract food from the sediment and ingest it, than when filtering Artemias from the water column. However, feeding on rice was energetically more profitable for flamingos than feeding on Artemias or Chironomids, explaining their attraction for rice fields. Crucially, we found that food densities required for flamingos to reach asymptotic intake rates are rarely met under natural conditions. This allows us to predict an immediate negative effect of any decrease in prey density upon flamingo foraging performance.
BibTeX:
@article{Deville2013EE,
  author = {Deville, Anne-Sophie and Grémillet, David and Gauthier-Clerc, Michel and Guillemain, Matthieu and Von Houwald, Friederike and Gardelli, Bruno and Béchet, Arnaud},
  title = {Non-linear feeding functional responses in the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) predict immediate negative impact of wetland degradation on this flagship species},
  journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
  year = {2013},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {1413-1425},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.554},
  doi = {10.1002/ece3.554}
}
Doxa A, Besnard A, Béchet A, Pin C, Lebreton J-D and Sadoul N (2013), "Inferring dispersal dynamics from local population demographic modelling: the case of the slender-billed gull in France", Animal Conservation. Vol. 16(6), pp. 684-693. Wiley Online Library.
Abstract: Although it is today accepted that population viability analyses are needed at a meta-population level for most species, usually only single populations are moni-
tored in the context of management and conservation programmes. This paper outlines a fairly general and easy-to-implement approach based on counts and
capture–recapture data that allow the dynamics of single populations to be assessed even when they are highly connected to other populations. This approach was motivated by a study of the French population of the slender-billed gull Larus genei, which experienced a sharp population increase in the 1980s and 1990s,
suggesting that the species was not at risk of extinction. However, several recently raised concerns indicate that the observed population increase is unlikely to have
been achieved uniquely by an intrinsic growth rate. We estimated local adult survival probability at 0.81 (0.79–0.83), which is considerably lower than that of
other gull species of comparable size. Moreover, local fecundity observed in slender-billed gulls [0.66 (0.47–0.85)] is lower than that observed in similar species.
Massive reproduction failures and the low demographic parameters observed could be caused by chick exposure to aerial and terrestrial predation, leading to
permanent emigration. Unrealistically high demographic parameter values would be needed to generate the observed local population increase. The results of our
study indicate that connections with other neighbouring populations are responsible for the local population dynamics, and that about 10% of the individuals may
be immigrants into this local population annually. However, our results suggest that the population of the slender-billed gull may be stable at the west Mediter-
ranean scale. The high annual fluctuations of population size observed at a larger scale also highlight the necessity for coordinated international action to protect a
maximum of potential breeding sites in order to protect the species.
BibTeX:
@article{Doxa2013AC,
  author = {Doxa, A and Besnard, A and Béchet, A and Pin, C and Lebreton, J-D and Sadoul, N},
  title = {Inferring dispersal dynamics from local population demographic modelling: the case of the slender-billed gull in France},
  journal = {Animal Conservation},
  publisher = {Wiley Online Library},
  year = {2013},
  volume = {16},
  number = {6},
  pages = {684-693}
}
Gillingham MA, Cézilly F, Wattier R and Béchet A (2013), "Evidence for an Association between Post-Fledging Dispersal and Microsatellite Multilocus Heterozygosity in a Large Population of Greater Flamingos", PloS one. Vol. 8(11), pp. e81118. Public Library of Science.
Abstract: Dispersal can be divided into three stages: departure, transience and settlement. Despite the fact that theoretical studies have emphasized the importance of heterozygosity on dispersal strategies, empirical evidence of its effect on different stages of dispersal is lacking. Here, using multi-event capture-mark-recapture models, we show a negative association between microsatellite multilocus heterozygosity (MLH; 10 loci; n=1023) and post-fledging dispersal propensity for greater
flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus, born in southern France. We propose that the negative effects of inbreeding depression affects competitive ability and therefore more homozygous individuals are more likely to disperse because they are less able to compete within the highly saturated natal site. Finally, a model with the effect of MLH on propensity of post-fledgling dispersers to disperse to the long-distance sites of Africa was equivalent to the null model, suggesting that MLH had low to no effect on dispersal distance. Variations in individual genetic quality thus result in context-dependent heterogeneity in dispersal strategies at each stage of dispersal. Our results have important implications on fitness since sites visited early in life are known to influence site selection later on in life and future survival.
BibTeX:
@article{Gillingham2013PLOSONE,
  author = {Gillingham, Mark AF and Cézilly, Frank and Wattier, Rémi and Béchet, Arnaud},
  title = {Evidence for an Association between Post-Fledging Dispersal and Microsatellite Multilocus Heterozygosity in a Large Population of Greater Flamingos},
  journal = {PloS one},
  publisher = {Public Library of Science},
  year = {2013},
  volume = {8},
  number = {11},
  pages = {e81118}
}
Wyss F, Wenker S, Hoby B, Gardelli A, Studer-Thiersch F, Von Houwald V, Schumacher M, Clauss M, Doherr W, Häfeli S, Furrer A, Béchet A. and Robert N (2013), "Factors influencing the onset and progression of pododermatitis in captive flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)", Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde (SAT). Vol. 155(9), pp. 497-503.
BibTeX:
@article{Wyss2013SAT,
  author = {Wyss, F.C. and Wenker, S. and Hoby, B. and Gardelli, A. and Studer-Thiersch, F. and Von Houwald, V. and Schumacher, M. and Clauss, M.G. and Doherr, W. and Häfeli, S. and Furrer, A. and Béchet, A., and Robert, N.},
  title = {Factors influencing the onset and progression of pododermatitis in captive flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)},
  journal = {Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde (SAT)},
  year = {2013},
  volume = {155},
  number = {9},
  pages = {497-503}
}
Béchet A, Rendón-Martos M, Rendón MA, Amat JA, Johnson AR and Gauthier-Clerc M (2012), "Global economy interacts with climate change to jeopardize species conservation : a case study in the Greater flamingo in the Mediterranean and West Africa", Environmental Conservation. Vol. 39, pp. 1-3.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2012,
  author = {Arnaud Béchet and Manuel Rendón-Martos and Miguel Angel Rendón and Juan Aguilar Amat and Alan R. Johnson and Michel Gauthier-Clerc},
  title = {Global economy interacts with climate change to jeopardize species conservation : a case study in the Greater flamingo in the Mediterranean and West Africa},
  journal = {Environmental Conservation},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {39},
  pages = {1-3}
}
Béchet A (2012), "Comptes rendus du colloque « Écologie de la restauration et développement durable. Dépasser les frontières » Avignon, 23-27 août 2010.", Natures Sciences et Sociétés. Vol. 20, pp. 100-103.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2012NSS,
  author = {Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Comptes rendus du colloque « Écologie de la restauration et développement durable. Dépasser les frontières » Avignon, 23-27 août 2010.},
  journal = {Natures Sciences et Sociétés},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {20},
  pages = {100-103}
}
Cayuela H, Besnard A, Béchet A, Devictor V and Olivier A (2012), "Reproductive dynamics of three amphibian species in Mediterranean wetlands: the role of local precipitation and hydrological regimes", Freshwater Biology. Vol. 57, pp. 2629-2640.
Abstract: 1. Although the influence of water availability and precipitation regimes on amphibians has been studied at large scales, whether and how interannual rainfall and hydrological variations affect amphibians dynamics at a local scale have rarely been addressed. In this respect, accounting for variations in species detectability in space and time has also been overlooked.
2. We assessed the effects of rainfall and hydrological variations on the breeding dynamics of three amphibian taxa: Pelodytes punctatus, Hyla meridionalis and Pelophylax spp. in 20 ponds of the Camargue region (southern France) over a 7-year study period.
3. We used multiple season occupancy models to test the effect of winter–spring rainfall and interannual variations in hydroperiod, mean water depth and drought events on tadpole presence in spring (March–June), a proxy for breeding dynamics.
4. We used an independent survey with spatial replicates (dipnet sweeps) to disentangle the relative contributions of phenology and detectability to the absence of records in a given month. For the three taxa considered, the probability of missing a species when that species was actually present in a pond was most often negligible. Hence, we could consider that multiseason models properly tracked changes in species phenology.
5. Pelodytes punctatus was first detected in March, while the two other taxa appeared later in April. Hyla meridionalis appeared as a mid-season species with much more synchronous pond occupancy than Pelodytes punctatus. The detection peak of Pelophylax spp. was short and unexpectedly early for this taxon.
6. Seasonal winter–spring rainfall was associated with a decrease in extinction rates and even more strongly with an increase in colonisation rates at individual ponds.
7. Colonisation rate increased following an annual drought and was best modelled as a negative quadratic effect of the variance of pond hydroperiod. Extinction probability was best modelled by a negative quadratic effect of mean water level. Hence, breeding was more stochastic (i) in unpredictable and shallow ponds because of yearly drying up and (ii) in highly predictable and deep ponds, possibly due to the presence of predators such as fish and crayfish.
8. Overall, we show that ponds with intermediate rather than extreme variations in environmental conditions currently correspond to optimal breeding sites. Our study demonstrates that amphibian monitoring coupled with fine-scale analysis of environmental conditions is necessary to understand species dynamics in the long run and to inform conservation efforts for these species.
BibTeX:
@article{Cayuela2012,
  author = {Hugo Cayuela and Aurélien Besnard and Arnaud Béchet and Vincent Devictor and Anthony Olivier},
  title = {Reproductive dynamics of three amphibian species in Mediterranean wetlands: the role of local precipitation and hydrological regimes},
  journal = {Freshwater Biology},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {57},
  pages = {2629-2640}
}
Ernoul L, Mesléard F and Béchet A (2012), "Diagnostique de l'échec de la contractualisation des mesures agri-environnementales pour réduire les incursions de flamants dans les rizières de Camargue", Vertigo. Vol. 12
Abstract: Les incursions des flamants roses dans les rizières de Camargue ne concernent que quelques pourcentages de la sole rizicole, néanmoins les dégâts occasionnés ponctuellement peuvent être conséquents et nécessiter un re-semis complet des parcelles touchées. Le rôle dissuasif de la présence de haies sur la venue des flamants ayant été démontré, un contrat visant à indemniser l’entretien des haies autour des rizières a été proposé dans le cadre des Mesures-
Agri-Environnementales (MAE). Pour autant, très peu de riziculteurs ont souscrit à ce contrat. Nous montrons que ce faible taux de contractualisation s’explique par la restriction des MAE aux périmètres du Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue et Natura 2000, et par le fait que la présence et l’entretien des haies sont perçus par la majorité des riziculteurs comme incompatibles avec les pratiques culturales intensives. Afin que soient opérés les changements paysagers nécessaires à la réduction des dommages, les MAE devront mieux prendre en compte la zone affectée et les subventions correspondent davantage aux coûts financiers.
Ce mesures ne seraient seules suffire. Il paraît également nécessaire de s’appuyer sur des riziculteurs clés dans leur démarche.

Flamingo forays in the Camargue rice fields only affect a small percentage of the surface area ; however, the damage incurred in the individual fields can be important and may even require the entire area to be replanted. Previous research has demonstrated hedges around rice fields could reduce the attractiveness of the fields for flamingos. In consequence, Agri-environmental Schemes (AES) were proposed to compensate farmers for hedge maintenance. These AES have not been contracted in great numbers and few new hedges have been established in the study area. We demonstrate that the lack of contractualisation can be explained by several factors : the administrative limits of the AES, the poor financial compensation for the measures and the perceived incompatibility of hedges with current agricultural practices. In order to promote the landscape changes necessary to reduce flamingo forays, we propose that the current AES be extended to cover the territory affected by the incursions and be reformulated to take into consideration the time and effort necessary for farmers to produce these changes. The AES alone may not be sufficient and a pilot farmer approach linked to AES could be a possible tool to spur the change in practices required in the Camargue.
BibTeX:
@article{Ernoul2012,
  author = {Lisa Ernoul and François Mesléard and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Diagnostique de l'échec de la contractualisation des mesures agri-environnementales pour réduire les incursions de flamants dans les rizières de Camargue},
  journal = {Vertigo},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {12},
  url = {http://vertigo.revues.org/12112}
}
Geraci J, Béchet A, Cézilly F, Ficheux S, Baccetti N, Samraoui B and Wattier R (2012), "Greater flamingo colonies around the Mediterranean form a single interbreeding population and share a common history", Journal of Avian Biology. Vol. 43, pp. 341-354.
Abstract: Th e greater fl amingo Phoenicopterus roseus is a long-lived colonial waterbird species, characterized by a large range encompassing three continents, a very limited number of breeding sites, and high dispersal abilities. We investigated both the phylogeographic history and the contemporary extent of genetic diff erentiation between eight diff erent Mediterranean breeding colonies of greater fl amingos sampled between 1995 and 2009, using both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite
markers. We found no signifi cant diff erences in allelic richness or private allelic richness in relation to colony size. Overall, no genetic population diff erentiation was detected using either mitochondrial or microsatellite markers. F-statistics and Bayesian clustering methods did not support any signifi cant genetic structure. Analysis of both mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites indicated that populations have undergone a bottleneck followed by rapid growth and expansion. The average time since expansion was estimated to be 696 421 yr (90% CI: 526 316 – 1 131 579 yr). We discuss our results in relation to both the possible historical events accounting for the present genetic structure and relevance to conservation and management of the species.
BibTeX:
@article{Geraci2012,
  author = {Julia Geraci and Arnaud Béchet and Frank Cézilly and Sébastien Ficheux and Nicola Baccetti and Boudjema Samraoui and Rémi Wattier},
  title = {Greater flamingo colonies around the Mediterranean form a single interbreeding population and share a common history},
  journal = {Journal of Avian Biology},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {43},
  pages = {341-354}
}
Gillingham MAF, Béchet A, Geraci J, Wattier R, Dubreuil C and Cézilly F (2012), "Genetic polymorphism in dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) affects early body condition in a large population of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus.", Molecular Ecology. Vol. 21, pp. 4024-4037.
Abstract: Body condition is an important determinant of fitness in many natural populations. However, as for many fitness traits, the underlying genes that regulate body condition remain elusive. The dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) is a promising candidate as dopamine is known to play an important role in the regulation of food intake and the metabolism of both glucose and lipids in vertebrates. In this study, we take advantage of a large data set of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus, to test whether DRD4 polymorphism predicts early body condition (EBC) while controlling for whole-genome effects of inbreeding and outbreeding using microsatellite multilocus heterozygosity (MLH). We typed 670 of these individuals for exon 3 of the homologue of the human DRD4 gene and 10 microsatellite markers. When controlling for the effects of yearly environmental variations and differences between sexes, we found strong evidence of an association between exon 3 DRD4 polymorphisms and EBC, with 2.2–2.3% of the variation being explained by DRD4 polymorphism, whereas there was only weak evidence that MLH predicts EBC. Because EBC is most likely a polygenic trait, this is a considerable amount of variation explained by a single gene. This is to our knowledge, the first study to show an association between exon 3 DRD4 polymorphism and body condition in non-human animals. We anticipate that the DRD4 gene as well as other genes coding for neurotransmitters and their receptors may play an important role in explaining variation in traits that affect fitness.
BibTeX:
@article{Gillingham2012ME,
  author = {Mark A. F. Gillingham and Arnaud Béchet and Julia Geraci and Rémi Wattier and Christine Dubreuil and Frank Cézilly},
  title = {Genetic polymorphism in dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) affects early body condition in a large population of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus.},
  journal = {Molecular Ecology},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {21},
  pages = {4024-4037}
}
Pradel R, Choquet R and Béchet A (2012), "Breeding Experience Might Be a Major Determinant of Breeding Probability in Long-Lived Species: The Case of the Greater Flamingo", PLoS ONE., 12, 2012. Vol. 7(12), pp. e51016. Public Library of Science.
Abstract: The probability of breeding is known to increase with age early in life in many long-lived species. This increase may be due to experience accumulated through past breeding attempts. Recent methodological advances allowing accounting for unobserved breeding episodes, we analyzed the encounter histories of 14716 greater flamingos over 25 years to get a detailed picture of the interactions of age and experience. Survival did not improve with experience, seemingly ruling out the selection hypothesis. Breeding probability varied within three levels of experience : no breeding experience, 1 experience, 2+ experiences. We fitted models with and without among-individual differences in breeding probabilities by including or not an additive individual random effect. Including the individual random effect improved the model fit less than including experience but the best model retained both. However, because modeling individual heterogeneity by means of an additive static individual random effect is currently criticized and may not be appropriate, we discuss the results with and without random effect. Without random effect, breeding probability of inexperienced birds was always w3 times lower than that of same age experienced birds, and breeding probability increased more with one additional
experience than with one additional year of age. With random effects, the advantage of experience was unequivocal only after age 9 while in young having w1 experience was penalizing. Another pattern, that breeding probability of birds with v2 experiences dropped after some age (8 without random effect; up to 11 with it), may point to differences in the timing of reproductive senescence or to the existence of a sensitive period for acquiring behavioral skills. Overall, the role of
experience appears strong in this long-lived species. We argue that overlooking the role of experience may hamper detection of trade-offs and assessment of individual heterogeneity. However, manipulative experiments are desirable to confirm our finding.
BibTeX:
@article{Pradel2012PONE,
  author = {Pradel, , Roger AND Choquet, , Rémi AND Béchet, , Arnaud},
  title = {Breeding Experience Might Be a Major Determinant of Breeding Probability in Long-Lived Species: The Case of the Greater Flamingo},
  journal = {PLoS ONE},
  publisher = {Public Library of Science},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {7},
  number = {12},
  pages = {e51016},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0051016},
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0051016}
}
Sanz-Aguilar A, Béchet A, Germain C, Johnson AR and Pradel R (2012), "To leave or not to leave: survival tradeoffs between different migratory strategies in the Greater Flamingo", Journal of Animal Ecology. Vol. 81(6), pp. 1171-1182.
Abstract: 1. The balance between costs and benefits of migration under different environmental, density-dependent and individual conditions may promote a broad range of migratory behaviours. We studied the factors influencing first-year migration and subsequent fidelity or dispersal among wintering areas, and the survival costs of different wintering behaviours in the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus).
2. We analysed by multievent capture–recapture modelling among-site dispersal⁄fidelity and site-dependent survival probabilities from 22 671 flamingos ringed in the Camargue (France) between 1977 and 2010 and resighted subsequently in their wintering grounds classified as France, Iberian Peninsula,Italy and NorthAfrica.
3. We found that first- and second-year birds either resident or wintering at medium distances from their birth place, survived better than those wintering further afield. However, under severe winter conditions (extremely cold winter 1984–1985), individuals with the sedentary strategy suffered the highest levels of mortality. From the third winter onwards, the pattern of survival reversed: the long-distance wintering individuals (i.e.North Africa) survived better.
4. The proportion of first-year birds migrating for wintering was highly variable among cohorts and increased with favourable environmental conditions (wet years). After the first winter, birds showed high fidelity (>90%) to their previous wintering area and wintered preferably near their natal colony when they became adults(>2 years).
5. Survival estimates suggest that long-distance migration was costly for young and inexperienced individuals. Nonetheless, for adults, the most southern wintering areas seem to offer the most favourable local conditions for overwinter survival.
6. The higher availability of intermediate stopover sites during wet years may facilitate first-year migration.Then,once they have some wintering experience, flamingos appear to favour the known wintering grounds. As they grow older, dispersing towards the vicinity of the natal colony may provide higher breeding prospects for individuals wintering closer to this high-quality and saturated breeding ground, as predicted by the arrival-time hypothesis.
BibTeX:
@article{Sanz-Aguilar2012JAE,
  author = {Ana Sanz-Aguilar and Arnaud Béchet and Christophe Germain and Alan R. Johnson and Roger Pradel},
  title = {To leave or not to leave: survival tradeoffs between different migratory strategies in the Greater Flamingo},
  journal = {Journal of Animal Ecology},
  year = {2012},
  volume = {81},
  number = {6},
  pages = {1171-1182},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2656.2012.01997.x}
}
Béchet A (2011), "La nature, dernière conquête de la finance", EcoRev'. Vol. 36
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2011EcoRev,
  author = {Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {La nature, dernière conquête de la finance},
  journal = {EcoRev'},
  year = {2011},
  volume = {36}
}
Boucheker A, Samraoui B, Prodon R, Amat JA, Rendón-Martos M, Bacetti N, i Esquerre FV, Nissardi S, Balkız Ö, Germain C, Boulkhssaim M and Béchet A (2011), "Connectivity between the Algerian population of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus and those of the Mediterranean basin", Ostrich. Vol. 82(3), pp. 167-174.
Abstract: In the Mediterranean basin, Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus constitute a metapopulation with natal and breeding dispersal among colonies. However, the rate of exchange between European and North African colonies remains poorly known. In this paper, we document the wintering and breeding of European flamingos in Algeria and provide the first post-fledging dispersal data for flamingos born in Algeria. At breeding colonies in Algeria, most ringed birds (99.4% of 835 birds) originated from north-western Mediterranean colonies (397 individuals born in France, 369 in Spain, 57 in Sardinia and seven in continental Italy), but there were also four from Turkey (the first evidence of natal dispersal from a north-eastern Mediterranean colony to Algeria) and one from Algeria. Among the 860 fledglings ringed in Algeria in 2006 and 2009, 619 different individuals were resighted from August 2006 to September 2010 in a total of 980 resightings. A large proportion (73%) of these birds was observed at North African sites, while the remaining ones reached both north-western (168 birds) and north-eastern (three birds) Mediterranean wetlands, suggesting extensive interchange between colonies from both sides of the Mediterranean Sea.
BibTeX:
@article{Boucheker2011,
  author = {Abdennour Boucheker and Boudjéma Samraoui and Roger Prodon and Juan A. Amat and Manuel Rendón-Martos and Nicolas Bacetti and Francesc Vidal i Esquerre and Sergio Nissardi and Özge Balkız and Christophe Germain and Mouloud Boulkhssaim and and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Connectivity between the Algerian population of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus and those of the Mediterranean basin},
  journal = {Ostrich},
  year = {2011},
  volume = {82},
  number = {3},
  pages = {167-174}
}
Chokri MA, Sadoul N, Selmi S and Béchet A (2011), "Relative importance of island availability and terrestrial predation risk forage nesting habitat selection of colonial charadriiformes in sfax salina (Tunisia)", Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie). Vol. 66, pp. 367-382.
Abstract: En zone méditerranéenne, les salins sont de plus en plus considérés comme un habitat particulièrement important pour la nidification des oiseaux d’eau coloniaux. toutefois, ces salins manquent le plus souvent d’îlots isolés et inaccessibles aux prédateurs terrestres, ce qui est de nature à exposer les colonies d’oiseaux à une importante pression de prédation, diminuant ainsi leur succès reproducteur. l’importance relative de la disponibilité en îlots inaccessibles et de la pression de prédation terrestre comme clefs possibles dans le processus de sélection des sites de nidification par ces oiseaux a été rarement élucidée. ainsi, l’objectif de ce travail est d’examiner cette question en utilisant des données sur la nidification de cinq espèces de Laro-limicoles (Avocette élégante, Sterne naine, Sterne pierregarin, Sterne hansel et Goéland railleur) dans le salin de Sfax, l’un des plus importants sites de nidification de ces oiseaux sur la rive sud de la Méditerranée. Ces données ont été recueillies grâce à un suivi des colonies de nidification installées sur un total de 101 sites au cours de deux saisons de reproduction successives (2004 et 2005). parmi ces sites, 19 correspondent à des îlots complètement isolés, soit le nombre total de sites inaccessibles aux prédateurs terrestres du salin. la très grande majorité des effectifs reproducteurs se sont installés sur des sites accessibles (92,6% et 86,3% des 8277 et des 7844 couples recensés en 2004 et 2005 respectivement). Nos résultats montrent aussi que l’occupation des sites accessibles précède généralement celle des sites inaccessibles et que les caractéristiques physiques sélectionnées par les oiseaux pour le choix de ces sites accessibles varient selon les espèces. globalement, l’ensemble de nos résultats suggère qu’en absence d’un nombre suffisant d’îlots isolés, les digues, parcourues par les prédateurs terrestres, représentent des pièges écologiques pour les oiseaux d’eau coloniaux nichant dans ce salin. Ces résultats sont enfin utilisés pour proposer un mode de création de sites de nidification attractifs pour les oiseaux.

Salinas are highly valued habitats for the conservation of ground-nesting colonial waterbirds in the Mediterranean, yet they often lack islets, preferred breeding habitats for these species. In this paper, we evaluated the relative importance of island availability and terrestrial predation risk for nesting habitat selection of five species of colonial charadriiformes (avocet, little tern, common tern, gull-billed tern and slender-billed gull) in the Sfax Salina (Tunisia), one of the most important breeding areas of these species along the southern Mediterranean coast. We monitored colony settlement pattern, colony size and colony site features used by the birds in 2004 and 2005. In total, 101 sites were occupied during the two years of study. These occupied sites included 19 isolated islets, which represent the total number of available inaccessible islets in the studied salina. 92.6% of the 8277 breeding pairs counted in 2004 and 86.3% of the 7844 breeding pairs counted in 2005 settled on accessible sites. Our results also show that the occupation of accessible sites began before the occupation of isolated ones. We propose that these accessible sites should be considered as ecological traps resulting from the overall lack of isolated sites. Finally, because dikes are an unlimited habitat for nesting, we identify the environmental cues selected by colonial Charadriiformes within this habitat to develop guidelines for the construction of attractive islets.
BibTeX:
@article{Chokri2011,
  author = {Mohammed Ali Chokri and Nicolas Sadoul and Slaheddine Selmi and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Relative importance of island availability and terrestrial predation risk forage nesting habitat selection of colonial charadriiformes in sfax salina (Tunisia)},
  journal = {Revue d'Ecologie (Terre et Vie)},
  year = {2011},
  volume = {66},
  pages = {367-382}
}
Descamps S, Béchet A, Descombes X, Arnaud A and Zerubia J (2011), "An automatic counter for aerial images of aggregations of large birds", Bird Study. Vol. 58, pp. 302-308.
BibTeX:
@article{Descamps2011,
  author = {Stig Descamps and Arnaud Béchet and Xavier Descombes and Antoine Arnaud and Josiane Zerubia},
  title = {An automatic counter for aerial images of aggregations of large birds},
  journal = {Bird Study},
  year = {2011},
  volume = {58},
  pages = {302-308}
}
Schmaltz L, Cézilly F and Béchet A (2011), "Using multistate recapture modelling to assess age-specific bottlenecks in breeding success: a case study in the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus", Journal of Avian Biology. Vol. 42, pp. 178-186.
Abstract: Bird reproductive performance often increases with age or experience as a result of improved foraging skills, increased reproductive effort, improved coordination between partners, or a selection process. However, it remains unclear whether age and/or experience affect equally the successive steps of the breeding process, from egg laying to incubation and chick rearing. Using data from a long-term study of the Camargue (southern France) population of the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus, we studied the influence of age on step-specific breeding performances during a single breeding season. We used, for the first time, multistate recapture models to evaluate the effect of age on breeding attendance (as asurrogate for breeding success) during incubation, early chick rearing and late chick rearing. Our results show a significant positive influence of age on breeding attendance, but only during the incubation period. Older parents had a higher
probability than younger ones of completing incubation, whereas after the chick had hatched, the influence of parental age on breeding attendance was no longer significant. Although a high rate of nest desertion by younger flamingos during the middle of the incubation period coincided with a period of heavy rainfall, including rainfall level as a covariate did not improve the fit of the models. We discuss our results in relation to the evolution of life-history strategies in long-lived bird species and the influence of environmental instability.
BibTeX:
@article{Schmaltz2011,
  author = {Lucie Schmaltz and Frank Cézilly and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Using multistate recapture modelling to assess age-specific bottlenecks in breeding success: a case study in the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus},
  journal = {Journal of Avian Biology},
  year = {2011},
  volume = {42},
  pages = {178-186}
}
Balkız Ö, Béchet A, Rouan L, Choquet R, Germain C, Amat JA, Rendón-Martos M, Baccetti N, Nissardi S, Özesmi U and Pradel R (2010), "Experience-dependent natal philopatry of breeding Greater flamingos", Journal of Animal Ecology. Vol. 79(5), pp. 1045-1056.
Abstract: 1. Contrary to the generally high level of natal philopatry (i.e. likelihood that individuals breed at their natal colony) found in first-breeding colonial birds, little is known of natal philopatry later in life.Mosthypothesesadvancedtoexplainnatalphilopatryarevalidatallages.However,foryoung and inexperienced birds, the benefits of natal philopatry may be counterbalanced by the costs of intraspecific competition at the natal colony making dispersal temporarily advantageous. In turn, experience may increase competitive ability and make natal philopatry advantageous again.
2. We evaluated this hypothesis on the large-scale dispersal of greater flamingos Phoenicopterusroseus breeding among three colonies comprising >85% of the Western Mediterranean meta-population.The Camargue (France) and Fuente de Piedra (Spain) are large and saturated colonies while Molentargius (Sardinia) is a small and growing colony.
3. We used a 20-year capture-mark-resighting dataset of 4900 flamingos ringed as chicks in Camargue and Fuente de Piedra and breeding at the three colonies. We assessed the effects of natal colony and breeding experience (first-time observed breeders versus confirmed experienced breeders) on dispersal using multistate capture-recapture models. Dispersal to an unobservable state accounted for temporary emigration.
4. Fidelity was higher at the natal colony (>84%) than elsewhere. Fidelity increased with experience in the two large colonies (Camargue and Fuente de Piedra) suggesting a large-scale experience-related despotic distribution.Breeding dispersal was significant (up to 61% and 52% for first-time breeders and experienced breeders, respectively) so that colony dynamics is affected by exchanges with other colonies. Except for Fuente-born breeders leaving Molentargius, dispersal to
the natal colony was higher than to any other colonies.
5. Survival was not higher at the natal colony. Inexperienced birds likely had lower breeding success at the Camargue and skipped reproduction after having emigrated to the other large colony but not to Molentargius. Breeding at Molentargius could allow avoiding queuing (and non-breeding) at the large colonies while gaining experience and competitive ability for future attempts.
6. Natal philopatry appears as an important driver of large-scale breeding dispersal in the Greater flamingo. The fitness advantage of natal philopatry is likely experience-dependent and mediated by the variations of intraspecific competition.
BibTeX:
@article{Balkiz2010,
  author = {Özge Balkız and Arnaud Béchet and Lauriane Rouan and Rémi Choquet and Christophe Germain and Juan A. Amat and Manuel Rendón-Martos and Nicola Baccetti and Sergio Nissardi and Uygar Özesmi and Roger Pradel},
  title = {Experience-dependent natal philopatry of breeding Greater flamingos},
  journal = {Journal of Animal Ecology},
  year = {2010},
  volume = {79},
  number = {5},
  pages = {1045-1056}
}
Béchet A, Giroux J-F, Gauthier G and Belisle M (2010), "Why roost at the same place? Exploring short-term fidelity in staging snow geese", The Condor. Vol. 112(2), pp. 294-303.
Abstract: Abstract. When a communal roost is large relative to foraging distances, variance in foraging success may affect the positioning of the birds within the roost and we should expect fidelity to positions that improve foraging success. We explored fidelity of Snow geese (Chen caerulescens) to three sections of a 5-km 2 roost in flooded lowlands during their spring stopover in Quebec. From 1998 to 2000, we located 166 radio-tagged geese on 1077 occasions. Fidelity rates were higher than expected by chance in all sections in 1998, in two in 2000, but in none in 1999. Fidelity increased with the number of birds using a section, suggesting a positive effect of conspecific at- traction. We tracked 292 foraging trips of 108 radio-tagged geese; birds from different sections tended to forage in specific directions. Average distance to foraging sites saved by appropriate choice of a section varied between 7 and 17%, depending on the section. however, distance traveled over 2 successive days did not decrease when geese switched from roosting in one section to another, suggesting that minimization of foraging-trip distance may stem simply from the spatial organization of foraging trips in order to reduce travel distance to food patches. Higher fidelity rates were associated with shorter travel distance in only one section of the roost, and dominant birds arriving early in the season tended to be more faithful to this section. We conclude that conspecific attraction, reduction in travel costs to foraging sites, and individual variation in dominance determine roost positioning and fidelity concurrently.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2010CONDOR,
  author = {Arnaud Béchet and Jean-François Giroux and Gilles Gauthier and Marc Belisle},
  title = {Why roost at the same place? Exploring short-term fidelity in staging snow geese},
  journal = {The Condor},
  year = {2010},
  volume = {112},
  number = {2},
  pages = {294-303}
}
Chokri MA, Selmi S, Sadoul N and Béchet A (2010), "Nidification des sternes naines Sterna albifrons, Pierregarin Sterna hirundo et Hansel, Sterna nilotica dans le Salin de Sfax, Tunisie : Chronologie, effectifs et succès reproducteur = Breeding of Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica nesting in Sfax salina in south-eastern Tunisia: chronology, numbers and breeding success rate", Alauda. Vol. 78(1), pp. 51-60.
Abstract: In this paper we present data on breeding parameters of Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica nesting in Sfax salina in south-eastern Tunisia. The abundance peak was reached between the end of April and the beginning of May for the Little Tern and Common Tern and during May for Gull-billed Tern. Egg laying started from the third to the fourth week of April for Little and Common Terns and across May for Gull-billed Tern. In the three years of study, the number of nests per colony varied from 1 to 75 for Little Tern, from 1 to 101 for Common Tern, and from 1 to 114 for Gull-billed Tern. Clutch size varied between 1 and 4 for Little and Common Terns and from 1 to 3 for Gull-billed Tern, with significant differences among years. For the three species, the colony reproductive success, i.e. the number of fledged chicks per breeding pair, largely varied among colonies and years. Lowest and highest recorded values were 0 and 1.8 for Little Tern; 0 and 2 for Common Tern, and 0 and 0.8 for Gull-billed Tern. This low reproductive success is thought to be mainly caused by terrestrial predation and disturbance.
BibTeX:
@article{Chokri2010A,
  author = {Mohammed Ali Chokri and Slaheddine Selmi and Nicolas Sadoul and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Nidification des sternes naines Sterna albifrons, Pierregarin Sterna hirundo et Hansel, Sterna nilotica dans le Salin de Sfax, Tunisie : Chronologie, effectifs et succès reproducteur = Breeding of Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica nesting in Sfax salina in south-eastern Tunisia: chronology, numbers and breeding success rate},
  journal = {Alauda},
  year = {2010},
  volume = {78},
  number = {1},
  pages = {51-60}
}
Maris V and Béchet A (2010), "From adaptive management to adjustive management : a pragmatic account of biodiversity values", Conservation Biology. Vol. 24(4), pp. 966-973.
Abstract: Abstract: The conservation of biodiversity poses an exceptionally difficult problem in that it needs to be effective in a context of double uncertainty: scientific (i.e., how to conserve biodiversity) and normative (i.e., which biodiversity to conserve and why). Although adaptive management offers a promising approach to overcome scientific uncertainty, normative uncertainty is seldom tackled by conservation science. We expanded on the approach proposed by adaptive-management theorists by devising an integrative and iterative approach to conservation that encompasses both types of uncertainty. Inspired by environmental pragmatism, we suggest that moral values at stake in biodiversity conservation are plastic and that a plurality of individual normative positions can coexist and evolve. Moral values should thus be explored through an experimental process as additional parameters to be incorporated in the traditional adaptive-management approach. As such, moral values should also be monitored by environmental ethicists working side by side with scientists and managers on conservation projects. Acknowledging the diversity of moral values and integrating them in a process of collective deliberation will help overcome the normative uncertainty. We used Dewey’s distinction between adaptation and adjustment to offer a new paradigm built around what we call adjustive management, which reflects both the uncertainty and the likely evolution of the moral values humans attribute to biodiversity. We illustrate how this paradigm relates to practical conservation decisions by exploring the case of the Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), an alien species in France that is the target of an eradication plan undertaken with little regard for moral issues. We propose that a more satisfying result of efforts to control Sacred Ibis could have been reached by rerouting the traditional feedback loop of adaptive management to include a normative inquiry. This adjustive management approach now needs to be tested in real-case conservation programs.
BibTeX:
@article{Maris2010,
  author = {Virginie Maris and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {From adaptive management to adjustive management : a pragmatic account of biodiversity values},
  journal = {Conservation Biology},
  year = {2010},
  volume = {24},
  number = {4},
  pages = {966-973},
  doi = {10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01437.x}
}
Maris V, Mathevet R and Béchet A (2010), "Figures de style sur la destruction de la biodiversité.", Espaces Naturels. Vol. 29, pp. 32.
BibTeX:
@article{Maris2010b,
  author = {Virginie Maris and Raphaël Mathevet and Arnaud Béchet},
  title = {Figures de style sur la destruction de la biodiversité.},
  journal = {Espaces Naturels},
  year = {2010},
  volume = {29},
  pages = {32}
}
Béchet A, Germain C, Sandoz A, Hirons GJ, Green RE, Walmsley JG and Johnson AR (2009), "Assessment of the impacts of hydrological fluctuations and salt pans abandonment on Greater flamingos in the Camargue, South of France", Biodiversity and Conservation. Vol. 18, pp. 1575-1588.
Abstract: Flamingos forage in both commercial salt pans and natural marshes and lagoons along the French Mediterranean coast. In order to assess the impact of changes in
management of commercial salt pans and hydrological fluctuations on this flagship species, we evaluated the foraging areas of breeding flamingos using the resightings of 283 breeding flamingos marked with dye at the colony in 1987 and 1989, two years withcontrasting hydrological conditions. Teams of observers searched all suitable habitats within 80 km of the colony during the four days following marking and recorded presence of off-duty flamingos. About one-third of the birds were found within 10 km of the colony, but some were seen up to 70 km away. About 24–54% of the birds were found in permanent brackish lagoons and 18–60% in the salt pans, the two most important habitats. In 1989, a dry year with lower water levels in the natural wetlands, the proportion of breeding flamingos using salt pans was twice as high [53%, range (47–60%)] as in 1987 [26%, range (18–29%)], this habitat thus acting as a refuge. Most of the feeding areas shown to be important for flamingos breeding in the Camargue are thus susceptible to variations according to rainfall and to transformations or drying out if the salt pans are abandoned. Our results provide essential benchmarks to reconsider the conservation of this flagship species when management of commercial salt pans changes.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2009,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Germain, C. and Sandoz, A. and Hirons, G. J.M. and Green, R. E. and Walmsley, J. G. and Johnson, A. R.},
  title = {Assessment of the impacts of hydrological fluctuations and salt pans abandonment on Greater flamingos in the Camargue, South of France},
  journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation},
  year = {2009},
  volume = {18},
  pages = {1575-1588},
  doi = {DOI 10.1007/s10531-008-9544-8}
}
Brochet A-L, Gauthier-Clerc M, Mathevet R, Béchet A, Mondain-Monval J-Y and Tamisier A (2009), "Marsh management, reserve creation, hunting periods and carrying capacity for wintering ducks and coots", Biodiversity and Conservation. Vol. 18, pp. 1879-1894.
Abstract: Many wild species, like waterbirds, are exploited for their economic interests. At present, the annual western Palearctic duck bag is at least 17 million birds. From a
sustainable management perspective, wetland users and managers request predictions ofspatial distribution and abundance variations of these bird populations. The objective of this study was to analyze local factors potentially influencing the diurnal distribution and population size of wintering ducks and coots, the main game species, in Camargue (southern France). First, we showed that marshland surface area, salinity and hunting disturbance were the principal variables explaining the duck and coot distribution. Secondly, we tested the hypothesis that hunting disturbance would reduce the carrying capacity of the Camargue with two analyses: the effect of creating a protected area and the change of the hunting closing date. This hypothesis was not validated. Our study therefore led us to reconsider the research orientations on the carrying capacity in this wetland. The surface of protected day roosts seems presently sufficient in the Rhone delta. Consequently, to increase the population size with the same level of hunting disturbance at the scale of the Camargue, alternative strategies should be envisaged, such as the creation of nature
reserves on nocturnal feeding ground or the creation of large management units with limited disturbance.
BibTeX:
@article{Brochet2009,
  author = {Anne-Laure Brochet and Michel Gauthier-Clerc and Raphaël Mathevet and Arnaud Béchet and Jean-Yves Mondain-Monval and Alain Tamisier},
  title = {Marsh management, reserve creation, hunting periods and carrying capacity for wintering ducks and coots},
  journal = {Biodiversity and Conservation},
  year = {2009},
  volume = {18},
  pages = {1879-1894},
  doi = {10.1007/s10531-008-9562-6}
}
Descamps S, Descombes X, Béchet A and Zerubia J (2009), "Détection de flamants roses par processus ponctuels marqués pour l'estimation de la taille des populations", Traitement du Signal., July, 2009. Vol. 26(2), pp. 95-108.
BibTeX:
@article{Descamps2009,
  author = {Descamps, S. and Descombes, X. and Béchet, A. and Zerubia, J.},
  title = {Détection de flamants roses par processus ponctuels marqués pour l'estimation de la taille des populations},
  journal = {Traitement du Signal},
  year = {2009},
  volume = {26},
  number = {2},
  pages = {95-108}
}
Béchet A and Johnson AR (2008), "Anthropogenic and environmental determinants of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus breeding numbers and productivity in the Camargue (Rhone delta, southern France)", Ibis. Vol. 150, pp. 69-79.
Abstract: Predicting how bird populations may respond to climate change is a major challenge which could be addressed by understanding how past environmental processes have driven the variations of breeding population size and productivity. In inhabited regions, this issue may be complicated by the interference associated with heterogeneous levels of habitat management. Here, we have explored how several hydrological variables influenced the breeding of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in the Camargue (Rhone delta, southern France) over a 28-year period (1974–2001). In this region, Flamingos breed in a commercial salt pan. They forage in both salt pans and adjacent brackish lagoons. We hypothesized that breeding numbers, productivity and body condition of chicks at fledging were influenced positively by water levels of the Vaccares, the main lagoon of the delta, in spring (water and food availability) and the Rhone discharge in winter (nutrient availability in the salt pans). We controlled for variations of the flooding date of the breeding salt pan by the salt company and the size of the breeding island. We first found the Vaccares water levels and Rhone discharge to be negatively correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Secondly, the number of Flamingo breeding pairs (range 3560–22 200) increased by 1767 ± 1418 (95%CI) with a 10-day advance of the flooding date of the breeding salt pan and by 1146 ± 1081 per 10-cm water level rise in the Vaccares. Productivity was 0.46 ± 0.41 chicks per pair and could not be explained by any of the variables considered. Finally, chick body condition
decreased with the number of breeding pairs and Rhone discharge. Our results show that (1) this intensely managed system remains sensitive to large-scale climate variations, (2) the breeding of the Greater Flamingo is affected by both climate variations and management of the salt pan, and (3) the expected enhancement of delta productivity by high river discharge was absent, probably prevented by dykes and embankments along the river. The response of bird populations to climate variations can thus be complex in intensely managed biological systems as found in the Mediterranean. We encourage pursuing such analyses incorporating anthropogenic variables explicitly in order to expand our capacity to make inference on the future of these systems.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2008,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Johnson, A. R.},
  title = {Anthropogenic and environmental determinants of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus breeding numbers and productivity in the Camargue (Rhone delta, southern France)},
  journal = {Ibis},
  year = {2008},
  volume = {150},
  pages = {69-79},
  note = {Record Number: 20092}
}
Chokri MA, Sadoul N, Medhioub K and Béchet A (2008), "Analyse comparative de la richesse avifaunistique du salin de Sfax dans le contexte Tunisien et Méditerranéen", Revue d'Ecologie. La Terre et la Vie. Vol. 63, pp. 351-370.
Abstract: The present comparative analysis of the waterbirds community of the sfaxsalina aimed at examining if local and regional factors may explain the numbers, the specific composition and diversity of wintering waterbirds in this salina by comparison (i) with other tunisian wetlands, during the wintering season; (ii) with six highly protected western mediterranean salinas during the wintering and the breeding season. this is a first evaluation of the importance of the sfax salina for waterbirds in order to advocate for a better designation of protection in relation to its high richness. our results show that sfax salina is nationally and internationally important for both wintering and breeding waterbirds. it is proposed that this high value is essentially explained by (i) the permanent salt-making activity all over the year making water and food resources abundant and predictable from January to december, (ii) the proximity to the gulf of Gabes, a large tidal area which is a major wintering site for waterbirds and (iii) a significant part of historical contingency. if a high proportion of the waterbirds of tunisia is present in the sfax salina, RAMSAR
criterion is moreover attained for at least five wintering and breeding waterbirds. however, only the Zico label, which has no regulatory value, is attributed to this site. hence, the designation of the sfax salina as a RAMSAR site is strongly recommended for a better protection.

Nous présentons ici une analyse comparative de l’avifaune du salin de sfax dans le but d’examiner si des facteurs intrinsèques et environnants expliquent les effectifs, la composition spécifique et la diversité des oiseaux d’eau de ce salin (i) durant l’hivernage comparativement aux zones humides tunisiennes, (ii) durant l’hivernage et la reproduction comparativement à un échantillon de six salins de l’ouest de la méditerranée faisant l’objet de fortes mesures de protection. ce travail constitue une première évaluation de l’importance du salin de sfax pour les oiseaux d’eau afin qu’il bénéficie d’une désignation à la hauteur de sa richesse. nos résultats montrent que le salin de sfax revêt une importance nationale et internationale pour ses effectifs hivernants et nicheurs d’oiseaux d’eau. nous proposons que cette richesse exceptionnelle s’explique par (i) la permanence de l’activité salinière tout au long de l’année, procurant ainsi une ressource en eau et en nourriture abondante et prévisible durant tous les mois de l’année, (ii) la proximité du golfe de Gabès dont l’estran constitue un site d’hivernage de toute première importance pour les oiseaux d’eau et (iii) une part de contingence historique non négligeable. en plus d’accueillir une proportion significative des oiseaux hivernants et nicheurs de tunisie pour un grand nombre d’espèces, les effectifs du salin de sfax répondent aux critères requis pour la désignation RAMSAR pour cinq espèces d’oiseaux d’eau hivernants et nicheurs. pourtant ce site ne bénéficie que du label Zico qui n’a aucune valeur réglementaire. Nous recommandons donc la désignation du salin de sfax comme zone humide RAMSAR afin de favoriser sa protection.</td> </tr>

BibTeX:
@article{Chokri2008,
  author = {Chokri, M. A. and Sadoul, N. and Medhioub, K. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {Analyse comparative de la richesse avifaunistique du salin de Sfax dans le contexte Tunisien et Méditerranéen},
  journal = {Revue d'Ecologie. La Terre et la Vie},
  year = {2008},
  volume = {63},
  pages = {351-370}
}
Balkız Ö, Özesmi U, Pradel R, Germain C, Sıkı M, Amat JA, Rendon-Martos M, Bacetti N and Béchet A (2007), "Range of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus metapopulation in the Mediterranean: new insights from Turkey", Journal of Ornithology. Vol. 148(3), pp. 347-355.
Abstract: Metapopulation conservation should rely on a flyway approach aiming to assess the spatial range of metapopulations by estimating the level of exchanges among local populations. In the Western Mediterranean, Greater Flamingos have been shown to constitute a metapopulation with natal and breeding dispersal among colonies. In this paper, we examine whether this metapopulation reaches Turkey using a band-resighting study. Our results constitute the first evidence of natal and breeding dispersal from the Western Mediterranean to Turkey, and suggest that the Gediz Delta, one of the two colony sites in Turkey, can play a significant role in the recruitment of flamingos from the Western Mediterranean. In 2003 and 2004, breeders of Western Mediterranean origin in the Gediz Delta accounted for more than 1.2 and 1.9% of the estimated breeding population, respectively. Our observations also indicate that the Western Mediterranean and Southwest Asia could constitute distinct compartments which overlap in Turkey. Future studies on the genetic differentiation between populations are necessary to conclude the existence of separate compartments. Finally, the resightings of flamingos banded in Turkey show that post-fledging dispersal from Turkey reaches both the Eastern and Western Mediterranean wetlands. Future data on the natal and breeding dispersal of flamingos born in Turkey could clarify further the connection between Turkey and the Western Mediterranean metapopulation
BibTeX:
@article{Balkiz2007a,
  author = {Balkız, Ö and Özesmi, U. and Pradel, R. and Germain, C. and Sıkı, M. and Amat, J. A. and Rendon-Martos, M. and Bacetti, N. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {Range of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus metapopulation in the Mediterranean: new insights from Turkey},
  journal = {Journal of Ornithology},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {148},
  number = {3},
  pages = {347-355},
  note = {Record Number: 18942}
}
Balkız Ö, Dano S, Barbraud C, Tekin S, Özesmi U, Dündar M and Béchet A (2007), "Sexing Greater Flamingo chicks from feather bulb DNA", Waterbirds. Vol. 30(3), pp. 450-453.
Abstract: Adult Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) are sexually dimorphic, with males being on average larger and heavier than females. However, there is no practical way to sex the chicks by their morphology. Here we describe a method relying on quick and easy DNA extraction from feathers. A PCR test employing primers to amplify introns whose lengths usually differ between the CHD-W and the CHD-Z genes allow sex discrimination. This method is thus a fast, accurate and inexpensive protocol to sex flamingo chicks from feathers bulbs sampled in the field.
BibTeX:
@article{Balkiz2007b,
  author = {Balkız, Ö and Dano, S. and Barbraud, C. and Tekin, S. and Özesmi, U. and Dündar, M. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {Sexing Greater Flamingo chicks from feather bulb DNA},
  journal = {Waterbirds},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {30},
  number = {3},
  pages = {450-453},
  note = {Record Number: 20102}
}
Béchet A, Germain C, Amat JA, Canas C, Rendon-Martos M, Garrido A, Baccetti N, Dall'Antonia P, Balk?z Ö, Diawara Y and Johnson A (2007), "Metapopulation networks as tools for research and conservation: the case of the Greater Flamingo in the Mediterranean and West Africa", Ostrich., Jun, 2007. Vol. 78(2), pp. 506-507.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2007,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Germain, C. and Amat, J. A. and Canas, C. and Rendon-Martos, M. and Garrido, A. and Baccetti, N. and Dall'Antonia, P. and Balk?z, Ö. and Diawara, Y. and Johnson, A.},
  title = {Metapopulation networks as tools for research and conservation: the case of the Greater Flamingo in the Mediterranean and West Africa},
  journal = {Ostrich},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {78},
  number = {2},
  pages = {506-507},
  url = {:\\00248669100126 }
}
</pre></td>
</tr>
Béchet A, Johnson A and Germain C (2007), "Environmental determinants of Greater Flamingo breeding success in the Camargue, southern France", Ostrich., Jun, 2007. Vol. 78(2), pp. 507-507.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2007a,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Johnson, A. and Germain, C.},
  title = {Environmental determinants of Greater Flamingo breeding success in the Camargue, southern France},
  journal = {Ostrich},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {78},
  number = {2},
  pages = {507-507},
  url = {:\\00248669100127 }
}
</pre></td>
</tr>
Boukhriss J, Selmi S, Béchet A and Nouira S (2007), "Vigilance in Greater Flamingos wintering in southern Tunisia: Age-dependant flock size effect", Ethology. Vol. 113, pp. 377-385.
Abstract: The decrease in individual vigilance with flock size is a widely recognized pattern in group-living species. However such a relationship may be affected by other factors, such as age and flock composition. For instance, because young animals generally lack experience and have higher nutritional needs than adults, they can be expected not only to be less vigilant than adults but also to decrease their vigilance level in a greater extent when flock size increases than adults do. We investigated this issue using data on Greater Flamingos wintering in the gulf of Gabès, in southern Tunisia. Flamingos tended to congregate in small single-age flocks for feeding, but as flock size increased, flocks became mixed. Globally, we found that when flock size increased, young flamingos significantly decreased their vigilance time, while adult did not, suggesting an age-dependant flock size effect on vigilance. However, when flock composition (single-age versus mixed) was taken into account, a more complex pattern was found. Within single-age and small flocks, no difference was found between young flamingos and adult ones regarding their vigilance level and their response to increasing flock size. However, within mixed and large flocks, adult flamingos were more vigilant than young ones, while variation in flock size did not result in a significant change in vigilance. These results would suggest that young birds relied on the presence of adults, and hence more experienced individuals in detecting dangers, to reduce their vigilance and to increase their foraging time in order to satisfy their higher nutritional requirements. They could also be interpreted as a possible consequence of increasing competition with flock size which constrained more nutritionally stressed young flamingos to increase their foraging time to the detriment of vigilance.
BibTeX:
@article{Boukhriss2007,
  author = {Boukhriss, J. and Selmi, S. and Béchet, A. and Nouira, S.},
  title = {Vigilance in Greater Flamingos wintering in southern Tunisia: Age-dependant flock size effect},
  journal = {Ethology},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {113},
  pages = {377-385},
  note = {Record Number: 20082}
}
Diawara Y, Arnaud A, Araujo A and Béchet A (2007), "Nouvelles données sur la reproduction et l’hivernage des flamants roses Phoenicopterus roseus en Mauritanie et confirmation d’échanges avec les colonies méditerranéennes", Malimbus. Vol. 29, pp. 31-41.
Abstract: The coastal wetlands of Mauritania consist of vast areas of flooded plains and mudflats under the influence of the tide and are habitats of an exceptional avifaunistic richness. The Banc d’Arguin and the fresh and salt-water marshes of the delta of the Senegal river are especially known to be the principal wintering sites of many waterbirds from the Western Palearctic. These sub-Saharan coastal wetlands are also the breeding sites of many waterbirds of afro-tropical and Mediterranean distribution. The Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) is one of these species, often abundant on the Mauritanian coast. The link between the Greater flamingos breeding in Mauritania and those breeding at Mediterranean colonies is however not established. In order to better characterize the current status and trends of the species, we monitored the Greater Flamingos in the coastal wetlands in Mauritania in 2003-04. Here, we present the first results of this study put in perspective with the data relative to this species collected for the 48 last years in Mauritania. In particular, the observation of 2 birds born and ringed in the Mediterranean, feeding chicks on the Banc d’Arguin makes it possible to establish the final proof of existing exchanges between the Mediterranean colonies and the Mauritanian one. We discuss the implications of these results for the limits of the metapopulation of this species.
BibTeX:
@article{Diawara2007,
  author = {Diawara, Y. and Arnaud, A. and Araujo, A. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {Nouvelles données sur la reproduction et l’hivernage des flamants roses Phoenicopterus roseus en Mauritanie et confirmation d’échanges avec les colonies méditerranéennes},
  journal = {Malimbus},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {29},
  pages = {31-41},
  note = {http:\\malimbus.free.fr\summarie\931.htm}
}
Diawara Y, Arnaud A, Araujo A and Béchet A (2007), "Nouvelles données sur la reproduction et l’hivernage des flamants roses Phoenicopterus roseus en Mauritanie et confirmation d’échanges avec les populations méditerranéennes", Ostrich. Vol. 78(2), pp. 469-474.
BibTeX:
@article{Diawara2007Ostrich,
  author = {Diawara, Y. and Arnaud, A. and Araujo, A. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {Nouvelles données sur la reproduction et l’hivernage des flamants roses Phoenicopterus roseus en Mauritanie et confirmation d’échanges avec les populations méditerranéennes},
  journal = {Ostrich},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {78},
  number = {2},
  pages = {469-474}
}
Johnson A and Béchet A (2007), "The third international workshop on Greater Flamingos in the Mediterranean region and North-west Africa : summary of main outputs", Ostrich. Vol. 78(2), pp. xxv-xxvi.
Abstract: The third international workshop on Mediterranean and West African flamingos was held at Djerba, Tunisia, on 26 November 2004. The workshop, organised by Arnaud Béchet from Tour du Valat, was attended by 33 participants from 10 countries. Twelve communications facilitated assessment of the research conducted by the Flamingo Network in the north of the Mediterranean (France, Spain and Italy) and Mauritania, as well as a review of the status of flamingos from Tunisia to Morocco. It appeared to be a priority to develop the network of research and conservation of flamingos toward North Africa where, in spite of the importance of wintering population and suspicions of breeding, band resightings remain scarce together with counts that are also rarely reliable. The participants have emphasised the need to apply for funding aimed at building collaborative projects with the south of the Mediterranean in order to increase the skills and logistics required to develop monitoring, research and conservation activities in this region.

Le 3ième atelier international sur les Flamants de Méditerranée et de l'Afrique de l'Ouest s'est tenu à Djerba, Tunisie le 26 novembre 2004. Trente trois participants provenant de 10 pays ont assisté à cet atelier organisé par Arnaud Béchet de la Tour du Valat. Douze interventions ont permis de faire le point sur les travaux du réseau Flamant dans le nord de la Méditerranée (France, Espagne et Italie) et en Mauritanie ainsi que de passer en revue le statut des Flamants de la Tunisie au Maroc. Il est apparut urgent de développer le réseau d'étude et de conservation des Flamants vers l'Afrique du Nord où malgré l'importance des populations hivernantes, et les soupçons de reproduction, les lectures de bagues restent peu nombreuses et les dénombrements rares et souvent peu fiables. L'accent a été mis sur le besoin de trouver des financements pour monter des projets conjoints avec le sud de la Méditerranée afin d'augmenter les compétences et les moyens logistiques nécessaires pour y développer des activités de suivi, de recherche et de conservation.</td> </tr>

BibTeX:
@article{Johnson2007,
  author = {Johnson, A. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {The third international workshop on Greater Flamingos in the Mediterranean region and North-west Africa : summary of main outputs},
  journal = {Ostrich},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {78},
  number = {2},
  pages = {xxv-xxvi}
}
Le Bohec C, Gauthier-Clerc M, Grémillet D, Pradel R, Béchet A, Gendner JP and Le Maho Y (2007), "Population dynamics in a long-lived seabird I: Impact of breeding activity on survival and breeding probability in unbanded king penguins.", Journal of Animal Ecology. Vol. 76, pp. 1149-1160.
Abstract: 1. Understanding the trade-off between current reproductive effort, future survival and future breeding attempts is crucial for demographic analyses and life history
studies.
2. We investigated this trade-off in a population of king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) marked individually with transponders using multistate capture–recap-
ture models.
3. This colonial seabird species has a low annual proportion of non-breeders (13%), despite a breeding cycle which lasts over 1 year. To draw inferences about the consequences of non-breeding, we tested for an effect of reproductive activity on survival and on the probability of subsequent breeding.
4. We found that birds non-breeding in year t show the same survival rate as breeders (two-states analysis: breeding and non-breeding). However, breeders had a lower probability of breeding again the following year. This negative phenotypic correlation suggests the existence of reproductive costs affecting future breeding probability, but it might also be strengthened by late arrival for courtship in year t.
5. A three-state analysis including breeding success revealed that failed breeders in year t have a lower probability to reproduce successfully in year t + 1 than non-breeders in year t, providing some evidence for the existence of reproductive costs. Moreover, successful breeders showed higher survival probability. This positive phenotypic correlation between current reproduction and subsequent survival supports the hypothesis of an heterogeneity in individual quality.
6. Males breeding in year t had a lower probability to breed again in year t + 1 than females, suggesting higher reproductive costs for this sex. Such additional costs might be due to higher male parental investment in the final phase of chick-rearing, which also delays the arrival of males in year t + 1, and decreases their breeding probability.
7. Our study is the first to explore the breeding biology and the demography of penguins without the disturbance of flipper-bands.
BibTeX:
@article{LeBohec2007,
  author = {Le Bohec, C. and Gauthier-Clerc, M. and Grémillet, D. and Pradel, R. and Béchet, A. and Gendner, J. P. and Le Maho, Y.},
  title = {Population dynamics in a long-lived seabird I: Impact of breeding activity on survival and breeding probability in unbanded king penguins.},
  journal = {Journal of Animal Ecology},
  year = {2007},
  volume = {76},
  pages = {1149-1160}
}
Samraoui B, Ouldjaoui A, Boulkhssaïm M, Houhamdi M, Saheb M and Béchet A (2006), "The first recorded reproduction of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Algeria: behavioural and ecological aspects", Ostrich. Vol. 77(3\&4), pp. 153-159.
Abstract: Following several decades of unsuccessful attempts at locating breeding colonies of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Algeria, breeding was recorded on a natural islet of Garaet Ezzemoul, a seasonal salt lake near the town of Aïn M’lila in the Hauts Plateaux. This successful mass breeding event by at least 5 379 breeding pairs followed two failed attempts due to human disturbance at the same site during preceding years. Egg-laying started relatively late (mid-May) with precocious pairs nesting in the middle of the islet and at a higher nest density. Estimated breeding success was notably high ( 5 000 chicks) with apparent good hatching rate and chick survival. Ring sightings indicated that the breeding population was made up in part of adults born in Spain, France and Sardinia, supporting evidence of a metapopulation of nomadic birds breeding and wintering across the Mediterranean Basin. Garaet Ezzemoul does not benefit from any conservation status and is not labelled as a Ramsar site in contrast to some of the neighbouring wetlands. In the light of the key role played by this site, at the regional scale, its status should be reassessed and in view of the threats facing it, urgent conservation measures should be initiated. Local authorities have reacted swiftly in response to the discovery of the breeding colony of the Greater Flamingo, and administrative steps are being taken to formally protect Garaet Ezzemoul.
BibTeX:
@article{Samraoui2006,
  author = {Samraoui, B. and Ouldjaoui, A. and Boulkhssaïm, M. and Houhamdi, M. and Saheb, M. and Béchet, A.},
  title = {The first recorded reproduction of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Algeria: behavioural and ecological aspects},
  journal = {Ostrich},
  year = {2006},
  volume = {77},
  number = {3&4},
  pages = {153-159},
  note = {Record Number: 20072}
}
Gauthier G, Giroux JF, Reed A, Béchet A and Bélanger L (2005), "Interactions between land use, habitat use and population increase in greater snow geese: what are the consequences for natural wetlands?", Global Change Biology. Vol. 11, pp. 856-868.
Abstract: The North American greater snow goose population has increased dramatically during the last 40 years. We evaluated whether refuge creation, changes in land use on the wintering and staging grounds, and climate warming have contributed to this expansion by affecting the distribution, habitat use, body condition, and migration phenology of birds. We also reviewed the effects of the increasing population on marshes on the wintering grounds, along the migratory routes and on the tundra in summer. Refuges established before 1970 may have contributed to the initial demographic increase. The most important change, however, was the switch from a diet entirely based on marsh plants in spring and winter (rhizomes of Scirpus/Spartina) to one dominated by crops (corn/young grass shoots) during the 1970s and 1980s. Geese now winter further north along the US Atlantic coast, leading to reduced hunting mortality. Their migratory routes now include portions of southwestern Que´bec where corn production has increased exponentially. Since the mid-1960s, average temperatures have increased by 1–2.41C throughout the geographic range of geese, which may have contributed to the northward shift in wintering range and an earlier migration in spring. Access to spilled corn in spring improved fat reserves upon departure for the Arctic and may have contributed to a high fecundity. The population increase has led to intense grazing of natural wetlands used by geese although these habitats are still largely undamaged. The foraging in fields allowed the population to exceed limits imposed by natural marshes in winter and spring, but also prevented permanent damage because of their overgrazing.
BibTeX:
@article{Gauthier2005,
  author = {Gauthier, G. and Giroux, J. F. and Reed, A. and Béchet, A. and Bélanger, L.},
  title = {Interactions between land use, habitat use and population increase in greater snow geese: what are the consequences for natural wetlands?},
  journal = {Global Change Biology},
  year = {2005},
  volume = {11},
  pages = {856-868},
  note = {Record Number: 17872}
}
Béchet A, Giroux JF and Gauthier G (2004), "The effects of disturbance on behaviour, habitat use and energy of spring staging snow geese", Journal of Applied Ecology. Vol. 41, pp. 689-700.
Abstract: 1. For many species, human-induced disturbances can severely influence an individual’s pay-off; however, energy-cost variations from different disturbance types have rarely been reported.
2. We evaluated the dynamic behavioural responses of staging greater snow geese Anser caerulescens atlanticus to different types of disturbance in southern Quebec, Canada, between 1997 and 2000. We specifically considered the impact of a unique measure, a spring conservation hunt implemented in agricultural habitats in 1999.
3. We tracked 237 radio-tagged females for 2764 h and recorded 697 take-offs following fortuitous disturbance, scaring and hunting in three regions characterized by different habitats. Geese used cornfields in south-western Quebec, Scirpus marshes and hayfields in the upper St Lawrence estuary, and Spartina marshes and hayfields in the lower estuary.
4. Overall, disturbance levels increased in the upper and lower estuary during years with hunting, mostly through an increase in hunting and scaring activities.
5. The probability of geese returning to a refuge after disturbance in agricultural habitats increased in years with hunting except in the corn-growing region. The short-term energy gain of geese resuming feeding after disturbance was less than before disturbance, and this difference was greater in years with hunting. Distances flown after disturbance decreased with flock size and were longer after scaring and hunting than after fortuitous disturbances in the Scirpus region.
6. Overall, habitat use varied among years and associated estimated energy gain decreased markedly in both years with hunting in the Spartina and corn-growing region, but did not change in the Scirpus region. Changes in behaviour due to disturbance, and specially those associated with hunting, probably contributed to the reduced body condition of staging greater snow geese during years with hunting.
7. Synthesis and applications. From a methodological viewpoint, we highlight the importance of tracking the behaviour of individual animals after disturbance to pro-
perly evaluate its impact. From a conservation perspective, we provide empirical arguments to limit the hunting of breeding waterfowl during their prenuptial migration in order to facilitate their fattening and forthcoming reproduction. From a managementstandpoint, we suggest that a side-effect of disturbance induced by spring hunting to control overabundant populations may be reduced fattening and breeding output among birds that survive. Together, these data emphasize further the importance of measuring the direct and indirect effects of disturbance rather than assuming effects from the incidence of the disturbance alone.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2004a,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Giroux, J. F. and Gauthier, G.},
  title = {The effects of disturbance on behaviour, habitat use and energy of spring staging snow geese},
  journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology},
  year = {2004},
  volume = {41},
  pages = {689-700},
  note = {Record Number: 15762}
}
Béchet A, Reed A, Plante N, Giroux JF and Gauthier G (2004), "Estimating the size of the greater snow goose population", Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 68(3), pp. 639-649.
Abstract: Accurate and precise estimation of the size of animal populations is critical to sound management and conservation. The size of the greater snow goose (Chen caerulescens atlantica) population has been monitored since 1965 by means of an aerial photographic survey conducted every spring in southern Quebec, Canada. As the population increased, the estimation of its size evolved from total counts of the birds on photographs (1965–1990) to sampling the photographed flocks (1991–2000). From 1998 to 2000, we implemented a protocol to estimate the proportion of flocks missed by the photographic survey. This was achieved using radiomarked geese that were tracked by independent observers during the aerial survey. The proportion of radiomarked geese detected during the survey was used to
estimate the proportion of the population that was photographed. The estimated size of the photographed popula tion was based on a combined stratified ratio estimator using partial counts and visual estimates of flocks in 3 size classes. The estimated size of the photographed population had a coefficient of variation (CV) of 2–6%. This precision was achieved by counting only 15% of the photographed geese on average, which was a large gain in logistical efficiency considering the size of the population. We found no evidence for overdispersion of the number of radiomarked birds (n = 70 in 1998, n = 41 in 2000) encountered in each flock. In 1999, technical problems with radiotransmitters prevented a reliable total population size estimate. In 1998 and 2000, we estimated that the photographic crew missed 11
and 29%, respectively, of the radiomarked geese present. The CV of the total population size estimates were 5.8% in 1998 and 11.1% in 2000. As the proportion of missed flocks increases, the number of radiomarked birds required to obtain a CV of 5% increases with a concomitant increase of cost. We highlight spatial and temporal changes in the spring distribution of greater snow geese staging in southern Quebec and suggest that adjustments of timing and coverage of the surveys will be required to maintain and improve the accuracy of the population size estimates at low cost.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2004b,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Reed, A. and Plante, N. and Giroux, J. F. and Gauthier, G.},
  title = {Estimating the size of the greater snow goose population},
  journal = {Journal of Wildlife Management},
  year = {2004},
  volume = {68},
  number = {3},
  pages = {639-649},
  note = {Record Number: 18432}
}
Béchet A, Giroux JF, Gauthier G, Nichols JD and Hines JE (2003), "Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese", Journal of Applied Ecology. Vol. 40, pp. 553-564.
Abstract: 1. Human-induced disturbance such as hunting may influence the migratory behaviour of long-distance migrants. In 1999 and 2000 a spring hunt of greater snow geese Anser caerulescens atlanticus occurred for the first time in North America since 1916, aimed at stopping population growth to protect natural habitats.
2. We evaluated the impact of this hunt on the staging movements of geese along a 600-km stretch of the St Lawrence River in southern Quebec, Canada.
3. We tracked radio-tagged female geese in three contiguous regions of the staging area from the south-west to the north-east: Lake St Pierre, Upper Estuary and Lower Estuary, in spring 1997 (n= 37) and 1998 (n= 70) before the establishment of hunting, and in 1999 (n= 60) and 2000 (n= 59) during hunting.
4. We used multi-state capture–recapture models to estimate the movement probabilities of radio-tagged females among these regions. To assess disturbance level, we tracked geese during their feeding trips and estimated the probability of completing a foraging bout without being disturbed.
5. In the 2 years without hunting, migration was strongly unidirectional from the south-west to the north-east, with very low westward movement probabilities. Geese
gradually moved from Lake St Pierre to Upper Estuary and then from Upper Estuary to Lower Estuary.
6. In contrast, during the 2 years with hunting westward movement was more than four times more likely than in preceding years. Most of these backward movements occurred shortly after the beginning of the hunt, indicating that geese moved back to regions where they had not previously experienced hunting.
7. Overall disturbance level increased in all regions in years with hunting relative to years without hunting.
8. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that spring hunting changed the stopover scheduling of this long-distance migrant and might further impact population dynamics by reducing prenuptial fattening. The spring hunt may also have increased crop damage. We propose that staggered hunt opening dates could attenuate secondary effects of such management actions.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2003a,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Giroux, J. F. and Gauthier, G. and Nichols, J. D. and Hines, J. E.},
  title = {Spring hunting changes the regional movements of migrating greater snow geese},
  journal = {Journal of Applied Ecology},
  year = {2003},
  volume = {40},
  pages = {553-564},
  note = {Record Number: 15752}
}
Féret M, Gauthier G, Béchet A, Giroux JF and Hobson KA (2003), "Effect of a spring hunt on nutrient storage by greater snow geese in southern Quebec", Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 67(4), pp. 796-807.
Abstract: A spring conservation hunt (15 Apr–31 May) to control the exponential population growth of greater snow geese (Chen caerulescens atlantica) was introduced in 1999 during their staging in southern Quebec, Canada. We tested the hypothesis that disturbance by hunting negatively affected nutrient storage in spring. We compared
the amount of fat and protein stored by staging geese during the hunt (1999 and 2000) to similar data obtained sporadically between 1979 and 1998 (no hunt). We collected adult females at 3 sites along the St. Lawrence River during years with (n = 235 geese) and without (n = 194) hunting. We used abdominal fat and dry breast muscle mass as corresponding indices of fat and protein reserves. The condition of geese arriving at the staging area did not differ between years with and without a hunt. Abdominal fat of geese at the end of the staging period was 29–48% lower (depending on site and year) during years with a hunt than in years without. Similarly, breast muscles of geese at the end of staging were 5–11% lighter in years with a spring hunt. Low stable-carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) in tissues of geese collected in spring 1999 suggested that they fed less on corn, a C-4 plant and a major food source for geese, than in other years. This may have contributed to their reduced body condition that year. However, despite high δ 13 C values in 2000, indicative of a high proportion of corn in the diet, nutrient storage in geese was still reduced compared to years without a hunt. We conclude that hunting was the most important factor explaining the low fat and protein storage of geese in springs of 1999 and 2000. We suggest that hunting disturbance reduced nutrient storage of geese because of decreased feeding activity and increased flying time.
BibTeX:
@article{Feret2003,
  author = {Féret, M. and Gauthier, G. and Béchet, A. and Giroux, J. F. and Hobson, K. A.},
  title = {Effect of a spring hunt on nutrient storage by greater snow geese in southern Quebec},
  journal = {Journal of Wildlife Management},
  year = {2003},
  volume = {67},
  number = {4},
  pages = {796-807},
  note = {Record Number: 15482}
}
Tamisier A, Béchet A, Jarry G, Lefeuvre JC and Le Maho Y (2003), "Effets du dérangement par la chasse sur les oiseaux d'eau. Revue de littérature", Revue d'Ecologie la Terre et la La Vie.. Vol. 58, pp. 435-449.
Abstract: La chasse aux oiseaux d'eau, activité humaine largement pratiquée sur les zones humides du continent eurasiatique, présente deux composantes pouvant affecter la dynamique des populations de ces espèces migratrices : le prélèvement (qui concerne la mortalité) et le dérangement. Ce dernier aspect fait l'objet d'études de plus en plus nombreuses et détaillées, ici synthétisées, incluant des protocoles expérimentaux et des approches conceptuelles. Le dérangement par la chasse est considéré comme important pour une espèce lorsque les modifications qu'il induit ont un effet sur la « fitness » des individus de cette espèce (diminution de la survie et/ou du succès reproducteur). Les études montrent que le dérangement modifie presque toujours la distribution géographique des oiseaux en favorisant leur regroupement (5 à 50 fois plus) sur des espaces non chassés, induisant une sous-exploitation des ressources trophiques présentes sur les espaces chassés. Le dérangement peut aussi provoquer un accroissement du taux de renouvellement (« turnover ») des individus sur leur étape migratoire. Ces transferts d'oiseaux, bien quantifiés localement, ont un impact encore inconnu sur la taille des populations concernées, la large distribution de ces populations sur plusieurs continents rendant cette évaluation difficile. Le dérangement provoque une modification comportementale soit en favorisant des activités plus coûteuses que celles pratiquées sans dérangement, soit en diminuant le temps passé à des activités qui permettent d'acquérir de l'énergie. Les estimations ou simulations de ces pertes peuvent atteindre 25 % de la dépense énergétique journalière. Les oiseaux dérangés développent des capacités d'adaptation physiologique face aux contraintes associées au dérangement, par exemple une augmentation de la prise alimentaire, une augmentation du rendement de l'assimilation énergétique ou une augmentation de la sécrétion de corticostérone qui stimule l'activité de recherche de nourriture. L'évaluation directe du bilan énergétique de ces adaptations n'a pas encore été réalisée et l'on peut admettre qu'elles permettent à l'oiseau de maintenir un apport énergétique analogue à celui obtenu sans dérangement; mais le coût à terme de cette acquisition est élevé. Ainsi, une étude récente sur la Grande Oie des neiges Anser caerules-cens atlantica au Canada révèle que lorsque les individus sont dérangés par la chasse sur leur étape migratoire de printemps, ils sont contraints d'exploiter des sites moins riches que s'il n'y avait pas de chasse; ils sont alors dans de moins bonnes conditions corporelles (lipidiques et protéiniques) lors du départ vers leurs lieux de reproduction et ils ont finalement un moindre succès de reproduction que les individus n'ayant pas subi le dérangement par la chasse. Certes, des lacunes et des incertitudes persistent, par exemple au niveau spécifique (peu d'études sur les limicoles), mais tous les auteurs qui les ont mises en évidence s'accordent aussi pour reconnaître que, pour contrebalancer les effets du dérangement par la chasse, des mesures de protection doivent être prises.

Waterbird hunting is a widespread human activity over wetlands of the Eurasian continent. It has two components that can influence the population dynamics of migratory species : mortality and disturbance. Disturbance is the focus of an increasing number of detailed studies, using both experimental and theoretical approaches. They are synthesized herein. Disturbance is considered important when induced changes influence the fitness of the individuals of a species (decrease in survival or breeding success). Studies show that disturbance almost always change the geographical distribution of birds, conducting to an under-exploitation of food resources available in hunting areas. Disturbance can also favour an increase in the turnover rate of individuals on their migratory stopover. These changes in bird distribution, although precisely quantified at a local scale, have an unknown impact on the population size of the concerned species. The wide distribution of several of these species ranging over several continents makes the precise evaluation of this impact difficult. Disturbance changes behaviour either by increasing time spent in activities more costly than those done without disturbance or by decreasing time spent gaining energy. Estimation or simulation of these lost can reach 25% of the daily energy expenses. Facing disturbance, birds can develop several physiological adaptations, for instance an increased food intake, an increased efficiency of energy assimilation or an augmentation of corticosterone secretion stimulating food searching. The direct evaluation of the energy balance of these adaptations has not been made yet and it can be acknowledged that they allow birds to maintain energy gains similar to those obtained without disturbance. However, the long-term cost of this compensation is high. A recent study of the Greater Snow Goose Anser caerulescens atlantica on their spring stopover in Canada indicates that hunting disturbance makes geese use lower quality habitats, decreases their body condition (fat and protein) when they depart to the breeding sites and decreases their breeding success relative to individuals that have not experienced hunting. Uncertainties remain, for instance at the species level (few studies on waders), but all authors that emphasized them also agree to acknowledge that protection measures must be taken to counter-balance the effects of hunting disturbance. They recommend the increase of protected areas (hunt-free areas), the elaboration of a network of reserves and the establishment of non hunted zones around existing reserves to reduce to the minimum the negative effects of disturbance on birds that use these reserves. The implementation of these management actions must favour the widening of the distribution of these populations and facilitate the local and regional increase of their numbers. These protection measures are positive responses to the recommendations of the European Union birds and habitats directives.</td> </tr>

BibTeX:
@article{Tamisier2003,
  author = {Tamisier, A. and Béchet, A. and Jarry, G. and Lefeuvre, J. C. and Le Maho, Y.},
  title = {Effets du dérangement par la chasse sur les oiseaux d'eau. Revue de littérature},
  journal = {Revue d'Ecologie la Terre et la La Vie.},
  year = {2003},
  volume = {58},
  pages = {435-449},
  note = {Record Number: 20232}
}
Béchet A, Martin JL, Meister P and Rabouam C (2000), "A second breeding site for Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) in Nunavut, Canada", Arctic. Vol. 53(3), pp. 234-236.
Abstract: ABSTRACT. Only 15 cases of breeding of Ross’s gull Rhodostethia rosea are known outside of Siberia. While numerous birds
are regularly seen in the fall at Point Barrow, Alaska, until now only one breeding locality has been known for Nunavut, Canada.
We found a second breeding locality in Nunavut in the northwestern corner of Prince Charles Island (Foxe Basin). We observed
one pair incubating two eggs on a small island (30 m in diameter) situated in a medium-sized lake, on a low plateau at the top of
a complex of raised beaches. None of the reports on aerial or land surveys of this region have mentioned the reproduction of this
species, though unpublished aerial observations suggest that the species has been present during the 1980s. Outside Siberia, this
species seems to be characterized by an irregular and scattered distribution of its breeding sites.
Key words: Ross’s gull, Rhodostethia rosea, breeding site, Foxe Basin, Prince Charles Island, Nunavut

RÉSUMÉ. Seuls 15 cas de reproduction de la mouette de Ross Rhodostethia rosea ont été rapportés en dehors de la Sibérie. Alors
que de nombreux oiseaux sont observés à l’automne lors de leur passage à Point Barrow (Alaska), la reproduction au Nunavut
(Canada) n’a été mentionnée qu’une seule fois. Nous documentons un deuxième site de reproduction pour le Nunavut, dans la
partie nord-ouest de l’île du Prince-Charles (bassin Foxe). Un couple a été observé incubant deux œufs sur une petite île (environ
30 m de diamètre) située au milieu d’un lac de taille moyenne, sur un plateau bas constituant le sommet d’un complexe de plages
surélevées. Aucun des rapports des levés aériens ou terrestres de cette région ne mentionne la reproduction de cette espèce, bien
que des observations aériennes non publiées suggèrent sa présence au cours des années 80. En dehors de la Sibérie, cette espèce
semble se caractériser par une distribution irrégulière et éparse des sites de reproduction.</td> </tr>

BibTeX:
@article{Bechet2000,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Martin, J. L. and Meister, P. and Rabouam, C.},
  title = {A second breeding site for Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) in Nunavut, Canada},
  journal = {Arctic},
  year = {2000},
  volume = {53},
  number = {3},
  pages = {234-236},
  note = {Record Number: 11236}
}
Béchet A, Giroux JF and Gauthier G (1998), "Opportunism versus tradition in habitat use by staging Greater Snow Geese", 9th North American Arctic Goose Conference.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet1998,
  author = {Béchet, A. and Giroux, J. F. and Gauthier, G.},
  title = {Opportunism versus tradition in habitat use by staging Greater Snow Geese},
  journal = {9th North American Arctic Goose Conference},
  year = {1998},
  note = {Record Number: 6436 Medium Designator: Poster}
}
Béchet A, Isenmann P and Gaudin R (1998), "Nest predation, temporal and spatial breeding strategy in the woodchat shrike Lanius senator in Mediterranean France", Acta Oecologica. Vol. 19(1), pp. 81 - 87.
Abstract: A low breeding success (36.5 %) due primarily to nest predation by mammals, birds and reptiles has been found in the Woodchat
Shrike Lanius srnator at three study sites in Mediterranean France. Data collected for 3 years on natural and artificial nests showed no year, time,
season or spatial effect on nest predation rate in this species. No particular spatial breeding strategy is used, breeding success being no better at
any nest site currently used along roadsides or far from roads. With respect to nest predation pressures, the best breeding strategy for Woodchat
Shrike should be to breed as early as possible at any suitable site within its territory. Nevertheless, the impact of high predation on the viability of
the studied populations of this species cannot be fully explained by the large impact of habitat transformations (closure of open, bushy grasslands)
on current day populations.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet1998a,
  author = {Arnaud Béchet and Paul Isenmann and Rodolphe Gaudin},
  title = {Nest predation, temporal and spatial breeding strategy in the woodchat shrike Lanius senator in Mediterranean France},
  journal = {Acta Oecologica},
  year = {1998},
  volume = {19},
  number = {1},
  pages = {81 - 87},
  url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VR3-3W292HG-C/2/d40e5182787c271452b6e80de3161f39},
  doi = {DOI: 10.1016/S1146-609X(98)80011-8}
}
Béchet A, Isenmann P and Mauffrey J-F (1996), "Le busard cendré Circus pygargus pris le bec dans le nid...", Alauda. Vol. 64, pp. 4.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet1996,
  author = {Béchet, A. and P. Isenmann and J.-F. Mauffrey},
  title = {Le busard cendré Circus pygargus pris le bec dans le nid...},
  journal = {Alauda},
  year = {1996},
  volume = {64},
  pages = {4}
}
Béchet A, Isenmann P and Mauffrey J-F (1995), "Un deuxième site de nidification de la Pie-Grièche à poitrine rose (Lanius minor) en Languedoc", Alauda. Dijon, FRANCE Vol. 63(3), pp. 243-244.
BibTeX:
@article{Bechet1995,
  author = {A. Béchet and P. Isenmann and J.-F. Mauffrey},
  title = {Un deuxième site de nidification de la Pie-Grièche à poitrine rose (Lanius minor) en Languedoc},
  journal = {Alauda},
  year = {1995},
  volume = {63},
  number = {3},
  pages = {243-244}
}