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Acrocephalus Arundinaceus

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Acrocephalus Arundinaceus Acrocephalus arundinaceus -- (Temminck & Schlegel, 1847) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- SYLVIIDAE Common names: Great Reed-warbler; Great Reed Warbler; Rousserolle turdoïde European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) In Europe this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in Europe. Within the EU27 this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern in the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Faroe Islands (to DK); Iceland; Ireland, Rep. of; Liechtenstein; Norway; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 2,600,000-4,680,000 pairs, which equates to 5,190,000-9,360,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 1,030,000-1,590,000 pairs, which equates to 2,060,000-3,180,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe the population size trend is unknown. In the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology This species breeds mainly in beds of reed (Phragmites), locally in stands of reedmace (Typha), growing in fresh or brackish water and rarely, in willow bushes (Salix). It shows a preference for tall reeds with thick stems, especially next to open water. In western and central Europe, egg-laying occurs from mid-May to July but begins earlier in southern Europe from early May. It lays three to six eggs in a nest, which is a deep, cylindrical cup of coarsely woven grass, reed and other plants stems and leaves, some plant down, spider webs and reed flowers and lined with finer plant material, sometimes also hair and feathers. It is built 10–200 cm above water and attached to several reed stems. The diet is mainly insects but also includes spiders (Araneae), some snails and small vertebrates. Outside the breeding season it also rarely takes fruit and berries. The species is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa (Dyrcz 2006). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Rivers/Streams/Creeks (includes waterfalls) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Saline, Brackish or Alkaline Marshes/Pools suitable breeding Altitude max. 650 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats The reasons of declines in Europe are not clear but may be due to climate change and habitat loss. Drainage and irrigation, decreasing reed quality, lower arthropod densities (Dyrcz 2006), land reclamation, eutrophication and reedbed die-back may be causes (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact (agricultural use) Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Natural system Other ecosystem Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications modifications Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion Pollution Agricultural & Timing Scope Severity Impact forestry effluents Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Medium Impact (nutrient loads) Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Conservation Conservation Actions Underway CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species. Conservation Actions Proposed Habitat may be managed for the species through the restoration of natural water level fluctuations, restoration of early successional wetland stages and the reduction of water nutrient loads (Graveland 1998). Bibliography Dyrcz, A. 2006. Great Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/58804 on 25 March 2015). Graveland, J.A.A.P. 1998. Reed die-back, water level management and the decline of the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus in The Netherlands. Ardea-Wageningen 86: 187-201. Hagemeijer, W.J.M. and Blair, M.J. 1997. The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T and A D Poyser, London. Map (see overleaf) .
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