Prioritising Iberian Wetlandsfor the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds through Network Analysis

Abstract

Without adequate protection, wetlands used by migratory waterbirds as stopover sites risk degradation or loss, which can restrict a species' ability to adapt to environmental change and reduce the functional connectivity between breeding and non-breeding grounds. To address this problem, we developed a workflow that uses spatial network analysis, informed by citizen science data, to assess stopover site importance. Applied to the Iberian Peninsula, this approach determined the relative importance of wetlands for the post-nuptial migration of 17 waterbird species, both at the species and group level. Our results align with existing research, while also highlighting sites where current protection may be insufficient. However, the reliability of the workflow is influenced by species- dependent, temporal, and spatial parameters, which require careful consideration to ensure robust and ecologically meaningful assessments. Despite these limitations, the workflow's adaptability and replicability enable its application in other geographical regions for which data is available, making it a valuable tool for prioritizing wetland protection to support migratory waterbird species conservation worldwide.