A systematic review of lapwing research in Africa to determine trends and evidence of their response to changes in terrestrial ecosystems
Feziwe Phoswa, Colleen T. Downs
Abstract
Humans have altered natural habitats to satisfy their needs, affecting global ecosystems and biodiversity. Grasslands have been affected by fragmentation, habitat loss, and landscape changes, which have an impact on grassland birds. Most lapwings (Charadriidae), a taxon of grassland, ground-nesting birds, have declined because of habitat modifications. We systematically reviewed lapwing (Vanellus spp.) research in Africa to determine the trends and evidence of lapwing responses to changes in terrestrial ecosystems. We assessed the peer-reviewed research focused on African lapwing species and the geographical and research foci of publications from January 1970 to June 2023. Our results revealed that African lapwing research activities fluctuated, with a peak in the 1980s and 2000s, with relatively little research in recent years. Research efforts on different species were biased by country, with around 65% of publications being conducted in South Africa, with more research on Crowned Lapwings (Vanellus coronatus) and Blacksmith Lapwings (V. armatus). Only 61.5% (n = 8) of lapwing species were reported in research conducted in Africa from 1970 to mid-2023. Among them, Northern Lapwing (V. vanellus) has a breeding population that is near-threatened. The Sociable Lapwing (V. gregarius) is critically endangered and also breeds in Africa. Out of all the species, Crowned Lapwings were studied the most. The available publications highlighted the behaviour, breeding, habitat selection, and diet of various African lapwing species. These species can coexist and exhibit defensive behaviours to avoid predation; their diets are mainly invertebrates, such as insects, and they tend to move if habitats are unfavourable for them. Lapwings adjust their behaviour in response to their surroundings. These adaptive behaviours, such as foraging abilities, nesting behaviours, and plasticity, enhance their fitness to survive and reproduce in anthropogenically modified landscapes. Significant gaps were highlighted in our research, with increasingly fewer publications of lapwings in Africa despite continuing anthropogenic land-use change.