The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s-2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr(-1) towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr(-1). Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to 'climate debt'. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds' resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future

Natural Monocrystalline Pyrite as Sensor for Potentiometric

and As(III) with standard potassium permanganate solution, are presented. The titration end point (TEP) was detected with a universal electrode whose sensor is natural crystalline pyrite. The titrations of As(III) were carried out in HCl (1.2 M) and H2SO4 solutions (0.1-4.5 M), whereas oxalate was determined in H2SO4 (0.1-4.5 M). Iron(II) and hexacyanoferrate(II) were titrated in H2SO4 and also in H3PO4 solutions (0.1-4.5 M). The titrations of Mn(II) were performed in H2P2O7 2- media at pH 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0. The results obtained by using the pyrite electrode were compared with those obtained by the application of a Pt-electrode, and good agreement, reproducibility and accuracy were obtained. The potentials in the course of the titration and at the end-point (TEP) are rapidly established. The potential changes at the TEP ranged from 90 to 330 mV/0.1 mL, depending on the titrated system. The highest changes were observed in titrations of Fe(II) in H3PO4 (240-330 mV/0.1 mL). Reversed titrations were also performed and accurate and reproducible results were obtained