The ecology of sewage treatment gradients in relation to their use by waterbirds

The distribution and abundance of waterbirds along sewage treatment gradients at the Western Treatment Plant (Victoria, Australia) were studied in late summer/early autumn 2000. In general, the highest densities and diversity of waterbirds, and of zooplankton, were found in the ponds towards the end of a treatment series. Filter-feeding waterfowl (Anatidae) probably used these ponds because of the availability of zooplankton as a food-source. Dissolved oxygen concentration generally increased along the treatment gradient and un-ionised sulphide concentration decreased, and it is possible that either one, or both, of these played a key role in determining the distribution of zooplankton.     

菜子湖冬季水鸟空间分布与环境因子的关系研究

水鸟空间分布与环境因子的关系是生态研究的重要内容,环境因子的变化可以通过改变栖息地的生境特征、食物资源从而直接或间接影响水鸟的种类、数量和分布.利用网格单元对2019—2020年菜子湖冬季水鸟及其环境因子进行调查,共记录到水鸟6目12科41种,其优势种为豆雁(Anser fabalis)和黑腹滨鹬(Calidris a...     

基于Maxent模型的粤港澳大湾区水鸟多样性热点研究

粤港澳大湾区拥有丰富的滨海湿地和水网湿地,是水鸟迁徙路线上的重要栖息地。基于55种水鸟的分布数据和15个环境变量数据,利用最大熵模型（Maximum Entropy model）分析了粤港澳大湾区水鸟多样性的空间分布格局及热点地区。研究表明：影响水鸟潜在分布的主要环境因子依次是降雨量季节变化、土地利用类型、距离水源的距离,水鸟丰富度最高出现在粤港澳大湾区的东南区域,呈现往内陆地区逐渐降低的趋势,与当地水资源空间分布一致。水鸟多样性热点地区分布在东南部沿海一带,集中在珠海、江门、深圳、中山等市。研究结果能为粤港澳大湾区水鸟多样性保护规划提供参考,对维持该区域生态系统安全和稳定具有重要意义。     

极端洪水作用下升金湖消落带生境变化对越冬水鸟群落结构的影响

水鸟是湿地生境质量的重要指示性动物类群,可敏感地反映湿地环境变化。浅水通江湖泊消落带具有复杂多样的生境和丰富的食物资源,是水鸟特别是越冬水鸟的重要聚集区,其食物资源的丰富度和可获得性受水文节律影响。在极端洪水作用下,消落带生境变化对越冬水鸟群落结构及其多样性的影响是一个值得关注的水鸟及湿地生态学问题。选择了具有典型消落带生境的升金湖作为研究区域,对2019年(正常水位)和2020年(异常水位)两个越冬季水鸟的数量、种类进行调查统计,分析了消落带的生境变化情况对越冬水鸟群落结构的影响。2019年越冬期,记录到水鸟(50984.20±9595.71)只(n=5),隶属7目13科51种;2020年越冬期,记录到水鸟(27923.00±13808.47)只(n=5),隶属7目12科53种。整个越冬季消落带的水鸟种类略增但数量减少,2019年游禽中的优势种为豆雁,2020年游禽中的优势种增加为豆雁和斑嘴鸭,但涉禽中的优势种由白琵鹭、反嘴鹬、凤头麦鸡转变为苍鹭、大白鹭和反嘴鹬。洪水导致的草滩-水域混合区生境面积减小使湿生植物退化,可能是导致以豆雁为主的食苔草水鸟数量大幅度减少的重要原因;因湖水延迟...     

Transmission Dynamics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at Lake Constance (Europe) During the Outbreak of Winter 2005–2006

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 poses a serious threat to domestic animals. Despite the large number of studies on influenza A virus in waterbirds, little is still known about the transmission dynamics, including prevalence, behavior, and spread of these viruses in the wild waterbird population. From January to April 2006, the HPAI H5N1 virus was confirmed in 82 dead wild waterbirds at the shores of Lake Constance. In this study, we present simple mathematical models to examine this outbreak and to investigate the transmission dynamics of HPAI in wild waterbirds. The population dynamics model of wintering birds was best represented by a sinusoidal function. This model was considered the most adequate to represent the susceptible compartment of the SIR model. The three transmission models predict a basic reproduction ratio (R ₀) with value of approximately 1.6, indicating a small epidemic, which ended with the migration of susceptible wild waterbirds at the end of the winter. With this study, we quantify for the first time the transmission of HPAI H5N1 virus at Lake Constance during the outbreak of winter 2005–2006. It is a step toward the improvement of the knowledge of transmission of the virus among wild waterbirds.     

Macrophyte-associated macroinvertebrates as an important food source for wintering waterbirds at Lake Constance

In many lake ecosystems, waterbirds rate among the top consumers. Lake Constance is an important overwintering site for waterbirds in Central Europe because it provides sufficient food sources to meet energy demands during the winter months. In this study we focussed on the submerged vegetation and its associated macroinvertebrate fauna as a food source. We conducted experiments with exclosure cages which protected evergreen charophytes from bird grazing and compared the mass decline throughout the winter to unprotected grazed sites. Furthermore, we assessed the change in macrophyte-associated macroinvertebrates during the course of winter. We found that wintering waterbirds caused a significant decline of charophytes and their associated macroinvertebrates down to a depth of 4 m. We determined the taxa and abundance of macroinvertebrates associated with charophytes and predominantly found Dreissena polymorpha. At sites protected from bird grazing, the biomass of the macroinvertebrate fauna increased relative to the plant biomass during the course of winter. This might also have affected the foraging behaviour of diving waterbirds.     

Are artificial wetlands good alternatives to natural wetlands for waterbirds? – A case study on Chongming Island, China

Loss of natural wetlands is a global phenomenon that has been a serious threat to the wildlife. A common practice is to construct artificial wetlands to compensate for the loss of natural wetlands. To test whether artificial wetlands as habitats for waterbirds are good alternatives to natural wetlands, we compared species richness, abundance, and seasonal dynamics of waterbird communities of natural (here tidelands) and artificial wetlands (here aquacultural ponds) on Chongming Island, China. Our results indicate that habitat preference of waterbirds showed seasonal difference: most of the shorebirds were found on tidelands in spring, whereas most of the natatorial birds were recorded in aquacultural ponds in winter. Waterbirds preferred the tidelands rather than aquacultural ponds in both spring and autumn, whereas they showed no preference for either the tidelands or the ponds in summer and winter. It is concluded that natural wetlands are better habitats for waterbirds than artificial wetlands on Chongming Island, while the artificial ones are also suitable habitats for waterbirds in winter. The waterbirds might use artificial wetlands only when natural wetlands are unavailable or of poor quality. An over-emphasis that artificial wetlands are suitable habitats for waterbirds might encourage land managers to convert natural wetlands into the artificial ones, resulting in considerable loss of bird diversity. Therefore, for the purpose of bird conservation, it would be a better practice to conserve natural wetlands rather than to construct artificial ones after destruction of natural wetlands.     

Winter coexistence in herbivorous waterbirds: Niche differentiation in a floodplain,Poyang Lake,China

The classical niche theory supports the idea that stable coexistence requires ecological differences between closely related species. However, information on waterbirds coexistence in the entirely landlocked freshwater system of Poyang Lake is not well understood, especially when the available biomass of their food in the area decreases. In this study, we tested the ecological segregation mechanisms in the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 wintering periods among eight herbivorous waterbirds (including the Siberian crane Grus leucogeranus, hooded crane Grus monacha, white‐naped crane Grus vipio, common crane Grus grus, greater white‐fronted goose Anser albifrons, bean goose Anser fabalis, swan goose Anser cygnoides, and tundra swan Cygnus columbianus) at Poyang Lake. Using field observations and species niche and foraging habitat selection models, we investigated the abundance, distribution, and food sources of these eight waterbird species to quantify and compare their habitat use and ecological niches. Our results showed that niche segregation among the waterbirds, with respect to food types, time, and spatial location, allow them to coexist and use similar resources. The water level gradually receded in the sub‐lakes of the Poyang Lake, which could provide food sources and various habitats for wintering herbivorous waterbirds to coexist. We demonstrated that the differences in habitat use could mitigate interspecific competition, which may explain the mechanism whereby waterbirds of Poyang Lake coexist during the wintering period, despite considerable overlap in the dietary niches of herbivorous waterbirds.     

若尔盖湿地水鸟多样性季节性动态分析

若尔盖湿地位于青藏高原东缘,是我国最大的高寒泥炭湿地之一。2010年从3月至12月,对若尔盖湿地水鸟种类、数量和分布进行了较为系统的调查。共记录到48种26050只水鸟,隶属于6目12科,其中雁鸭类水鸟最多,共统计到21408只,占水鸟总数的82.2%。3月和10月是若尔盖湿地水鸟的高峰期,11月是低谷期,主要是由于水鸟的迁离和越冬水鸟尚未到达的缘故。尕海是若尔盖湿地的重要组成部分,全年物种数和水鸟数量占了整个若尔盖湿地较大的比例。卫星跟踪的结果表明,青海湖斑头雁在若尔盖湿地与云南和贵州的越冬水鸟汇合,因此加强若尔盖湿地禽流感的防控是非常重要的。     

The importance of unmanaged coastal wetlands to waterbirds at coastal Ghana

Ghana's 550 km coastline has about 100 wetlands out of which five large ones are managed as Ramsar sites, the rest being unmanaged. Recent pollution and misuse of unmanaged wetlands have necessitated a study into their roles in the support of waterbirds. Waterbird survey on four wetlands between September 2005 and April 2006 revealed that 51 waterbird species make use of the managed compared to 44 in the unmanaged wetlands. Average numbers of waterbirds were higher on the managed wetlands (10,510 ± 4862) than on the unmanaged wetlands (1348 ± 602) (P < 0.05) but mean population density of waterbirds (n/ha) was the same for both the managed (1860 ± 310) and unmanaged (1400 ± 220) (P > 0.05) wetlands. The population densities of waterbirds belonging to guilds 1, 5 and 7 were significantly higher on the managed wetlands (P < 0.05). In contrast, guilds 2 and 4 have significantly higher population densities on the unmanaged wetlands while the population density of guild 3 was the same (P > 0.05). There was an indication that during mid and late periods of the nonbreeding season, the unmanaged wetlands altogether may support a larger number of waterbirds belonging to guilds 2, 3 and 4 than the five managed wetlands.     

安徽沿江两个浅水型湖泊越冬水鸟的季节动态(英文)

安徽沿江浅水型通江湖泊湿地是东亚-澳大利亚迁徙水鸟的重要越冬地和停歇地。近年来,高强度的渔业养殖使湿地严重退化,对越冬水鸟构成威胁。为了解湿地变化对越冬迁徙水鸟的影响,2007年11-2008年4月和2008年11月-2009年4月,对安徽菜子湖和升金湖11个样带内越冬水鸟的种类、数量及空间分布进行了调查,并分析了湖泊渔业模式对水鸟分布的影响。两个湖泊共统计到越冬水鸟7目12科43种。其中,菜子湖群38种,密度为8.2ind./hm2;升金湖42种,密度为3.5ind./hm2,优势种为鸿雁(Anser cygnoides)、豆雁(Anser fabalis)、小天鹅(Cygnus columbianus)和黑腹滨鹬(Calidris alpina)。越冬水鸟种类和数量在12月底-次年1月上旬达到最大值,但不同类型越冬群最大数量出现的具体时期有所不同。根据水鸟组成的聚类分析,可将水鸟栖息地分为三组。水鸟的分布与渔业模式有关,在自然捕捞区,鹤类、雁鸭类和鸻鹬类密度较大,在围网养殖区密度较小,而鹭类的密度在各湖区变化都较小。本研究结果提示,发展可持续渔业对于长江中下游浅水湖泊湿地越冬水鸟资源的保护具有重要意义。     

青海可鲁克湖水鸟季节动态及渔鸥活动区分析

2008-2010年,对青海可鲁克湖的水鸟季节动态进行了调查。共记录到54种34828只水鸟,隶属于6目11科,雁鸭类水鸟最多,共统计到28445只,占水鸟总数的81.7%;其次是鸥类和鸻鹬类。可鲁克湖在水鸟春秋季迁徙高峰期在4月和10月,这也是水鸟多样性较高的两个月,其主要原因是由于迁徙鸭类数量和种类的增加。卫星跟踪表明,可鲁克湖是青海湖繁殖渔鸥重要的停歇地,渔鸥在可鲁克湖的停歇天数每年也有所不同,2007年和2008年秋季较2006年停歇时间短一些,初步判断与当地的人为干扰有关。当地政府对道路进行修建,其正好位于渔鸥的活动区内,这对渔鸥的日常活动造成较大影响,迫使渔鸥提前离开可鲁克湖。春季停歇天数的不同主要与青海湖面冰融的时间有关,若青海湖由于温度较高,冰融的时间早一些,渔鸥可能提前离开可鲁克湖,前往青海湖进行繁殖活动。     

冬季水鸟对崇明东滩水产养殖塘的利用

自然湿地的丧失和退化给依赖湿地生存的水鸟带来了严重威胁,人工湿地作为水鸟栖息地的功能日益受到关注.水产养殖塘是人工湿地的重要类型之一.通过研究崇明东滩水产养殖塘冬季水鸟群落组成及其栖息地特征,发现大面积养殖塘比小面积养殖塘吸引更多种类和更高密度的水鸟.养殖塘在放水前水位较高时吸引更多游禽栖息,而在放水后水位较低时吸引更多涉禽;在放水过程中,养殖塘中水鸟的种类最多,密度最大.另外,在放水的不同时期,不同的环境因子对水鸟群落的影响不同:放水之前,养殖塘水面面积和平均水深是水鸟种类和数量的主要影响因子,其中游禽种类和数量受水面面积影响较大,涉禽种类和数量受平均水深影响较大;放水过程中,裸地面积、芦苇面积、干扰程度、平均水深和水深变异对水鸟、游禽和涉禽的种类和数量起主要作用;放水之后,水深变异对水鸟种类和数量的影响较大,而影响游禽种类和数量的主要因子是水面面积,影响涉禽种类和数量的主要因子是水深变异.研究表明,通过对影响水鸟栖息地利用的主要因子的有效管理,养殖塘在提供经济效益的同时也能为水鸟提供适宜的栖息地.     

­­Cross-taxon congruence in wetlands: Assessing the value of waterbirds as surrogates of macroinvertebrate biodiversity in Mediterranean Ramsar sites

Wetlands are among the most threatened habitats and the species they support among the most endangered taxa. Measuring and monitoring wetland biodiversity is vital for conservation, restoration and management, and often relies on the use of surrogate taxa. Waterbirds are commonly used as flagships of biodiversity and are the subject of major conservation initiatives. Therefore, it is important to assess the extent to which waterbirds indicate the general biodiversity of wetlands and serve as surrogates.We explore the relationships between community composition and species richness of waterbirds and aquatic macroinvertebrates in 36 Ramsar wetlands in southern Spain to assess if waterbirds are good surrogates for other taxonomic groups. Specifically, we aimed to (i) test the congruence of patterns of species composition and richness among waterbirds and aquatic macroinvertebrates; and (ii) investigate which environmental variables are associated with the biodiversity patterns of waterbirds and macroinvertebrates, with the purpose of identifying key factors explaining potential discordance in these patterns.We found a limited concordance between assemblage patterns of both taxonomic groups that may be related to their contrasting responses to environmental gradients. Assemblages of waterbirds appear to be more affected by climate variables and water surface area, whereas conductivity was the most important factor influencing macroinvertebrate communities. Furthermore, we found a negligible or inverse relationship in their patterns of richness, with wetlands with higher waterbird species richness showing significantly lower richness of Hemiptera and macroinvertebrate families, and no significant relationship with Coleoptera. In addition, GLM models showed that, in general, different environmental variables are related with the richness patterns of the different taxonomic groups.Given the importance of the Ramsar convention for the conservation of an international network of wetlands, our findings underline the limited potential of waterbirds as aquatic biodiversity indicators in Mediterranean wetlands, and the need for caution when using waterbirds as flagships. An integrative analysis of different biological communities, using datasets from different taxonomic groups, is a necessary precursor for successful conservation policies and monitoring. Our results illustrate the need to create a diversified and complete network of protected sites able to conserve multiple components of wetland biodiversity.     

SEASONAL ABUNDANCE,HABITAT SELECTION AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF WATERBIRDS AT THE BERG RIVER ESTUARY,SOUTH AFRICA

Velasquez, C.R., Kalejta, B. & Hockey, P.A.R. 1991. Seasonal abundance, habitat selection and energy consumption of waterbirds at the Berg River estuary, South Africa. Ostrich 62:109-123.

The distribution and abundance of waterbirds at the Berg River estuary were studied between September 1987 and April 1989. The estuary supports an unusually high density of waterbirds, especially of Pale-arctic migrant waders, and is a site of subregional importance for at least nine species. Intertidal mudflats are the favoured feeding habitat of the majority of species on the estuary during the low tide period. Low tide feeding densities on saltmarshes are mud less than on mudflats, but saltmarshes are important as roost sites, high tide feeding sites, and in counteracting the negative hydrological consequences of development. The current conservation status of the estuary is not commensurate with its importance as a waterbird habitat and, given the current threats facing the estuary, enhanced protection at the national level is considered a greater priority than registration with, for example, the RAMSAR Convention.     

Using Landsat images to map habitat availability for waterbirds in rice fields

Rice fields are an important habitat for waterbirds. Knowledge of the availability of this habitat is important since the reduction in the area of natural wetlands has converted rice fields into vital refuges. This paper presents a method for mapping habitat availability in rice fields according to different waterbirds’ habitat preferences and examining its phenology during the crop cycle. Data from bird censuses carried out in the Doñana rice fields were analysed to determine the habitat preferences of 22 species of waterbird at different stages in the rice production cycle. Discriminant function analysis of seven Landsat images was used to classify paddy field stages. The phenology of habitat availability in rice fields during autumn and winter was examined. Waterfowl and waders preferentially used the ‘flooded’ and ‘mudflats with water’ paddy field stages, respectively, and the ‘rice growing’ and ‘dry’ stages were rejected by waterbirds. The area of preferred habitats within rice fields increased during autumn; subsequently, the area of the ‘flooded’ paddy fields decreased in January, whereas that of ‘mudflats with water’ remained available until March. The automatic classification of paddy field stages with Landsat images allowed habitat availability for different species of waterbirds to be monitored and provides relevant information for understanding behavioural and population responses in waterbirds that use rice fields. After examining the phenology of the availability of habitat and comparing it with dates of arrival and departure of migrant waterbirds, best crop practices could be defined to favour waterbirds (i.e. adjusting harvest, ploughing and flooding dates). Taking into account climatic change and loss of wetlands this method could help in the integration of agriculture and conservation, in particular in areas where there is no remaining natural wetland habitat.     

Trends in the use of a small coastal lagoon by waterbirds: Muni Lagoon (Ghana)

This paper presents data from a twelve-year (1986–98) monitoring of waterbird populations at Muni Lagoon, and discusses the ornithological importance of the lagoon and trends in the use of the site by waterbirds. The small brackish lagoon forms part of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site situated on the Ghana coast. A total of 48 species of waterbirds were recorded at the site comprising of 29 species of waders, eight species of terns, two species of gulls, seven species of herons and egrets, one species each of duck and cormorant. The most abundant waterbirds species recorded on the site were the Curlew Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Black-winged Stilt, Common Tern, Black Tern, Royal Tern and the Sandwich Tern. Three species of waders, Black-winged Stilt, Pratincole and Little Tern were observed to breed at the site. The highest numbers of waterbirds occurred on the site in the period September to March. The site remains an internationally important wetland site by virtue of supporting internationally important numbers of four species of terns: Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern and Black Tern. The value of Muni lies more in its use as a feeding/staging site for migrating waders that spend the non-breeding season in Ghana or pass through to winter further south, and as a roosting site for terns which feed mainly at sea. The use of the site by waterbirds has increased by some 400% between 1986 and 1998. This is attributed to improved prey availability resulting from the opening of the lagoon into the sea during the 1994 floods, and reduced disturbance of feeding and roosting birds. This would imply that the value of the site as waterbird habitat could improve considerably with appropriate habitat management interventions and continued protection.     

Feeding ecology of the waterbirds in a tropical mangrove in the southeast Gulf of Mexico

ABSTRACT

Species that exploit the same type of environmental resources are defined as a guild, which have similar needs in the use of food or habitat. It was analyzed the diet of five waterbirds’ offsprings species (Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianus), Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens), Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) and Great Egret (Ardea alba)), by prey identification and calculated the relative importance, overlap and breadth diet. The general diet of the piscivorous guild consisted of 17 fish species from 13 genera and eight families. The highest overlap was between the Reddish Egret and Boat-billed Heron. Fish species dominated the diets of all studied waterbirds, Poecilia velifera was the most abundant prey species in each of the birds, suggesting that they are abundant in the wetlands system of northern Yucatan. Diet overlap in waterbirds species depends on the use of resources and feeding habitat. Since reproductive success largely depends on the availability of food resources, mainly of resident or estuarine fishes. The information about diet is important for the conservation of waterbirds.     

崇明东滩越冬鸟类在养殖塘的空间分布

鸟类对空间的利用直接反映对栖息地的选择。通过对崇明东滩养殖塘越冬鸟类群落调查,运用空间自相关检验、空间插值分析和景观格局分析,研究越冬鸟类在养殖塘人工湿地的空间分布格局。结果显示:雁鸭类和鸻鹬类在养殖塘分布特征显著不同。雁鸭类呈现显著的空间自相关,为聚集分布,且丰富度和多度分布较为一致;而鸻鹬类在养殖塘以随机分布为主,丰富度显示一定的聚集分布。养殖塘已经成为崇明东滩越冬鸟类重要的栖息地,不同生态类群栖息地选择存在差异:芦苇植被发育好,水域面积较小且水深较深,不同斑块以聚集为特征的养殖塘是雁鸭类的适宜生境;鸻鹬类则偏好一定芦苇植被、水域面积大且水深较浅的养殖塘。因此在保护区土地利用和管理时应考虑不同生态类群对栖息地选择的差异。     

Effects of nesting waterbirds on nutrient levels in mangroves,Gulf of Fonseca,Honduras

Mangroves provide numerous ecosystem services, including biodiversity values such as nesting sites for piscivorous waterbirds. High concentrations of waterbirds at nest sites are hypothesized to affect ecosystem dynamics, yet few studies have examined their effects as a nutrient source in mangroves. We examined the effects of nutrient enrichment by colonial waterbirds at a mangrove rookery in the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras. We compared nutrient inputs via bird guano deposition and macronutrient levels in the vegetation and soils between a small island that hosted large numbers of roosting waterbirds and an adjacent island with little evidence of waterbird activity. Nest density at the rookery was 1721 ± 469 nests ha^?1. Rookery birds deposited 7.2 ± 3.4 g m^?2 day^?1 guano dry weight, delivering an estimated 1.12 Mg ha^?1 nitrogen and 0.16 Mg ha^?1 phosphorus to the island over a 120 day breeding season. This large nutrient influx contributed to substantially higher concentrations of biologically important nutrients in the rookery soils (seven times more plant available phosphorus, eight times more nitrate, and two times more ammonium). Rookery mangrove leaves contained significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compared to the control site. These results suggest that colonial waterbirds significantly influence nutrient dynamics of mangroves at local scales. Further research is needed to understand the effects of avian derived nutrients on mangrove growth rates, nutrient export to adjacent waters, invertebrate communities, and mangrove associated fisheries.