An assessment of the impact of environmental changes on two riverine bird species
Journal Title: Acta zoologica cracoviensia - Year 2016, Vol 59, Issue 2
Abstract
River channels undergo dynamic and frequent changes of environments due to both natural flow regimes and anthropogenic transformations. Riverine habitats are major hotspots of biodiversity, especially in industrialized countries. Despite the protection of high nature value sites, rivers and riverine species are threatened. Therefore, quality of riverine habitats and biodiversity need to be monitored e.g. by use of selected umbrella species. Here, two bird species characteristic for river channels: Common Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper, were examined in respect to their utility as umbrella species for riverine habitats. Data were collected in 2007, 2011 and 2012 in submontane river channels of Western Carpathians (SE Poland). Both species found to be depended on high share of natural habitats in river channels (alluvia, scarps) and less on hydromorphology and anthropopressure. Presence of Kingfishers and Sandpipers was highly correlated with high diversity of riverine birds. Moreover, both birds increased in number after channel renaturalization by the severe flood and decreased after intensive hydrotechnical alterations. These results suggest that due to Kingfisher’s and Sandpiper’s relations with naturalness and biodiversity of river ecosystems and because of relatively easy detection and counting, these birds could be used as umbrella species for riverine habitats and assemblages. Monitoring of Kingfisher and Sandpiper populations may be a good tool for tracking changes in quickly and severely transformed river valleys.
Authors and Affiliations
Łukasz Kajtoch, Agata Piestrzyńska-Kajtoch
Keywords
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- EP ID EP194604
- DOI 10.3409/azc.59_2.163
- Views 67
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