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Waterbird breeding on salinas in Ria Formosa , southern Portugal
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Fonseca, Vera C. Grade, Nuno Fonseca, Luís Cancela Da |
| Copyright Year | 2005 |
| Abstract | 58 Salinas (saltworks) are particularly important for the estuarine waterbirds that breed in Mediterranean countries, where nesting habitats are often scarce. Here we analyze the use of habitats by waterbirds breeding in a salinas complex on the Ria Formosa in southern Portugal. The results should assist in determining the value of salinas for breeding waterbirds and in drawing up appropriate conservation prescriptions. The species recorded were Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, Little Tern Sterna albifrons, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis. Our study suggests that each species chooses to use different ponds depending on water level and salinity. Knowledge of such patterns is useful in determining good conservation management. Salinas are man-made supratidal habitats that may provide suitable habitats for waterbirds to breed and forage (Britton & Johnson 1987, Velasquez & Hockey 1992, Erwin et al. 1994). Although they are generally located in estuarine areas, salinas are not influenced by tidal rhythms and the water levels change slowly (Velasquez 1992), making them regular and predictable habitats over time (Masero et al. 2000). These features mean that salinas are particularly important for estuarine waterbirds breeding in Mediterranean countries, where alternative breeding habitats are scarce. Despite their value for wildlife, the number of salinas has declined around the Mediterranean in recent decades due to the abandonment of salt production. Moreover there has been a change from traditional to industrial salt extraction methods, which affects their value as habitat for waterbirds. Together, these factors have resulted in a general loss of breeding habitat for estuarine waterbirds and have led to calls for the protection and favourable management of those areas that still provide adequate conditions. In Portugal, some large salinas remain in the estuaries of the rivers Tagus, Sado and Guadiana, and in Ria de Aveiro and Ria Formosa. As in other Mediterranean countries, salinas have declined in Portugal (Rufino & Neves 1992), and have totally disappeared in some small estuaries such as that of the river Mira. The value of Portuguese salinas for waterbirds has been often demonstrated, both as wintering and breeding habitats (Rufino et al. 1984, Bijlsma et al. 1985, Batty 1992, Neves & Rufino 1994). However, information on the factors that affect the suitability of these areas as breedWaterbird breeding on salinas in Ria Formosa, southern Portugal |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://pimedelaar.theblogpress.com/files/2015/01/Edelaar-et-al.-2005-drinking-seedsnipe-WSGB.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
