Abstract
Wetlands play an important role in ecosystem function, and are known to support rich biodiversity, this becomes even more pronounced in hyper-arid climates. The Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi Emirate is a wetland mosaic that boasts both brackish and freshwater pools. The levels of nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and total organic carbon is much higher and this can be attributed to various factors such as the lake not having a water outlet, seepage of untreated waste water from an adjacent sewage treatment plant and various industries in the surrounding areas that could lead to these high values. A twenty-year biodiversity assessment and monitoring program, has documented a total of 354 invertebrate species, 16 reptile and amphibian species, 262 bird species, 10 mammalian species, and 39 plant species. These represent 21% of Abu Dhabi Emirate’s terrestrial animal and plant species. Out of a total of 44 marine and terrestrial habitats identified within Abu Dhabi Emirate, 6 of these are represented within AWWR.
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