Changes in Suitable Waterbirds’ Habitats from 1990 to 2010 in the Bielahong Watershed of Northeast China

Abstract

Waterbirds’ habitats in the Bielahong watershed of Northeast China have undergone substantial degradation and fragmentation. An analysis of the suitability change of habitats is critical to waterbirds’ habitats conservation. In this study, the suitability maps of waterbirds’ habitats in 1990, 2000, and 2010 were created using the ecological niche suitability model (ENSM) in Bielahong Watershed of Northeast China. Five grades (good suitable, fair suitable, suitable, poor suitable, and not suitable) of suitability for waterbirds’ habitats were assessed in a spatial scale. The possible causes and changing characteristics of suitable waterbirds’ habitats loss were studied based on landscape metrics and habitat suitability index. The results indicate a significant decrease in the suitable waterbirds’ habitats areas over the past 20 years with an average annual decrease rate of 874,3 ha /year. The number of suitable waterbirds’ habitats patches (NP) increased substantially from 765 to 1729, and the mean patch size (MPS) decreased from 161,3 to 713 ha. Wetland degradation also occurred over the study period, resulting in the loss and isolation of suitable waterbirds’ habitats. Water source change had the largest contribution to the suitable waterbirds’ habitats change compared with other waterbirds’ habitats suitability indexes. The results show that the shrinkage of suitable waterbirds’ habitats may be attributed to human activity, aided by decreased wetland area.