Winter Waterbird Community Composition and Use at Created Wetlands in West Virginia, USA.

Hannah L. Clipp,James T. Anderson,Michael L. Peters

doi:10.1155/2017/1730130

Hannah L. Clipp, James T. Anderson + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1730130

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Abstract

Information on nonbreeding waterbirds using created wetlands in the Central Appalachian region of the United States is limited. We compared waterbird communities of two managed wetlands, created in 2013 and 2001, in West Virginia. We observed 27 species of waterbirds. Species richness and diversity were generally similar between the wetlands, but species composition and use differed. Branta canadensis (Canada Geese), Anas strepera (Gadwall), Bucephala albeola (Buffleheads), Aythya affinis (Lesser Scaup), and Aythya collaris (Ring-Necked Ducks) used the older wetland most frequently. Disparities in species use were the highest in March. The older wetland differed from the younger in supporting species such as diving ducks, possibly due to differences in size, vegetation, water depth, and microtopography. However, the ability to provide habitat for waterbirds during the winter was determined to be comparable between wetlands, despite their age difference.

Highlights

Wetlands provide an assortment of ecosystem services, such as flood control, nutrient cycling, water filtration, and pollution removal [1, 2]
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) owns land up to the elevation of 362.7 m on the Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and the remainder is owned by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR); the entire area is managed by the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section
The Pleasant Creek WMA consists of mixed hardwood forest and wetland area, totaling 1,226 ha, with moderately steep slopes rising to 488 m in elevation

Summary

Introduction

Wetlands provide an assortment of ecosystem services, such as flood control, nutrient cycling, water filtration, and pollution removal [1, 2]. They can improve water quality, control shoreline erosion, provide natural products, and contribute to the economics of fishing, hunting, agriculture, and recreation [3]. Wetlands are complex ecosystems that provide habitat for a diversity of animals, including insects, mollusks, fish, amphibians, mammals, and birds [4]. Wetlands can be important in conserving endangered and threatened bird species, such as Rallus crepitans (Gmelin) (Clapper Rails) and Ammospiza maritimus (Wilson) (Seaside Sparrows) [10]. The loss of wetlands may explain the declining populations of certain waterbirds [11]

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