Habitat For Migratory Birds Research Articles

Evaluating the Vulnerability of Siberian Crane Habitats and the Influences of Water Level Intervals in Poyang Lake Wetland, China

The hydrological situations of wetlands are critical to the habitat qualities of wintering migratory birds. It is of great value to evaluate the habitat vulnerabilities within more precise intervals of water levels and quantitatively assess the influences of water level changes. The findings are advantageous for managing wetland ecosystems and for migratory bird habitat protection. This study identified the ideal habitats for wintering Siberian cranes in Poyang Lake wetland within 1-meter water level intervals (from 5 to 16 m) based on the Landsat thematic mapper (TM), enhanced thematic mapper plus (ETM+), and operational land imager (OLI) remote sensing images taken on multiple dates in the past 30 years. Three indicators—sustainability, stability, and variety—were used to evaluate the vulnerabilities of crane habitats within various water level intervals; the spatial variations and distribution patterns of the habitat vulnerabilities were further explored. The explanatory powers of water level intervals (and others) and their paired interactive effects on the habitat vulnerabilities were quantified using the geographical detector method. The results showed that crane habitat vulnerabilities were significantly sensitive to the water level changes of Poyang Lake; the habitat vulnerabilities and their spatial distribution patterns both exhibited specific tendencies with water level increases. A water level of 12 m was identified as the potential upper threshold for the maintenance of sustainable crane habitats and a water level interval of 9–10 m was expected to be the optimal interval for facilitating the aggregation features of crane habitats. The water level interval was identified as the most dominant factor in habitat vulnerability. It explained 14.46%, 42.89%, and 21.78% of the sustainability, stability, and variety of crane habitats; the numbers were expected to increase to 22%, 49.25%, and 25.84%, respectively, with water level intervals interacting with other factors. This article provides a novel perspective in evaluating the habitat vulnerabilities of wintering migratory birds and quantifying the responses to water level changes in wetlands; the proposed approaches are applicable and practicable for habitat vulnerability assessments of other wintering birds in other typical wetlands.

Do oil palm plantations provide quality habitat for migratory birds? A case study from Mexico

Habitat loss and degradation represent a major threat to Nearctic-neotropical migratory birds in the tropics. Managed agroecosystems have the potential to mitigate some impacts of land conversion, however, we know little regarding the quality of expanding oil palm plantation habitat for migratory birds in the neotropics. In this study, we used sex and age ratios, body condition, fat deposition, and muscle mass to assess oil palm habitat quality for seven species of migratory songbirds. Specifically, we captured individuals in native forest fragments and oil palm plantations in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, during two winter seasons (2017–2018, 2018–2019), and compared differences in age and sex ratios, and condition indices between habitats. We found that, when differences occurred, most species exhibited indicators of better habitat quality in native forest (older males with higher body condition indices) when compared to oil palm. Our results suggest that age and sex ratios combined with measures of physiological condition can be used to assess habitat quality for Nearctic-neotropical migratory birds overwintering in modified landscapes. Importantly, determining a species’ territorial behavior is key when selecting a given indicator of habitat quality for each species, and in certain cases, more intensive approaches such as estimates of survival, territory size, and food availability may be needed. Our results suggest that management strategies that promote forest-like conditions in oil palm plantations will improve habitat quality for declining populations of Nearctic-neotropical migratory birds.

Application of Airborne LiDAR Measurements to the Topographic Survey of the Tidal Flats of the Northern Jiangsu Radial Sand Ridges in the Southern Yellow Sea

The northern Jiangsu radial sand ridges are typical geomorphic deposit units distributed off the Jiangsu coast. A coastal tidal flat typically develops and provides a good habitat for many migratory birds and benthic organisms. However, topographic surveys of tidal flats have always been difficult in marine surveys because of the dense tidal creek, poor accessibility, and difficulty in setting up control points. In this study, we quickly obtained the point cloud data of the tidal flat near Yangkou Port in the southern part of the radial sand ridges based on an airborne LiDAR system, an integrated 3D laser scanner and a positioning and attitude determination system. We analyzed the adaptabilities of multiple filtering algorithms to tidal flats. In addition, a digital elevation model (DEM) of the tidal flat was constructed and the accuracy was verified with synchronized beach GPS-RTK topographic elevation measurements. The results show that the following: (1) Airborne LiDAR can quickly obtain high precision, high resolution, and a large area of ground point cloud information for tidal flats, overcoming the shortcomings of traditional measurement methods. (2) The triangulated irregular network (TIN) filtering effect is better than that of mathematical morphology and the filtering effect of point cloud normal vector clustering is mediocre. (3) The DEM of the LiDAR point cloud is in good agreement with RTK and the average error of the measurement results is 0.108 m. The error accuracy of the DEM satisfies the surveying specification of a 1:500 topographic map in a flat area, which proves that the airborne LiDAR system can be suitable for tidal flat elevation measurement. Nevertheless, it is possible to provide high precision terrain detection and DEM construction of a tidal flat with the development of airborne infrared and blue-green laser detection radar.

Optimization of Ecological Water Replenishment Scheme Based on the Interval Fuzzy Two-Stage Stochastic Programming Method: Boluo Lake National Nature Reserve, Jilin Province, China.

In this paper, a fuzzy mathematical programming method is introduced on the basis of the interval two-stage stochastic programming (ITSP) optimisation model for the wetland ecological water replenishment scheme in Boluo Lake National Nature Reserve. The minimum ecological water supply is taken as the objective function, and the lake bubble water diversion capacity, lake bubble water supply capacity, water diversion sequence, ecological service value, and minimum capacity of the wetland water supply are taken as constraints. The ecological water replenishment schemes of five lakes in the Boluo Lake National Nature Reserve are optimised at the levels of low flow years, normal flow years, and high flow years, and an optimised model for the wetland ecological water replenishment scheme in Boluo Lake National Nature Reserve based on the interval fuzzy two-stage stochastic programming (IFTSP) method is constructed. The model fully considers the waste of water resources and the protection of migratory bird habitat and makes rational allocation of water resources to make full use of flood resources. The IFTSP model proposed herein fully considers the fuzzy and uncertain characteristics of the planning area in the lake bubble area of Boluo Lake National Nature Reserve and improves the decision-making efficiency of decision-makers by providing technical support for smooth implementation of the ecological water replenishment project in nature reserves. The model can also be used as a theoretical guide for ecological recharge projects in other regions of the world.

Ecological transitions at the Salton Sea: Past, present and future

The condition of the Salton Sea, California's largest lake, has profound implications for people and wildlife both near and far. Colorado River irrigation water has supported agricultural productivity in the basin's Coachella and Imperial valleys since the Sea formed over 100 years ago, bringing billions of dollars per year to the region and helping to feed households across the United States. The runoff, which drains into the Sea, has historically maintained water levels and supported critical fish and migratory bird habitats. However, since 2018, a large portion of the water previously allocated for agriculture has been diverted to urban regions, causing the Sea to shrink and become increasingly saline. This poses major threats to the Sea's ecology, as well as risks to human health, most notably in the noxious dust produced by the drying lakebed. To ensure continued agricultural and ecological productivity and protect public health, management of the Sea and surrounding wetlands will require increased research and mitigation efforts.

Study on spatio-temporal evolution of habitat quality based on land-use change in Chongming Dongtan, China

Chongming Dongtan is an important habitat for international migratory birds. It is of great significance to study its land use and habitat quality change for rare waterfowl protection and ecological environment restoration. Based on the land use data in 2002, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020, this paper analyzes the relationship between land-use change and habitat quality evolution in Chongming Dongtan in recent 18 years using InVEST model, land use dynamic degree and land use degree index. The results show that the main types of land use in the study area are water area and cultivated land, followed by woodland, reed beach, grass beach, bare beach and construction land. Among them, bare beach and construction land have changed dramatically, the former continuing to decrease while the latter continuing to increase. Moreover, the increasing speed began to slow down after 2012, and the increasing part was mainly from the surrounding cultivated land. Second, in terms of time change, the degradation of habitat quality in Chongming Dongtan has been gradually improved from aggravating trend in the past 18 years. In terms of spatial distribution, the habitat degradation degree of Chongming Dongtan is higher in the east and lower in the west, spreading from the center to the surrounding. Based on this, the change of land use and the interference of human activities are the important reasons for the change of ecological environment quality.

Effects of Poplar Ecological Retreat on Habitat Suitability for Migratory Birds in China’s Dongting Lake Wetland

The Poplar Ecological Retreat (PER) project in Dongting Lake wetland is an important measure in response to China’s ecological civilization construction policy, it aims to remove eastern cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) that artificial large-scale planted in this area and restore the natural state of the wetland, and has got a lot of attention by society and scholars. However, as one of the most important wintering place for migratory birds in the world, the impact of PER on migratory bird habitats in Dongting Lake wetland has not been evaluated. In this paper, we used the habitat suitability index model based on remote sensing to explore the impact of PER on the four mainly migratory bird guilds (Anatidae, Charadriidae, Ardeidae and Laridae) in Dongting Lake wetland. The suitability included four grades: poorly (0–25), generally (25–50), moderately (50–75), and highly (75–100). The results showed that the area of poplars in Dongting Lake wetland decreased significantly after PER was implemented. There was a negative correlation between poplar area and moderate grade habitat area of Anatidae and Ardeidae, and a positive correlation between poplar area and general grade habitat area. However, there was no significant change in different grades of habitat area of Charadriidae and Laridae after PER. Thus, PER improved the habitat suitability of Anatidae and Ardeidae, but had no significant effect on the suitability of habitat for Charadriidae and Laridae. These conclusions could provide reference for understanding the living conditions of Dongting Lake wetland waterbirds, determining the priority protection areas and maintaining wetland biodiversity.

Density and Distribution of the Mosquitoes Population Inhabiting Jeonbuk Region

Following the increase of vector-borne infectious diseases due to climate change and international exchange, the study collected mosquitoes using BL and BG twice a month for nine months, from March to November 2019, at cattle sheds, habitats for migratory birds, and city centers, after which they were classified, identified, and checked for the presence of flavivirus by using real time RT-PCR in order to classify and identify the species of disease vector mosquitoes in the Jeonbuk, estimate their population, and investigate their regional distribution and the presence of viral pathogen infection. A total of 8,234 mosquitoes were collected, which were categorized as seven genera and twelve species. In terms of environment types, the highest number of mosquitoes – 3,884 (Trap Index 215.8) – were collected at the Wanju cattle shed. In terms of mosquito populations, Anopheles spp. was the dominant species with 2,538 mosquitoes (30.9%) collected. As the dominant species, Anopheles spp. mosquitoes were first collected in April, and the greatest numbers were collected in the order of July, August, and June, with numbers gradually decreasing starting in August. In terms of the mosquito species collected in each environment, Anopheles spp. mosquitoes were collected in cattle sheds, Aedes vexans mosquitoes were collected in habitats for migratory birds, and Culex pipiens pallens mosquitoes were collected in city centers, revealing a difference in the species of mosquitoes collected depending on the environmental characteristics. The collected mosquitoes were tested for flavivirus using real time RT-PCR, but all tests turned out negative. The results of the collection confirmed the habitation of mosquitoes related to vector-borne diseases, predicting further results if an abnormal climate further progresses. The study is also expected to be used as comprehensive pest control standards for future mosquitoes.

낙동강하류 생태공원의 조류 현황

The estuary of the Nakdong River is the largest habitat for migratory birds in Korea, and it is an area with high conservation value due to its wide tidal flats and wetlands with high biodiversity and abundant fishery resources. However, many changes are taking place, such as the destruction of migratory bird habitats due to urban expansion and development. In this study, the role and impact of ecological parks are analyzed by analyzing the current status of birds in the Nakdong Estuary Ecological Park, and furthermore, it is intended to be used as data for ecological management. Migratory birds visiting the estuary of the Nakdong River use the ecological park, but the birds found in the ecological park had a high proportion of resident birds. Also, the species richness index and biodiversity index (species diversity) were lower in the ecological park compared to the Nakdong River estuary.

Prevalence of Leukocytozoon spp. in Rescued Wild Birds in Korea

Leukocytozoon spp. is a protozoan that causes infection in the blood, causing economic losses to the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of leukocytozoonosis in wild birds rescued from January 2019 to December 2020. The medical records and the preserved residual blood samples of rescued and treated wild birds were analyzed. After DNA extraction from the preserved blood samples, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to test the extracted DNA. A total of 336 wild birds were tested in this study, of which 3.6% (6/336) were positive. Leukocytozoonosis was detected in four bird species, two of which were winter migratory birds and two were summer migratory birds in Korea. The results of this study suggest that wild birds visiting or staying in Korea may be infected with the Leukocytozoon spp., and there is a possibility that the pathogen may be transmitted to other domestic or wild bird species or shared with each other. It is necessary to conduct an extensive investigation focusing on important migratory bird habitats and to analyze the genetic relationships between domestic and wild bird-origin pathogens.

A baseline study on diversity of birds in Sani Bheri River Valley, Nepal

Rivers and lakes are important habitats for both resident and migratory wetland-dependent birds. This paper presents the study of birds’ seasonal diversity in Sani Bheri River Valley, outside the protected areas of Nepal. The study was carried out from 8-17 March 2019 (Spring) and 12-21 October (Autumn) 2019 covering a 52 km river stretch from Naighat (upstream area where Pelma River and Uttarganga River mix and flow as Sani Bheri river) to Remnaghat (downstream towards the confluence with Thuli Bheri) using the Mackinnon Listing method. The present study recorded 851 occurrences belonging to 11 Orders, 33 Families, and 71 bird species. Order Passeriformes (52 species) and family Muscicapidae (13 species) were dominant. Plumbeous Water-redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus) had the highest relative abundance (7.64%). Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’= 3.61) and Evenness index (e= 0.85) indicate the diverse assemblage of avian fauna in the study area. This study showed that Sani Bheri River Valley provides the habitat for one globally threatened, four nationally threatened, and eight species listed in Appendix-II of CITES. The results provide the baseline information on avian species, which can provide a good database and can be incorporated in conservation implications.

Predicting Playa Inundation Using a Long Short‐Term Memory Neural Network

AbstractIn the Great Plains, playas are critical wetland habitats for migratory birds and a source of recharge for the agriculturally important High Plains aquifer. The temporary wetlands exhibit complex hydrology, filling rapidly via local rain storms and then drying through evaporation and groundwater infiltration. Using a long short‐term memory (LSTM) neural network to account for these complex processes, we modeled the probability of playa inundation for 71,842 playas in the Great Plains from 1984 to 2018. At the level of individual playas, the model achieved an F1‐score of 0.522 on a withheld test set, displaying the ability to predict complex inundation patterns. When simulating playa inundation over the entire region, the model is able to very closely track inundation trends, even during periods of drought. Our results demonstrate potential for using LSTMs to model complex hydrological dynamics. Our modeling approach could be used to model playa inundation into the future under different climate scenarios to better understand how wetland habitats and groundwater will be impacted by changing climate.

Ecosystem services (ES) provided by ditches in a desert agricultural valley

Agricultural ditches can be an efficient method for removing nutrients in wetlands and rivers. In this paper, we document that additionally, ditches offer other ecosystem services (ES) such as providing bird habitat and sediment retention. A typical ditch reach of 6 km with variable width between 3 and 80 m and water depth from 0.06 and 0.5 m, was selected as a monitoring site among 1492 km of a drain network in the agricultural Mexicali Valley located in the Colorado River Delta. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentration and discharge flow rate determinations were obtained monthly during a year, at three stations along the ditch, dividing the reach into two segments. Total nutrient removal efficiency of 39%, along the monitoring year was observed. Additionally, nutrient mass flow had a significant winter-spring seasonal increment associated with crop irrigation, up four times for total nitrogen, nearly 2.5 times for nitrogen-based nutrients, and five times for PO4. Monthly estimations of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from Sentinel images were obtained to evaluate the response of riparian vegetation to high flow discharge seasonal fluctuations, from 0.072 to 1.219 m3 s−1, and nutrient mass flow changes. No correlation among them was found, as riparian species are tolerant to high water levels and nutrient concentration fluctuation. Downstream changes in water electrical conductivity from 6.06 to 8.45 mS cm−1 along the resulted in the shift from Typha domingensis to Phragmatis australis which has a higher salinity tolerance. An intensive bird census showed ditch vegetation provided suitable habitat and refuge to 29 different bird species, including five common birds of the flooded remnant areas of the Colorado River Delta, as well as migratory birds. By using slope criteria of drainage network, 47% of it has a high and moderated potential of sediment retention. These ES are fundamental in semiarid regions because of the intense land-use changes from riparian and desert ecosystems to irrigation lands, as well as water being diverted from natural streams to irrigation channels. This study highlights the importance of considering agricultural ditches as helpful, not only as a natural water treatment of agricultural pollutants, but also as providers of resident and migratory bird habitat and vegetation diversity and erosion regulation by sediment retention on desert agricultural valleys.

The impacts of water level fluctuations of East Dongting Lake on habitat suitability of migratory birds

Understanding responses of habitat suitability of migratory birds to the water level is significant for providing countermeasures of wetland protection. East Dongting Lake serves critical wintering habitat for migratory birds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. However, the response relationships between the water level and the weighted usable area (WUA) for migratory birds remain largely unknown. Therefore, we established a habitat suitability model of migratory birds based on the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and recognized the change of WUA by comparing the transition of land-cover of similar hydrologic years before and after the operation of Three Gorge Dam (TGD). The results demonstrated that (1) the ecological water level of migratory birds in East Dongting Lake is 20.47–21.55 m. (2) Compared with the pre-TGD period, the start date of the ecological water level advanced by 25 days, the duration of the ecological water level increased by 16 days, and the fluctuation range of water level was more concentrated near the ecological water level, indicating that the TGD provides benefits for the migratory birds. (3) The most prominent transition among changes of land-cover was that the Reed beach (RB) (155.07 km2) and Marsh land (ML) (150.66 km2) changed to Tender Marsh land (TML) during dry hydrologic years, and the RB (171.90 km2) and ML (174.30 km2) changed to TML during normal hydrologic years. The findings show that water level changes habitat suitability of migratory birds by changing vegetation distribution at different elevations.

Characteristics of the Wind Distribution Using Automatic Weather System Observation Data over the Doyo-deung Barrier Islands off the Coast of the Nakdong River Estuary, Busan, South Korea

Lee, J.-H.; Woo, H.J.; Jung, H.-S.; Park, H.N.; Jeong, E.-Y., and Jeong, J.B., 2021. Characteristics of the wind distribution using automatic weather system observation data over the Doyo-deung barrier islands off the coast of the Nakdong River estuary, Busan, South Korea. In: Lee, J.L.; Suh, K.-S.; Lee, B.; Shin, S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Crisis and Integrated Management for Coastal and Marine Safety. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 114, pp. 36–40. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This study was conducted to the Nakdong marine environmental information system (N-MEIS) using automatic weather station (AWS) observation data to elucidate the characteristics of the wind distribution, focusing on and land and sea breezes, over the Doyo-deung barrier islands in the brackish water zone off the coast of the Nakdong River Estuary, Busan, South Korea. From May 2015 to the present, the N-MEIS was run in real-time using 4th Generation (4G) long term evolution (LTE) communication, with a coverage rate of approximately 98% from AWS, along with periodic marine observations recorded one to four times per year. From April 2016 to August 2020, the average monthly wind speed over the Doyo-deung barrier islands was 3.82 m/s (range, 2.10–5.10 m/s) and the maximum wind speed, recorded in February 2019, was 46.80 m/s. These values are generally influenced by low-pressure cyclones or gusty winds. However, the maximum monthly mean velocity may be influenced by typhoons occurring in early autumn, from August to September. Based on the percentage of each wind direction, the prevailing winds are from the N, NNE, SSW, and NNW. The distribution of wind directions in summer was similar to that in spring, while that in autumn tended to be similar to that in winter. However, considering only wind speeds of 5.00 m/s or more, which can cause the movement of sand particles, N, SSW, and NNW winds are overwhelmingly dominant, at 38.7%. Research into the dynamic wind distribution is essential to effectively managing erosion and sedimentation around barrier islands, beach pollution from floating materials transported overland, coastal sand dune activity, changes in migratory bird habitats, and impacts on ecosystem health. The evolution and development of the N-MEIS will facilitate this process. Future studies should integrate real-time data with periodic marine observations and predictions and environmental sensitivity index maps.

National Monitoring of Mosquito Populations and Molecular Analysis of Flavivirus in the Republic of Korea in 2020.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has established centers at 16 locations to screen vector populations and pathogens. The aims of this study were to determine the relative spatiotemporal distributions of mosquitoes that are flavivirus vectors, and to correlate them with instances of flaviviral disease in the Republic of Korea (ROK). We collected 67,203 mosquitoes in traps at 36 collection sites in 30 urban regions and migratory bird habitats in 2020. The trap index was 36.6, and the predominant mosquito species were the Culex pipiens complex, Armigeres subalbatus, Aedes albopictus, Aedes vexans, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The mosquitoes were pooled into 4953 pools to monitor flavivirus infection. We determined that the minimum infection rate of flavivirus was 0.01%. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected in only seven pools of Culex orientalis from Sangju, and we isolated JVE from two pools. All detected JEV was found to be genotype V by phylogenetic analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to isolate genotype V JVE from Culex orientalis in the ROK. Subsequent geographical and ecological studies on mosquitoes will help improve our understanding of the relative risk of flavivirus infection. Future studies should analyze mosquito species distribution and improve flavivirus monitoring and long-term surveillance.

Limited shifts in the distribution of migratory bird breeding habitat density in response to future changes in climate

Grasslands, and the depressional wetlands that exist throughout them, are endangered ecosystems that face both climate and land‐use change pressures. Tens of millions of dollars are invested annually to manage the existing fragments of these ecosystems to serve as critical breeding habitat for migratory birds. The North American Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) contains millions of depressional wetlands that produce between 50% and 80% of the continent’s waterfowl population. Previous modeling efforts suggested that climate change would result in a shift of suitable waterfowl breeding habitat from the central to the southeast portion of the PPR, an area where over half of the depressional wetlands have been drained. The implications of these projections suggest a massive investment in wetland restoration in the southeastern PPR would be needed to sustain waterfowl populations at harvestable levels. We revisited these modeled results indicating how future climate may impact the distribution of waterfowl‐breeding habitat using up‐to‐date climate model projections and a newly developed model for simulating prairie‐pothole wetland hydrology. We also presented changes to the number of “May ponds,” a metric used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to estimate waterfowl breeding populations and establish harvest regulations. Based on the output of 32 climate models and two emission scenarios, we found no evidence that the distribution of May ponds would shift in the future. However, our results projected a 12% decrease to 1% increase in May pond numbers when comparing the most recent climate period (1989–2018) to the end of the 21st century (2070–2099). When combined, our results suggest areas in the PPR that currently support the highest densities of intact wetland basins, and thus support the largest numbers of breeding‐duck pairs, will likely also be the places most critical to maintaining continental waterfowl populations in an uncertain future.

Dynamics of river flows towards sustaining floodplain wetland fisheries under climate change: A case study

Abstract Wetlands play an important ecological role by providing shelter and habitat for diverse fish species, migratory birds, macrophytes and other aquatic organisms. Hydrological connectivity with the main river channel has a critical role in fish diversity and production in floodplain wetland. The present study showed the seasonal hydrological alteration on fish species distribution in Ansupa wetland, connected with tropical river Mahanadi, India. The river discharge showed a variation from 4549 cusec during lean season (April) to 204716 cusec during monsoon (August). It has been recorded that water flows/discharge above 200000 cusec only, inundate the wetland resulting in exchange of free flows of fish species and nutrients. The study period for the fish species diversity was undertaken during 2017-18. A total of 46 fish species were observed under the orders Cypriniformes (18), Perciformes (12), Siluriformes (7), Synbranchiformes (2), Cyprinodontiformes (1), Clupeiformes (1), Beloniformes (1), Osteoglossiformes (1), Mugiliformes (1), Anguilliformes (1) and Tetraodontiformes (1). According to the conservation status of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, four species Parambassis lala, Ompok bimaculatus, and Anguilla bengalensis are in the category of Near Threatened. Analysis showed that taxonomic distinctness is more during winter than the monsoon and pre-monsoon, indicating monsoon could play a significant role in the fish species recruitment through river connectivity. Climatic data was analysed for a period of 34 years and indicated that an increment of 0.20C in water temperature and average increase of 129mm rainfall at the study site. This slight increase in rainfall over the years could be one of the factors responsible for the fish recruitment in the Ansupa wetland, through river connectivity underlining the importance of flood for wetland fisheries recruitment and sustainability.

New Records of the Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) from the Coastal Lagoons in Korea

Lagoons are natural bodies of water that are isolated from the sea due to the development of a sand bar or spit. Each lagoon has distinct ecological characteristics, and these sites also serve as popular tourist attractions because they are common habitats for migratory birds and are characterized by beautiful natural scenery. Lagoons also have distinct ecological characteristics from those of their associated estuaries, and there are active research efforts to classify, qualify, and quantify the high biodiversity of lagoons. The lagoons in Korea are primarily distributed in the East Sea, and are represented by Hwajinpo, Yeongrangho, and Gyeongpoho. Here, we report the discovery of 11 unrecorded diatom species (Diploneis didyma, Mastogloia elliptica, Cosmioneis citriformis, Haslea crucigera, Pinnularia bertrandii, Pinnularia nodosa var. percapitata, Gyrosigma sinense, Gomphonema guaraniarum, Gomphonema italicum, Navicula freesei, Trybionella littoralis var. tergestina) among samples collected from the Hwajinpo, Hyangho, Maeho, Gapyeongri wetland, Cheonjinho, and Gyeongpoho lagoons in Korea during a survey from 2018–2020. We present the taxonomic characteristics, ecological information, habitat environmental conditions, and references for these 11 species.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Water Body Changes and Their Influencing Factors in the Seasonal Lakes of the Poyang Lake Region

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China, an internationally important wetland and the largest migratory bird habitat in Asia. There are numerous seasonal lakes in the Poyang Lake region, and these lakes create a complex and diverse wetland landscape and serve as the main activity area for migratory birds. Seasonal lakes have significant effects on hydrological and ecological processes and are highly susceptible to various changes, but research on seasonal lakes is relatively limited. Based on long-term remote sensing images, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of seasonal lakes and their influencing factors and ecological effects. The conclusions were as follows: the average water area of seasonal lakes showed a unimodal change during the year, reaching a maximum in July and a minimum in January. The interannual water area fluctuated greatly, and the overall water area showed a small downward trend. In terms of spatial variation, the seasonal lakes were connected with the main lake in the wet season and separated from the main lake in the dry season. Among the natural factors, the influences of temperature, evaporation, and rainfall on the water area of the seasonal lakes were successively reduced. In addition, the incoming water from the Yangtze River had an important influence. Among the human factors, the traditional fishing method “enclosing sublakes in autumn” had the greatest impact on the water area in a specific period, followed by the indirect impact of the Three Gorges Project.