Waterfowl Habitat Research Articles

THE FLORA OF BIRD HAVEN RANCH, GLENN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

This flora documents the vascular plant diversity of Bird Haven Ranch, a privately owned property with restored wetlands, rice fields, and riparian habitat, located in the Northern Sacramento Valley in eastern Glenn County, CA. Bird Haven Ranch is managed as waterfowl habitat. With increasing acreage of the Sacramento Valley being converted to restored wetland habitat, it is important to understand what plant taxa occur in these areas. We collected specimens documenting 57 families, 159 genera, and 222 vascular plant taxa, of which 58 percent were non-native. Thirty-six of the taxa collected represent new specimen records for Glenn County. Noteworthy collections from this project that add to our knowledge of the native flora of the floor of the north Sacramento Valley include Chlorogalum pomeridianum (DC.) Kunth var. pomeridianum, Perideridia kelloggii (A.Gray) Mathias, and Stuckenia striata (Ruiz & Pav.) Holub. In addition, two special-status plants, Hibiscus lasiocarpos Cav. var. occidentalis (Torr.) A. Gray, and Azolla microphylla Kaulf. were encountered during the survey.

Assessing Protected Area Management Effectiveness: the Need for a Wetland-Specific Evaluation Tool

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat was developed in 1971, and has established the world's largest network of protected areas. However, monitoring and reporting have been inadequate to fully achieve the goals of the Convention. We argue that current reporting mechanisms, including the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT), Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM), and the R-METT reporting framework adopted at the 12th Conference of the Parties, are not well adapted to wetland systems and the objectives of the Ramsar Convention. This paper outlines one possible structure for a new reporting mechanism, explicitly focused on the Convention's objectives of maintaining ecological character and promoting wise use within the context of sustainable development. Through these lenses, we developed a 15-question framework that would have site managers compile the most pertinent information relating to these two points quickly, including providing operational definitions, identifying allowable uses, quantifying economic benefits, reporting fundamental monitoring data, and assessing stakeholder engagement opportunities. We argue that, if we are to provide an informed outlook for the next half-century of wetland conservation under the Ramsar Convention, we must begin by refining its information-gathering protocols for its system of wetlands of international importance.

Multi-scale waterfowl habitat conservation planning in Wisconsin, USA

ContextThe North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes Joint Venture waterfowl habitat conservation strategy provide continental and regional guidance, respectively, for waterfowl habitat conservation planning. They were not designed to guide watershed- scale waterfowl habitat delivery.ObjectiveOur goal was to develop a waterfowl habitat decision support framework for the state of Wisconsin using biological and social criteria to guide state and local-scale practitioners with an explicit link to larger scale objectives.MethodsWe engaged a core group of wetland and waterfowl experts to decide upon decision support layers relevant to biological and social objectives, evaluate variables, establish weights, and review model outputs for reasonableness and accuracy. We used spatial analyst tools, kernel density estimators, and weighted sums to create spatially explicit models to identify landscapes and watersheds important for waterfowl. We identified habitat resources that exist currently (Conservation Capital) and considered potential resources (Conservation Opportunities) which could enhance wetland restoration efforts.ResultsWe developed a transparent framework to identify and prioritize landscapes for conserving waterfowl habitat at the Hydrologic Unit Code 12 watershed scale in Wisconsin, by maintaining continental and regional priorities, and including local landscape characteristics, biological criteria, and researcher, manager, and biologist expertise.ConclusionsLocal detail is critical for implementing waterfowl habitat delivery and making efficient use of limited funds for conservation but can be more abstract in larger regional or continental conservation planning. Our models are science-based, transparent, defensible, and can be modified as social, political, biological, and environmental forces change.

Arthropod Assemblages in Invasive and Native Vegetation of Great Salt Lake Wetlands

Wetlands provide essential habitat for shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl. Invasive species can disrupt trophic interactions within wetlands by altering the arthropod assemblages on which birds rely. An invasive grass species, Phragmites australis (common reed), has invaded wetlands across North America, including those surrounding the Great Salt Lake, Utah, U.S.A. Phragmites outcompetes native vegetation and alters habitat for resident and migratory birds, yet how Phragmites affects arthropod assemblages is unclear. To address these knowledge gaps, this study investigated how arthropod assemblages differ between native and invasive vegetation in Great Salt Lake wetlands. We examined the arthropod assemblages found within three native habitats as well as in Phragmites-invaded areas. There were few differences in arthropod assemblages between Phragmites and two native habitats (hardstem bulrush, Schoenoplectus acutus and alkali bulrush, Bolboschoenus maritimus). Arthropod assemblages differed between Phragmites and the native Salicornia rubra (pickleweed), which differed markedly from the other plant species in structure, biomass, and related site conditions. Identifying how arthropods interact with Phragmites and native vegetation is critical to recognizing how to effectively manage wetlands for bird habitat. By gaining an understanding of these relationships, arthropod biomass, abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition could serve as assessment metrics for determining wetland management success.

Mapping typical salt-marsh species in the Yellow River Delta wetland supported by temporal-spatial-spectral multidimensional features

The native salt marsh plants of the Yellow River Delta wetland such as Suaeda salsa and Phragmites australis, providing significant habitats for rare waterfowl, are the key to conserve biodiversity and enhance habitats of this critical wetland. These plants are undergoing severe degradation due to rapid invasion of Spartina alterniflora, which has been a major growing threat to the livelihood of waterfowl and the sustainability of the Yellow River Delta wetland. Monitoring the spatial pattern of salt marsh species is fundamental to the conservation and restoration of the ecological functions in the Yellow River Delta wetland. The development of remote sensing technologies is making a leap forward, particularly the high resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR), which holds the potential to map heterogeneous wetland regardless of weather. In this study, we developed an innovative framework to map the distribution of salt marsh species with the integration of optical (Sentinel-2) and SAR (Sentinel-1) images. Within this framework, a comprehensive set of features including spectral, spatial and temporal features were considered, and the best feature combination was selected and applied in a random forest classification model to obtain the final map. The results show that the temporal-spectral features combined with the spatial-temporal features of the SAR data can effectively improve the separability of Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis, and Spartina alterniflora. Compared with using optical or SAR data alone, the combination of optical and SAR data improved the kappa coefficient and the overall classification accuracy by 0.10–0.19 and 6.04–11.61%, respectively. The spatial distribution of the two main native plants and the invasive plant can facilitate ecological restoration of the Yellow River Delta wetland. The framework developed by this study can be efficiently replicated and transferred by similar studies. Our approach lays a solid foundation for intelligent monitoring and management of coastal wetland.

Body Condition of Wintering Pacific Greater White‐Fronted Geese

ABSTRACTExtreme changes to key waterfowl habitats in the Klamath Basin (KB) on the Oregon–California border and the Sacramento Valley (SV) in California, USA, have occurred since 1980. The spatial distribution of Pacific greater white‐fronted geese (Anser albifrons sponsa; geese) has likewise changed among these areas and population size has grown from 79,000 to >600,000 geese during the same period. To assess the effects of landscape changes and spatial‐temporal distribution of geese, we collected Pacific greater white‐fronted geese during winters of 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 in the KB and SV and compared their body condition to geese collected during 1979–1980 and 1980–1981. We modeled body and lipid mass to assess body condition for each sex independently and examined the influence of collection day, year, and region. Body condition of geese varied throughout the winter and within years in a nonlinear fashion. We detected an increase in body condition in both sexes during December and January in the SV, which corresponds with improved habitat conditions and increases seen in other species in the region. Body condition upon arrival in fall migration varied by year for females and by year and region for males. Males and females arrived in poorer body condition during 2010–2011 than all other study years and males in the KB during 2010–2011 had extremely low lipid mass, reflecting poor regional habitat conditions induced by drought. Body condition of females varied over spring, by year, and by region and regional effects were evident for males. Body condition was significantly higher for geese in the SV than in the KB during spring. Our results suggest that Pacific greater white‐fronted geese have adapted to a changing landscape and have adjusted historical spatial use patterns to take advantage of more favorable conditions in the SV between 1979 and 2010. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.

ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИЯ И ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ПРОЛЕТАРСКОГО ВОДОХРАНИЛИЩА

Purpose: the studies of the Proletarskiy reservoir is to use the Novo-Manych dam in regulating the operation of the western and eastern sections with a water regulating structure between them. Materials and methods: the issues on use and regulation of water resources of the Proletarsk reservoir are considered, including the Novo-Manych dam, which divides the reservoir into the western and eastern sections. Results. The western section of the Proletarskiy reservoir is located between the Proletarskiy hydroelectric complex and the Novo-Manych dam and is a stretch of about 20 km. Under normal operating conditions, water flows from the western section to the eastern one through the water regulating structure in the Novo-Manych dam. At the same time, the main amount of water enters the western section along the river Egorlyk, it is discharged through the drain of the Proletarskiy hydroelectric dam into the Veselovskoye reservoir. The eastern section of the Proletarskiy reservoir is limited by the Novo-Manych dam on the western side and a blind dam on the eastern side. According to the initial project, the water resources of the Proletarskiy reservoir were used for shipping, irrigation, fisheries, and hydropower. The actual use of the reservoir's water resources for navigation is practically absent, irrigation is not performed, the fishery has lost its importance, and the hydropower industry has been out of service. Only recreation is used: the sanatorium “Manych”, about 30 hunting farms, the “Rostovsky” and “Chernye Zemli” reserves, the natural monument “Primanychskaya steppe”. The network of reservoirs and Manych-Gudilo lake is a wetland of international importance as a habitat for waterfowl. Conclusions. The issues of the use and regulation of water resources of the Proletarskiy reservoir and the Novo-Manych dam, dividing the reservoir into the western and eastern sections are considered.

A Comparison of Convolutional Neural Network Architectures for Automated Detection and Identification of Waterfowl in Complex Environments

Waterfowl monitoring is an important task for understanding waterfowl distribution and habitats. Surveying approaches using hyper-spatial airborne imagery, collected by small unoccupied aerial systems (sUAS), hold potential to overcome the limitations of traditional methods while improving count efficiency and reliability. Difficulties obtaining waterfowl counts, particularly in complex image scenes, from the high quantity of imagery required hinders deployment of large-scale surveys. In this paper, we test Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to understand their potential and how they behave across different versions of our waterfowl dataset. Three CNN architectures (YOLO, Retinanet and Faster R-CNN) were trained on 3 hierarchical levels: waterfowl detection (True / False), waterfowl type (3 classes), and waterfowl species (8 classes). The architectures generally performed well, and results indicate that automated waterfowl detection in complex environments, and therefore enumeration, is feasible using current technology. Waterfowl identification in complex environments was not successful using the available training data, but we propose steps that might enhance the results.

Distribution and Utilization Plan of Reclaimed Lands (RLs) as Waterfowl Habitat on the South Coast of Korea

Kim, S.-K.; Kim, J.-C., and Choi, J.-Y., 2020. Distribution and utilization plan of reclaimed lands (RLs) as waterfowl habitat on the south coast of Korea. In: Jung, H.-S.; Lee, S.; Ryu, J.-H., and Cui, T. (eds.), Advances in Geospatial Research of Coastal Environments. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 102, pp. 107-112. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Since 1960, in South Korea, many coastal areas have been reclaimed to secure agricultural land and construct levees. Small-scale reclaimed lands (RLs) were isolated from coastal areas by levees and roads, and this resulted in the loss of the intrinsic characteristics of the ocean environment. In this study, the distribution of RLs located on the south coast of South Korea was investigated, and the formation cause and use types were identified. Furthermore, their potential was assessed as an alternative wetland by investigating waterfowl distribution in each RL. A total of 161 RLs (total area: 776 ha) were located near the southern coastal area of South Korea. Most RLs were created through disconnection from the marine environment due to the construction of an embankment or road, and most of the land was left unattended because it was difficult to use as agricultural or residential areas due to its narrowness and intermittent water level. The majority of RLs were characterized by intermitted water levels, deep water depth, and high salinity, making it difficult for plants other than emergent plants to develop, and consequently, fauna, including birds, were unable to utilize the environment as a habitat. In winter, some RLs were utilized as habitats for ducks (i.e., dabbling ducks and diving ducks), but there were few in the following seasons (spring and autumn). However, an RL was judged to have potential as a wetland if ecological function improvements, such as efficient water supply and water depth control, could be made. In particular, increasing the diversity and coverage rate of aquatic plants can lead to abundant food sources, such as fish and invertebrates. The use of these RLs as wetlands not only enhances the value of abandoned RLs but can also be a significant alternative habitat for diverse animals at a time when inland wetlands are being damaged and reduced.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) Landscape Suitability Varies by Wetland Habitats and the Degree of Interface between Wild Waterfowl and Poultry in India.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, subtype H5N1, constitutes one of the world’s most important health and economic concerns given the catastrophic impact of epizootics on the poultry industry, the high mortality attending spillover in humans, and its potential as a source subtype for a future pandemic. Nevertheless, we still lack an adequate understanding of HPAI H5N1 epidemiology and infection ecology. The nature of the wild waterfowl–poultry interface, and the sharing of diverse wetland habitat among these birds, currently underscore important knowledge gaps. India has emerged as a global hotspot for HPAI H5N1, while also providing critical wintering habitat for many species of migratory waterfowl and year-round habitat for several resident waterfowl species. The current study sought to examine the extent to which the wild waterfowl–poultry interface, varied wetland habitat, and climate influence HPAI H5N1 epizootics in poultry in India. Using World Organisation for Animal Health reported outbreaks, this study showed that the wild waterfowl–poultry interface and lacustrine, riparian, and coastal marsh wetland systems were strongly associated with landscape suitability, and these relationships varied by scale. Although increasing poultry density was associated with increasing risk, this was only the case in the absence of wild waterfowl habitat, and only at a local scale. In landscapes increasingly shared between wild waterfowl and poultry, suitability was greater among lower density poultry, again at a local scale only. These findings provide further insight into the occurrence of HPAI H5N1 in India and suggest important landscape targets for blocking the waterfowl–poultry interface to interrupt virus transmission and prevent future outbreaks.

Fine-scale tracking of wild waterfowl and their impact on highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in the Republic of Korea, 2014\u20132015

Wild migratory waterfowl are considered one of the most important reservoirs and long-distance carriers of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Our study aimed to explore the spatial and temporal characteristics of wild migratory waterfowl’s wintering habitat in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and to evaluate the impact of these habitats on the risk of HPAI outbreaks in commercial poultry farms. The habitat use of 344 wild migratory waterfowl over four migration cycles was estimated based on tracking records. The association of habitat use with HPAI H5N8 outbreaks in poultry farms was evaluated using a multilevel logistic regression model. We found that a poultry farm within a wild waterfowl habitat had a 3–8 times higher risk of HPAI outbreak than poultry farms located outside of the habitat. The range of wild waterfowl habitats increased during autumn migration, and was associated with the epidemic peak of HPAI outbreaks on domestic poultry farms in the ROK. Our findings provide a better understanding of the dynamics of HPAI infection in the wildlife–domestic poultry interface and may help to establish early detection, and cost-effective preventive measures.

Identifying opportunities for improving the coherence of global agreements for species conservation

AbstractThe current global biodiversity governance system is failing to adequately protect species and halt extinctions. This raises concerns that a lack of coherence among conventions has hindered their effective implementation. We assessed the possibility for improved convention coherence by identifying overlaps among four major international biodiversity conventions; Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance especially as a Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We applied topic modeling to convention texts to identify overlaps in treaty implementation and purpose. We assessed overlap among species listed under CITES and CMS, and threatened species, which are targeted by CBD's Aichi Target 12. We found that convention texts shared similar articles on their implementation, but differed in articles relating to their purpose. We identified 137 threatened species that are also migratory and threatened by unsustainable international trade. The geographic distribution of species common to two or more conventions showed a concentration in parts of Asia. Our analysis suggests that implementation mechanisms are already well aligned to support increased cooperation across conventions, and that cooperation would provide complementarity rather than result in redundancies. We demonstrate that it is possible to identify where co‐operation could have a disproportionately positive impact on alleviating the complex of pressures affecting species.

Gulf Coast Riceland Seed Biomass Estimates for Waterfowl Habitat Conservation

ABSTRACTBiomass estimates of potential waterfowl foods are fundamental to estimating foraging carrying capacity of waterfowl habitat by conservation planners and managers of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan‐Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV). Rice and moist‐soil seeds in Gulf Coast rice fields provide principal sources of energy for waterfowl during migration and winter. We investigated spatio‐temporal biomass dynamics of these seeds and modeled their variation in production and idled rice fields in southwestern Louisiana, southeastern Texas, and the Texas Mid‐Coast, USA, in August and November 2010–2013. We hypothesized that previous estimates of November rice and moist‐soil seed biomass from the Mississippi Alluvial Valley were not applicable to the GCJV region because climate and agricultural production practices (e.g., ratooning, crayfish [Procambrus spp.] aquaculture) are primary inter‐regional contrasts. Waste‐rice biomass was greatest in November in fields with an unharvested second crop of rice from tillers of original plants (i.e., ratoon crop; 837.7 kg[dry]/ha; CV = 16.7%) and least in fields without a ratoon crop (119.3 kg/ha; CV = 18.5%). Moist‐soil seed biomass was greatest in idled rice fields in October (477.3 kg/ha; CV = 24.8%), where substrate and rice stubble were disked at the time of sampling, and in idled fields with standing native vegetation in November (304.8 kg/ha; CV = 17.1%). Field‐level variation in waste rice in production fields in November was best explained by an interaction between field management (e.g., harvested ratoon) and rice variety. We were unable identify a reliable predictor of field‐level variation in moist‐soil seed biomass in idled fields for July–August or November (i.e., null model was best or competitive). Substituting existing seasonal moist‐soil and rice seed biomass estimates in GCJV planning models with those from our study would result in a seasonally flooded habitat objective 76% (101,974 ha) greater than the current GCJV estimate for 3 rice‐growing planning areas. We encourage conservation planners in the GCJV region to use biomass estimates from our study because they are reasonably precise for planning and implementation (i.e., CV ~ 20%) and represent most contemporary patterns of farming practices and food abundance in this region. Further, programs and incentives that promote production of ratoon rice crops and allow growth of naturally occurring vegetation in idled rice fields, followed by shallow flooding during November–February, would significantly enhance food resources for waterfowl and other waterbirds in this important landscape for North American avifauna. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

Influence of flooding period and seed burial depth on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) seed germination.

Flooding throughout fall and winter months is an effective practice for rice (Oryza sativa L.) straw decomposition, soil seedbank depletion, and waterfowl habitat in Mississippi. Nevertheless, limited research is available regarding the effects of fall-winter flooding and seed burial depth on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) seed germination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of flooding period and seed burial depth on A. palmeri seed damage and germination in three different soil textures in Mississippi. Amaranthus palmeri seed damage was greater when seeds were buried in sandy loam compared to silt loam soil textures. An interaction between flooding period and seed burial depth was present for A. palmeri seed germination. Flooding periods of 1-month (at 0 and 15 cm burial depth) and 2 months (at 0 cm burial depth) provided similar A. palmeri seed germination compared to no-flooding (at 0 cm burial depth). In addition, flooding periods of 3, 4, and 5 months reduced A. palmeri seed germination by 10, 10 and 14 percentage points at 0 cm burial depth, and 36, 40, and 41 percentage points when seeds were buried at 15 cm, respectively, across all soil textures. This research demonstrates that flooding for 3, 4, and 5-months throughout fall and winter is an effective cultural practice to increase soil seedbank depletion through reduced germination potential to help manage herbicide-resistant A. palmeri populations in sandy loam, silt, and silt loam soil textures. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Slow and Steady: Gradual Drawdown of Private Wetlands Supports Shorebirds During Northbound Migration

AbstractThe Grasslands Ecological Area is the largest contiguous wetland complex in California's Central Valley and is a stronghold for hundreds of thousands of waterbirds. Primarily managed for waterfowl habitat and forage production, landowners of these privately owned seasonal wetlands in the Grassland Ecological Area typically flood the wetlands in the fall and dewater them the following spring in February and March. These wetlands support large populations of nonbreeding shorebirds and other waterbirds in winter. When the number of migratory shorebirds using the region peaks in mid-April, landowners have already dewatered most wetlands. The mismatch in the timing of available habitat and the habitat needs of migrating shorebirds contributes to the observed deficit of shorebird habitat in the Central Valley in spring. Working with private landowners, we developed and tested a wetland management practice designed to increase the amount of shallow-water habitat available to shorebirds in April by delaying the drawdown and reducing water levels more slowly (gradual drawdown) relative to the traditional management practice. On average, we found that wetlands managed with gradual drawdown provided over twice as much shorebird habitat, contributing up to 26% of the overall shorebird habitat objective for the Central Valley. Wetlands managed with gradual drawdown supported up to 21 times more migratory shorebirds during peak migration and a greater number of shorebird species than traditionally managed wetlands. Our results demonstrate the potential of working with private landowners to implement small changes in wetland management that can have a large impact in meeting regional conservation objectives for migratory shorebirds.

Association of wild bird densities around poultry farms with the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N8 outbreaks in the Netherlands, 2016.

Highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza viruses (AIV) can spread globally through migratory birds and cause massive outbreaks in commercial poultry. AIV outbreaks have been associated with proximity to waterbodies, presence of waterfowl or wild bird cases near poultry farms. In this study, we compared densities of selected HPAI high‐risk wild bird species around 7 locations (H farms) infected with HPAIV H5N8 in the Netherlands in 2016–2017 to densities around 21 non‐infected reference farms. Nine reference farms were in low‐lying water‐rich areas (R‐W) and 12 in higher non‐water‐rich areas (R‐NW). Average monthly numbers/km2 of Eurasian wigeons, tufted ducks, Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans) and Laridae (gulls) were calculated between September and April in rings of 0–1, 1–3, 3–6 and 6–10 km around the farms. Linear mixed model analyses showed generally higher bird densities for H and R‐W compared to R‐NW farms between October and March. This was most striking for Eurasian wigeons, with in peak month December 105 (95% CI:17–642) and 40 (7–214) times higher densities around H and R‐W farms, respectively, compared to R‐NW farms. Increased densities around H farms for Eurasian wigeons and Anatidae were more pronounced for distances up to 10 km compared to 0–1 km that mostly consists of the farm yard, which is an unattractive habitat for waterfowl. This distance effect was not observed in gulls, nor in tufted ducks that live on large open waterbodies which are unlikely to be within 0–1 km of farms. This study provides insights into spatio‐temporal density dynamics of HPAI high‐risk birds around farms and their associations with poultry outbreaks. The outcomes indicate that knowledge of environmental and ecological drivers for wild bird presence and abundance may facilitate identification of priority areas for surveillance and biosecurity measures and decisions on establishments of poultry farms to reduce risk of HPAI outbreaks.

Developing a Strategy For Efficient Environmental Authorisation of Activities Affecting Wetlands in South Africa: Towards a Wise-Use Approach

South Africa is a party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat of 1971 (also referred to as the Ramsar Convention). Article 3(1) of the Ramsar Convention makes provision for the wise use of wetlands, which is defined as the “maintenance of the ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development”. The Conference of the Parties has agreed on inherent weaknesses that could lead to the hampering of wise use. These weaknesses include, but are not limited to, authorities working in isolation; and the lack of communication between public and private sectors or technical personnel (environmental impact assessment specialists). Within the enabling provisions of South Africa’s EIA regulations, reference is made to “water source”, “water resource”, “wetland” and “ecosystem”. All these terms are read to include a wetland. However, whereas the terms “water source”, “water resource” and “wetland” are defined in the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA), an “ecosystem” is defined in the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA), and “water source” is defined in the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (CARA). Furthermore, the administration of the NWA is with the Department of Water and Sanitation, while NEMBA is with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, and CARA is with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. This multiplicity, combined with the application of the various specific environmental management acts (SEMAs), complicates the manner in which an EIA application is considered. This is so in that the national environmental framework casts the net wide in identifying the competent authority, but also in its effect on wise use decision making on activities pertaining to wetlands. In light of the aforementioned, this article aims to address the shortfalls and make recommendations that promote wise use.

Effect of hydrological variation on vegetation dynamics for wintering waterfowl in China’s Poyang Lake Wetland

Poyang Lake wetland of China, with designated national nature reserves, is one of the most important habitats for waterfowl in the world. During the wintering season, it is home to various rare and endangered species with abundant plant resources. However, extensive disturbances from both global climate change and human activities, such as the construction of hydroelectric dams, have exerted severe impacts on the hydrological regime and the vegetation dynamics in this region. To evaluate the suitability of the habitat for wintering waterfowl, it is necessary to monitor the spatio-temporal changes of vegetation over the protected wetland, and explore the potential environmental driving factors of the changes during the past decades. In this study, the time-series MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data from 2000 to 2018, were used to analyze the seasonal dynamics and interannual tendencies of vegetation coverage over the wintering period from October to January. The results showed that the largest monthly mean EVI generally occurred in November, and was related to the quantity of wintering waterfowl in Poyang Lake wetland. The mean EVI in November had a lagged response to both temperature and accumulated precipitation. Long-term trend analysis revealed that the average EVI of the reserve increased significantly in the winters since the new millennium. Over the past 18 years, the hydrological regime, particularly the water area, is recognized as the dominant environmental factor determining the interannual variation of EVI. From 2010 onwards there was also an increasing influence of temperature. These analyses would help in the creation of appropriate management strategies to protect the habitat of wintering waterfowl in Poyang Lake wetland.

«МОНІТОРИНГ ПРИРОДНИХ ВОДНИХ ДЖЕРЕЛ КАРПАТСЬКОГО НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ПРИРОДНОГО ПАРКУ» (2019) – ПЕРША В УКРАЇНІ МОНОГРАФІЯ ПРО ДЖЕРЕЛА

The monograph “Monitoring of springs of the Carpathian National Natural Park” is presented and analyzed in the article (authors R.L. Kravchynskyi, V.K. Khilchevskyi, M.V. Korchemlyuk, O. M. Stefurak / Ed. by V.K. Khilchevskyi), published in 2019. This is the first such monographic study of of springs in Ukraine. It presents the results of monitoring studies of natural of springs in the territory of the Carpathian National Natural Park (field surveys, studies of the hydrological regime, chemical composition of water). Inventory and accounting of springs is included in the plan of annual nature conservation activities held in the park. There are all the necessary conditions for a comprehensive study of natural groundwater output to the surface – scientific, logistical and informational base. In 2019, after the grant of two wetlands in the Carpathian National Park (Prut and Pogorelets) international status and their inclusion in the list of wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Imports of International Imports especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 1971 – the study of environmental components, including springs, becomes more relevant and practical. About 40 expeditions were conducted to investigate springs in three major natural complexes in the Carpathian National Nature Park: Skibov Gorgany, Yasin-Verkhovyna Inter-Mountain Basin, and the Chernogorsky Massif. In the hydrological aspect, these are the basins of the Prut River. About 300 objects were covered by the monitoring studies. As a result of the analysis of literary sources, summarization of the information obtained in the expeditions, laboratory conditions and during the camera processing of materials, a considerable amount of data has been formed for writing the first monographic study in Ukraine on this subject, structurally consisting of eight sections. The methods used in the study of of springs and interpretation of data are presented. The book notes that in our time the multifaceted structure of the ecological and functional significance of natural of springs can be the subject of interdisciplinary research, including natural, technical, economic, often medical, and sometimes humanities. The necessity of increasing attention to the monitoring of natural of springs from environmental experts – geographers, hydrogeologists, hydrologists, ecologists, is justified.

МЕТОДИЧЕСКИЕ АСПЕКТЫ МОНИТОРИНГА РОДНИКОВ В УСЛОВИЯХ УКРАИНСКИХ КАРПАТ

The purpose of the study is to generalize methodological approaches to monitoring springs in the territory of the Carpathian National Natural Park and to identify the main hydrological and hydrochemical laws of their functioning. We conducted research of springs outlined outside the Carpathian National Natural Park (CNNP) – the first (1980) and one of the largest (504.95 km2) nature parks in Ukraine, located in the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk region. The office is located in Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Inventory and accounting of springs is included in the plan of annual nature conservation activities held in the park. In 2019, after the grant of two wetlands in the Carpathian National Park (Prut and Pogorelets) international status and their inclusion in the list of wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Imports of International Imports especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 1971 – the study of environmental components, including springs, becomes more relevant and practical.There are all the necessary conditions for a comprehensive study of natural groundwater output to the surface – scientific, logistical and informational base. For the period 2011-2019 about 40 expeditions were conducted to study the springs located in three main natural complexes on the territory of the Carpathian NNP: the Outer Gorgany, the Yasinsky-Verkhovynsky intermountain basin, the Chernogora massif. In the hydrological aspect, it is a Prut river basin (left tributary of the Danube). The main methodological approaches for monitoring springs were developed and consistently implemented. The general monitoring algorithm, which is considered in the article, can be presented in the form of a flowchart with successive steps: 1) collecting available information about the springs 2) field surveys of the first level (description of the springs and their mapping) 3) field surveys of the second level (measuring flow rates and water sampling); 4) regular observations on reference springs. The water mineralization of most springs in the Carpathian NPP (about 90%) is in the range of “very fresh” and “normally fresh” – 30-500 mg/dm3 (according to the classification of Valentyn Khilchevskyi). There are springs with very low salt content – “extremely fresh” (10-30 mg/dm3), and sometimes “super fresh” with a salinity of less than 10 mg/dm3. Such a low level of spring water mineralization corresponds to the norms of the regional natural background of the salt content in unpolluted atmospheric precipitation.