Wetland Birds Research Articles

Looking for compensation at multiple scales in a wetland bird community.

Compensatory dynamics, during which community composition shifts despite a near‐constant total community size, are usually rare: Synchronous dynamics prevail in natural communities. This is a puzzle for ecologists, because of the key role of compensation in explaining the relation between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, most studies so far have considered compensation in either plants or planktonic organisms, so that evidence for the generality of such synchrony is limited. Here, we extend analyses of community‐level synchrony to wetland birds. We analyze a 35‐year monthly survey of a community where we suspected that compensation might occur due to potential competition and changes in water levels, favoring birds with different habitat preferences. We perform both year‐to‐year analyses by season, using a compensation/synchrony index, and multiscale analyses using a wavelet‐based measure, which allows for both scale‐ and time‐dependence. We analyze synchrony both within and between guilds, with guilds defined either as tightknit phylogenetic groups or as larger functional groups. We find that abundance and biomass compensation are rare, likely due to the synchronizing influence of climate (and other drivers) on birds, even after considering several temporal scales of covariation (during either cold or warm seasons, above or below the annual scale). Negative covariation in abundance at the guild or community level did only appear at the scale of a few months or several years. We also found that synchrony varies with taxonomic and functional scale: The rare cases where compensation appeared consistently in year‐to‐year analyses were between rather than within functional groups. Our results suggest that abundance compensation may have more potential to emerge between broad functional groups rather than between species, and at relatively long temporal scales (multiple years for vertebrates), above that of the dominant synchronizing driver.

Incomplete Concordance Between Host Phylogeny and Gut Microbial Community in Tibetan Wetland Birds

Gut microbial communities of animals play key roles in host evolution, while the relationship between gut microbiota and host evolution in Tibetan birds remains unknown. Herein, we sequenced the gut microbiota of 67 wild birds of seven species dwelling in the Tibetan wetlands. We found an obvious species-specific structure of gut microbiota among these plateau birds whose habitats were overlapped. Different from plateau mammals, there was no strict synergy between the hierarchical tree of gut microbial community and species phylogeny. In brown-headed gulls (Larus brunnicephalus) as an example, the structure of gut microbiota differed in different habitats, and the relative abundance of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Paracoccus, Lachnospiraceae, and Vibrio, significantly correlated with altitude. Finally, we found various pathogenic bacteria in the birds of these plateau wetlands, and the interspecific differences were related to their diet and living environments.

Severe Drought Monitoring by Remote Sensing Methods and Its Impact on Wetlands Birds Assemblages in Nuntași and Tuzla Lakes (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve)

The present paper aims to highlight the impact of the partial or total drying of the Nuntași and Tuzla lakes (from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve) as a result of intense drought phenomena on groups of waterfowl that are encountered in this region. Our analysis combined satellite remote sensing techniques with bird observations that were made monthly during the analyzed period, corroborated with the meteorological context of the time interval that was taken into account. The results of the satellite image processing show a partial drying in 2013 and a total drying in 2020 of the Nuntași and Tuzla lakes, which were caused by both natural factors (drought) and anthropogenic factors (inadequate management of the area—e.g.,: communication channels with surrounding lakes are clogged). These situations have led to repercussions for groups of birds, which behave differently depending on their ecology. Pelicans and swans are the most affected birds, they leave the area in the absence of water, whereas gulls and terns are not affected by the decrease in the water surface, they even increase their numbers in such conditions. Our study also shows that from 2010 to 2020 the largest numbers of birds (total numbers of birds), with the exception of pelicans, were recorded in 2013 and 2020, more precisely in the years when the water surface decreased considerably. Another important feature of this paper involves highlighting how fragile an ecosystem can be in the context of climate change, but also how important it is to involve human society in maintaining the adequate conditions for an ecosystem that is part of one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on the planet, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.

Impact of the Corona Virus Pandemic on Wetland Avifauna Diversity of JAT Region

Coranavirus pandemic affected not only humans, but also it was affected to the avian biodiversity of Jath region. One of the reasons of decreasing avifauna of wetland birds is human anthropogenic activities. During Pandemic the lockdown was done by government that showed positive effect on the biodiversity. The Tippehalli reservior is nearer to the sugar factory, the loud voice of siren, the human activities decreased the avifauna. Due to lockdown the sugar factory was closed, that duration some species of birds quickly respond to the lower levels of human activities. Lockdown plays positive effect to the avi fauna biodiversity.

Study on the diversity of birds in the new abode of wetlands created by the 2004 tsunami in South Andaman

Subsidence and upliftment of landmass were encountered in Andaman & Nicobar Islands due to the 2004 tsunami. The subsided landmass at the coastal front was permanently waterlogged ensuring a conducive new habitat for wetland birds. Pre- and post-tsunami Landsat satellite data products were used to demarcate the permanently waterlogged areas. A total of 63 bird species belonging to nine families comprising of five orders were identified and documented through direct observation technique in six stations of the 2004 post-tsunami-created wetlands in South Andaman. Order Charadriiformes and Anseriformes recorded the highest (47.62%) and least (4.76%) taxonomic composition of wetland birds, respectively. Scolopacidae family recorded the highest (56.67%) species composition. Among the six stations, the highest diversity of birds was observed in Sippighat and Ograbraj stations.

Artificial wetlands as alternative habitat for a wide range of waterbird species

Natural wetlands are at the cutting edge of protection concerns, as they harbor a greater range of waterbird assemblages than artificial wetlands. However, more than 50.0% of natural wetland areas and more than 17.0% of waterbird species have become imperiled due to human activities over the last two decades. Thus, it is important to understand whether artificial wetlands play significant roles as alternative habitats for wetland birds. The distance sampling point count method was employed to ascertain the difference in waterbird assemblages inhabiting Lungh natural wetland and Raja artificial wetland in Sindh Province, Pakistan from September 2017 to February 2019. Natural wetlands harbored 39,282 individuals representing 40 waterbird species and 14 families, while artificial wetlands hosted 23,122 individuals representing 39 species and 13 families. In total, 37 species were identified as least concern, 3 were near threatened, and one species was endangered, one vulnerable, and one data deficient. Anas crecca (4.95%) and A. platyrhynchos (4.72%) were the foremost abundant species in natural wetlands. A. crecca (4.57%) and A. clypeata (3.95%) were the foremost prevailing species of artificial wetlands. Alcedo atthis, Charadrius leschenaultia, and Vanellus leucurus did not utilize natural wetlands, while Bubulcus ibis, Larus genei, Tringa brevipes, and Plegadis falcinellus avoided artificial wetlands. The relative abundance of waterbirds between natural and artificial wetlands varied considerably (F1, 85 = 6.26, p < 0.05). Diversity indices indicated that natural wetlands attracted a greater diversity of waterbirds than artificial wetlands. The results indicated that natural wetlands had attracted a larger number of migrating birds than artificial wetlands. In contrast, artificial wetlands harbored a wide range of resident waterbird species than natural wetlands. As a result, we accept the hypothesis that artificial wetlands may serve as an alternative habitat for a wide range of waterbird communities. Hence, it is strongly recommended that artificial wetlands be constructed to harbor a wider array of waterbird species to halt wetland habitats and biodiversity loss across the country.

Functional dispersion of wetland birds, invertebrates, and plants more strongly influenced by hydroperiod than each other

AbstractThe relative role of biological and abiotic filters in the assembly of co‐occurring taxa is of broad interest to ecologists. While some authors point to biological interactions (e.g., competition) as the stronger driver of ecological selection, others assert that abiotic conditions are more important because they filter species at the regional level. Because communities influenced by a dominant abiotic filter (e.g., Prairie Pothole Region [PPR] wetlands, each varying in their ponded water permanence) often have strong cross‐taxon relationships, we can study these communities to better understand the relative influence of abiotic versus biotic filters on community structure. Using functional dispersion as our measure of communities, we test six alternate hypotheses about the relative importance of various pathways representing influence of biological and permanence filters on birds, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and wetland plants in the northwest PPR using structural equation modeling. We aimed to understand whether (1) ponded water permanence alone explained functional dispersion; (2) the influence of permanence on functional dispersion was direct or mediated; and (3) abiotic filtering by permanence was stronger than biotic filtering by co‐occurring taxa. The best model suggests that there is a direct influence of permanence on the functional dispersion of each taxonomic group and that both bird and macroinvertebrate functional dispersion are causally related to plant functional dispersion, though for invertebrates, the influence of plants is much less than that of permanence. Thus, the relative importance of wetland permanence and the functional dispersion of co‐occurring taxa depend on which taxon is considered in PPR wetlands.

Impact of Urbanisation Intensity on Bird Diversity in River Wetlands around Chaohu Lake, China.

Simple SummaryThe continuous intensification of urbanisation has led to severe degradation and loss of bird habitats, directly affecting the diversity of birds. In this study, we focused on seven representative river wetlands around Chaohu Lake (China) to analyse the impact of urbanisation on bird diversity. The species richness at sections of the lake entrance was higher than in the middle sections of the river, and the Shannon–Wiener index during autumn was higher than that during winter. Urbanisation was an important driving factor that changed land use types near rivers and the structure of bird communities. The response model of river ecological indicators to the intensity of urbanisation shows a negative exponential correlation between the waterbird diversity index and the urbanisation intensity. Our research is of great significance for future urban landscape planning and bird community diversity protection.Urbanisation is known to result in ‘urban stream syndrome’, which poses a huge threat to the river health. Birds, which are an important part of the river ecosystem, are sensitive to environmental changes in the basin. The ratio of the impervious surface area is a macroscopic indicator of urbanisation intensity in river basins. In this study, we combined the results of a year-round field survey of seven river wetlands around Chaohu Lake (China) with satellite remote sensing image data from the same period. The species richness at sections of the lake entrance was higher than in the middle sections of the river, and the Shannon–Wiener index during autumn was higher than that during winter. The waterbird diversity index declined exponentially with increases in the intensity of urbanisation. The changes in the land use patterns around river wetlands associated with urbanisation resulted in the loss of food resources and habitats. Therefore, the intensity of urbanisation was an important driving factor that leads to changes in the bird community structure of river wetlands, so it had a significant impact on the diversity of river wetland birds in all four seasons combined with a variety of influencing factors. Our research could be a guide for urban landscape planning and bird diversity protection. For example, the results suggested that it is necessary to identify river wetlands as an important part of the urban ecosystem, reduced building area, increased vegetation coverage, and retained slope protection and river beach land.

Better together? Assessing different remote sensing products for predicting habitat suitability of wetland birds

AbstractAimThe increasing availability of remote sensing (RS) products from airborne laser scanning (ALS) surveys, synthetic aperture radar acquisitions and multispectral satellite imagery provides unprecedented opportunities for describing the physical structure and seasonal changes of vegetation. However, the added value of these RS products for predicting species distributions and animal habitats beyond land cover maps remains little explored. Here, we aim to assess how metrics derived from different types of high‐resolution (10 m) RS products predict the habitat suitability of wetland birds.LocationNorth‐eastern part of the Netherlands.MethodsWe built species distribution models (SDMs) with occurrence observations from territory mapping of two selected wetland bird species (great reed warbler and Savi's warbler) and metrics from a Dutch land cover map, country‐wide ALS and Sentinel‐1 and Sentinel‐2 RS products. We then compared model performance, relative variable importance and response curves of the SDMs to assess the contribution and ecological relevance of each RS product and metric.ResultsOur results showed that ALS and Sentinel metrics improve SDMs with only land cover metrics by 11% and 10% of the Area Under Curve (AUC) for the great reed warbler and the Savi's warbler respectively. Assessments of feature importance revealed that all types of RS products contributed substantially to predicting the habitat suitability of these wetland birds, but that the most important variables vary among species.Main conclusionsOur study demonstrates that metrics from different high‐resolution RS products capture complementary ecological information on animal habitats, including aspects such as the proportional cover of habitat types, vegetation density and the horizontal variability of vegetation height. Land cover maps with detailed spatial and thematic information can already achieve high model accuracies, but adding metrics derived from ALS point clouds and Sentinel imagery further improve model accuracy and enhance the understanding of animal–habitat relationships.

The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s–2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr−1 towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr−1. Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to ‘climate debt’. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds’ resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future.

Beyond habitat: effects of conspecific and heterospecific aggregation on the spatial structure of a wetland nesting bird community

Nest location is a key factor influencing reproductive success in birds, and habitat choice is considered the main way in which birds select nest sites. Less attention has been devoted to the demand for proximity to other bird nests, which can provide additional profit, namely defense against predators. Here we analyzed the contributions of habitat, and conspecific and heterospecific aggregation to the spatial arrangement of breeding birds in a model bird community. We surveyed a pristine Siberian wetland bird community with the aim to locate all bird territories or nests, in 1993 and 2013. Habitat explained much of the nest site choice, but the nests were aggregated both intra‐ and inter‐specifically more than the spatial pattern of the habitat could explain. In particular, ducks, grebes and some waders bred nearby the most abundant active nest defenders, such as gulls and terns. Heterospecific associations were particularly pronounced in 2013, when the community was impoverished and one common active defender (white‐winged black tern Chlidonias leucopterus) was replaced by a less numerous but aggressive predator (Mongolian gull Larus mongolicus). The results suggest that spatial pattern in bird nests may be influenced by the (dis)appearance of one or a few species, which can play a role as umbrella or predator species. Integration of factors supporting the breeding of umbrella species, such as gulls, may became key targets for comprehensive conservation measures in large wetlands.

Spatially Explicit Abundance Modeling of a Highly Specialized Wetland Bird Using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Modélisation spatialement explicite de l’abondance d’un oiseau très spécifique aux zones humides à l’aide de Sentinel-1 et de Sentinel-2

Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) are a highly specialized wetland obligate bird. They are a species at risk in Canada and very little is known about their abundance in the wetlands of the western boreal forest. Emerging technologies have enabled us to effectively survey for Yellow Rail and other wetland birds in remote areas by using ground-based remote sensors (autonomous recording units; ARUs) to conduct passive acoustic monitoring. We analyzed bird data from the first four years (2013–2016) of an ongoing monitoring program led by the Bioacoustic Unit at the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. We developed species abundance models using satellite data from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 processed in Google Earth Engine. We identified covariates from both synthetic aperture radar and optical remote sensing that had strong predictive capacity for this wetland bird (AUC = 0.96). Approximately 1.5% of available wetland habitat in our northeast Alberta study area was predicted to be highly suitable for Yellow Rail.

ВЕСНЯНІ МІГРАЦІЙНІ СКУПЧЕННЯ ВОДОПЛАВНИХ І НАВКОЛОВОДНИХ ПТАХІВ У ЦЕНТРАЛЬНІЙ ЧАСТИНІ КРЕМЕНЧУЦЬКОГО ВОДОСХОВИЩАВ 2014-2016 РР

Introduction. Kremenchuk reservoir plays an important role for waterbirds and wetland birds during seasonal migrations. Therefore, we provide the monitoring of the avifauna during seasonal migrations in the central part of the reservoir. The article details the results of the wetland birds and waterbirds censuses in the spring periods of 2014-2016.Purpose. To assess the species composition of wetland birds and waterbirds, their relative numbers, and seasonal dynamics in the spring period in the central part of the Kremenchuk reservoir. To compare the results with those obtained during 2007-2013.Methods. Bird censuses were conducted along the dam through the Kremenchuk Reservoir. Used the route-point method of censuses. In total 17 bird censuses were conducted (5-6 each year).Results. During the period of studies, 36 species of waterbirds and wetland birds were detected. The most numerous migratory species were Anser albifrons, Anas plathyrhynchos, A. penelope, Aythya fuligula, and Larus cachinans. Another 7 species can be considered common (Phalacrocorax carbo, Cygnus olor, Anser fabalis, Bucephala clangula, Fulica atra, Larus ridibundus, and L. canus). Five identified species are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (Cygnus bewickii, Anas strepera, Bucephala clangula, Haliaeetus albicilla, and Haematopus ostralegus). The highest number of birds was observed in the second and third decades of March.Originality. Our data supplement the information on the species composition of wetland and waterbirds, their number, and dynamics in the central part of the Kremenchuk reservoir in the spring. The greatest impact on the number of birds at the local level have temperature, the area of ice cover, the water level in the reservoir.Conclusions. The central part of the Kremenchuk reservoir plays an important role for migratory waterbirds and wetland birds. A significant number of these birds (from 5 to more than 20 thousand) use this area for rest and feeding during the period of the spring migration. The most important for these birds part of the studied area is the water area of the Ornithological Reserve "Lypivskiy".Key words: migration, number, migration waves, phenology.

Three Globally Threatened Waterbird Species in Pokkali Farming, Central Kerala

The documentation of Waterbird communities in Pokali wetland was carried out during the winter season 2021-2022. A total of 48 species of birds were recorded from the pokali wetland. During present study, 31 species of waterbirds were recorded. Waterbirds belong to 8 orders and 14 families. In addition, we can count the terrestrial bird species (17 species). All bird species are included in Least Concern except three species of the IUCN Category. Three bird species are Near Threatened birds and these are recorded from Pokali wetland. They are: Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) and Black headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus). Many factors, which threaten the birds in pokali wetland and it affects the decreasing level of bird population. These factors are: Habitat loss, High water level like flood, Climate change, poaching or hunting of birds, Electric lines, Nets used for fishing activities, loss of employees, Predators, Plastics and other types of pollution, etc. Most threats to birds are the cause of human actions.

Using literature and expert knowledge to determine changes in the bird community over a century in a Turkish wetland

Context Bird species have been studied and documented abundantly in the past decades and are good indicators of ecosystem conditions, providing useful information of the changes in the ecological state of wetlands over time. However, monitoring data for birds in wetland sites are often disparate and not homogeneous over time and among species, which complicates the interpretation of trends. Aims We examined historical literature from 1835 to 2019, complemented by an expert knowledge survey and citizen-science databases to estimate the abundance of species, and evaluated changes in the structure and composition by average bird abundances. Key results Our results suggested that land-cover and land-use changes have shaped the local bird community, with a decline in agricultural and grassland bird species as a result of changes in agricultural practices. Coastal wetland and marine birds have increased in abundance, most probably linked to the extension of saltpans and successful conservation measures. Conclusions These trends in bird communities demonstrate the impacts of different land management strategies on biodiversity. Implications This methodology can be replicated in other Ramsar and wetland sites around the world to raise new conservation issues and improve site conservation.

Assessment of the Conservation Value of Wetland Birds on the Pallikaranai Marsh, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

The present study was carried out to assess the status and conservation issues of wetland birds in Pallikaranai marsh, Chennai, India from March 2021 to February 2022. The dominant family was Ardeidae represented by 9 species followed by Anatidae with 6 species, Threskiornithidae and Scolopacidae with 4 species. The families with representation with one species were Accipitridae, Anhingidae, Ciconiidae, Dicruridae, Sturnidae, Pelecanidae, Muscicapidae, Phoenicopteridae, Podicipedidae, Rostratulidae, Laridae, Hirundinidae, Columbidae and Cuculidae.Totally 60 species were identified during the study period. Higher numbers of birds were recorded in the month of April. Birds migration status, feeding habits and IUCN status were investigated. Majority of the birds are under the least concern category, the birds viz. Painted stork, Black tailed godwit and Orientel darter are under Near Threatened category. The present study site is also facing tremendous conservation challenges by the impacts of anthropogenic alteration of the habitats in and around the marshy area. The diversity of avifauna that occur in large numbers in this area invites attention for conservation of the Pallikaranai wetlands and prevention from further degradation.

Avian Diversity and Abundance in the Machhaplan Complex, Hetauda, Nepal

Avifaunal survey was carried out in Machhaplan Complex, Hetauda from December 2020 to April 2021. The objective of the study was to assess the avian species diversity, richness and abundance. A total of 164 bird species belonging to 19 orders and 59 families were recorded by using Point Count Method. Out of these, 117 species were terrestrial and 47 species were wetland dependent. Passeriformes and Muscicapidae were the most dominant orders and families, respectively with 73 and 12 species. The most abundant species was House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (n=156). There were 109 resident species, 43 winter visitors, and 12 summer visitors among the recorded species. Common birds accounted for 41% of the total followed by uncommon birds, Rare birds, and Very Common birds with 33%, 17%, and 9%, respectively. Of the total recorded species, two species were Globally Threatened and nine species were Nationally Threatened. Terrestrial birds had the highest Shannon’s Diversity Index (H=3.97) and Margalef 's Richness Index (R=15.53) whereas wetland birds had the highest Pielou's Evenness Index (E=0.86). The assessment of avian diversity suggests that s Machhaplan Complex offers a suitable habitat for avifauna.

Influence of water level management on vegetation and bird use of restored wetlands in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex

Active water management of wetlands promotes seed and tuber production to feed migrating waterfowl, but few assessments exist to determine how management actions influence wetland structure, vegetation and bird response throughout the year. We identified effects of full water drawdown, partial water drawdown and passive wetlands (no active dewatering during the growing season) on plant communities and bird abundance in wetlands of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, New York, May–October 2016–2018 and February–April 2017–2019. We detected few differences in the plant community during June, but during September we detected greater vegetative forage quality index for waterfowl, annual plant cover and seed density in full and partial drawdowns than passive wetlands. Bird abundance was greater in June–July in passive wetlands and greater in September–October in full drawdowns. During spring migration, duck densities were greater in full and partial drawdowns. Our results indicate that wetland managers should use a mix of full drawdowns and passive wetlands to provide habitat for the greatest diversity and number of birds throughout the year.

The Relative Importance of Human Disturbance, Environmental and Spatial Factors on the Community Composition of Wetland Birds

The present study investigates the relative importance of human disturbance, local environmental and spatial factors on variations in bird community composition in natural Ethiopian wetlands with high biodiversity conservation value. We quantified bird abundances, local environmental variables and human disturbances at 63 sites distributed over ten wetlands in two subsequent years. Variation partitioning analyses were used to explore the unique and shared contributions of human disturbance, local environmental variables and spatial factors on variations in community compositions of wetland bird species. Local environmental variables explained the largest amount of compositional variation of wetland bird species. Productivity-related variables were the most important local environmental variables determining bird community composition. Human disturbance was also an important determinant for wetland bird community composition and affected the investigated communities mainly indirectly through its effect on local environmental conditions. Spatial factors only played a minor role in variations in bird community composition. Our study highlights the urgent need for integrated management approaches that consider both nature conservation targets and socio-economic development of the region for the sustainable use and effective conservation of wetland resources.

Guild‐level response to Hurricane Carlotta among birds in a Mexican wetland

We analysed 36 months of point count data to determine the influence of Hurricane Carlotta on species composition in trophic guilds of birds in mangrove and marsh wetlands on the Oaxacan coast of Mexico. We predicted that post‐hurricane composition in guilds would respond to hurricane effects where bird species relied on resources from systems with previous local stability. Post‐hurricane turnover in composition was marked among terrestrial insectivores in mature mangroves, but not in early successional stages in marshland. Turnover was unexceptional among mangrove plant‐consumers that relied on trophic resources from surrounding ecosystem types, and among trophic guilds associated with highly dynamic aquatic systems.