scholarly journals Differences in the use of surface water resources by desert birds are revealed using isotopic tracers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Smit ◽  
Stephan Woodborne ◽  
Blair O Wolf ◽  
Andrew E McKechnie
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Isotopic Tracers ◽  
Standing Water

The scarcity of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species use surface water is vital for modelling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in the use of artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by 1) observations at waterholes and 2) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer by isotopically-labelled water sources and blood sampling. More than 50% of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and their use of surface water was best predicted by their relative abundance in the community. Species representing the remaining dietary guilds drank significantly more on hot days. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (mostly granivores and a few omnivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole with enriched deuterium values; on average, in the latter birds, water from the enriched waterhole accounted for ~38% of their body water pool. These findings illustrate that two methods employed in this study provide different, but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most avian species are independent of surface water, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.

Differences in the use of surface water resources by desert birds are revealed using isotopic tracers

The Auk ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Smit ◽  
Stephan Woodborne ◽  
Blair O Wolf ◽  
Andrew E McKechnie
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Isotopic Tracers ◽  
Standing Water

AbstractThe scarcity of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species use surface water is vital for modeling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in the use of artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by (i) observations at waterholes and (ii) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer by isotopically labeled water sources and blood sampling. More than 50% of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and their use of surface water was best predicted by their relative abundance in the community. Species representing the remaining dietary guilds drank significantly more on hot days. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (mostly granivores and a few omnivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole with enriched deuterium values; on average, in the latter birds, water from the enriched waterhole accounted for ~38% of their body water pool. These findings illustrate that 2 methods employed in this study provide different, but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most avian species are independent of surface water, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Differences in the use of surface water resources by desert birds is revealed using isotopic tracers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Smit ◽  
Stephan Woodborne ◽  
Blair O Wolf ◽  
Andrew E McKechnie
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Isotopic Tracers ◽  
Standing Water

The scarcity of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species use surface water is vital for modelling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in the use of artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by 1) observations at waterholes and 2) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer by isotopically-labelled water sources and blood sampling. More than 50% of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and their use of surface water was best predicted by their relative abundance in the community. Species representing the remaining dietary guilds drank significantly more on hot days. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (mostly granivores and a few omnivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole with enriched deuterium values; on average, in the latter birds, water from the enriched waterhole accounted for ~38% of their body water pool. These findings illustrate that two methods employed in this study provide different, but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most avian species are independent of surface water, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Differences in the use of surface water resources by desert birds are revealed using isotopic tracers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Smit ◽  
Stephan Woodborne ◽  
Blair O Wolf ◽  
Andrew E McKechnie
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Isotopic Tracers ◽  
Standing Water

The scarcity of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species use surface water is vital for modelling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in the use of artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by 1) observations at waterholes and 2) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer by isotopically-labelled water sources and blood sampling. More than 50% of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and their use of surface water was best predicted by their relative abundance in the community. Species representing the remaining dietary guilds drank significantly more on hot days. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (mostly granivores and a few omnivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole with enriched deuterium values; on average, in the latter birds, water from the enriched waterhole accounted for ~38% of their body water pool. These findings illustrate that two methods employed in this study provide different, but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most avian species are independent of surface water, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Surface water dependency among Kalahari Desert birds

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Smit ◽  
Stephan Woodborne ◽  
Blair O Wolf ◽  
Andrew E McKechnie
Keyword(s):  
Water Source ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Standing Water ◽  
Kalahari Desert

The availability of free-standing water sources is a key determinant of animal and plant community structure in arid environments, and an understanding of the extent to which particular species depend on drinking water is vital for modelling the effects of climate change on desert avifauna. We investigated interspecific variation in dependence on artificial water sources among birds in the Kalahari Desert, South Africa, by 1) observations at waterholes and 2) tracing spatial water-use patterns during summer using isotopically-labelled water and blood sampling. More than 50 % of the avian community (primarily insectivores and omnivores) were not observed to drink. The majority (53%) of species drinking at waterholes were granivorous, and most visited waterholes daily. Blood samples revealed that only 11 of 42 species (again, mostly granivores) showed evidence of drinking at a waterhole labelled with deuterium, with between 2.2 and 92.9 % of individual birds’ body water pools originating from the labelled waterhole. These findings illustrate how two methods employed in this study provide different but complementary data on the relative importance of a water source for an avian community. Although our results suggest that most species are independent of drinking, drinking patterns on the hottest days during our study period suggest that free-standing water might become more important for some of the non-drinking species under hotter climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Perceived agricultural runoff impact on drinking water

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Crampton ◽  
Angela T. Ragusa
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Rural Residents ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Agricultural Contaminants

Agricultural runoff into surface water is a problem in Australia, as it is in arguably all agriculturally active countries. While farm practices and resource management measures are employed to reduce downstream effects, they are often either technically insufficient or practically unsustainable. Therefore, consumers may still be exposed to agrichemicals whenever they turn on the tap. For rural residents surrounded by agriculture, the link between agriculture and water quality is easy to make and thus informed decisions about water consumption are possible. Urban residents, however, are removed from agricultural activity and indeed drinking water sources. Urban and rural residents were interviewed to identify perceptions of agriculture's impact on drinking water. Rural residents thought agriculture could impact their water quality and, in many cases, actively avoided it, often preferring tank to surface water sources. Urban residents generally did not perceive agriculture to pose health risks to their drinking water. Although there are more agricultural contaminants recognised in the latest Australian Drinking Water Guidelines than previously, we argue this is insufficient to enhance consumer protection. Health authorities may better serve the public by improving their proactivity and providing communities and water utilities with the capacity to effectively monitor and address agricultural runoff.

Legionella and Public Water Supplies

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Colbourne ◽  
P. J. Dennis ◽  
R. M. Trew ◽  
C. Berry ◽  
G. Vesey
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescent Assay ◽  
Water Mains ◽  
Legionnaires Disease ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescent

A survey for legionella in public water supplies in England failed to detect culturable L.pneumophila in all but samples from taps in buildings; however, the organism was detected in underground and surface water sources and distribution systems using an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) to L.pneumophila serogroup 1. Culturability was related to water temperatures above 20°C. In water mains L.pneumophila was associated with biofilms or sediment. Non-culturable L.pneumophila detected in potable waters by IFA were recovered by heat shock experiments demonstrating their viability. Although the strain found in potable water is rarely asociated with disease, monoclonal expression, a virulence marker, was altered by heat shock. These findings have implications for the prevention of legionellosis and may explain the sporadic nature of legionnaires disease in the community.

scholarly journals Short-term changes in air humidity and water availability weakly constrain thermoregulation in a dry-skinned ectotherm

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247514
Author(s):  
Jean-François Le Galliard ◽  
David Rozen-Rechels ◽  
Anjélica Lecomte ◽  
Clémence Demay ◽  
Andréaz Dupoué ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Behavioral Thermoregulation ◽  
Thermal Preference ◽  
Air Humidity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Standing Water ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
Thermal Preferences

Thermoregulation is critical for ectotherms as it allows them to maintain their body temperature close to an optimum for ecological performance. Thermoregulation includes a range of behaviors that aim at regulating body temperature within a range centered around the thermal preference. Thermal preference is typically measured in a thermal gradient in fully-hydrated and post-absorptive animals. Short-term effects of the hydric environment on thermal preferences in such set-ups have been rarely quantified in dry-skinned ectotherms, despite accumulating evidence that dehydration might trade-off with behavioral thermoregulation. Using experiments performed under controlled conditions in climatic chambers, we demonstrate that thermal preferences of a ground-dwelling, actively foraging lizard (Zootoca vivipara) are weakly decreased by a daily restriction in free-standing water availability (less than 0.5°C contrast). The influence of air humidity during the day on thermal preferences depends on time of the day and sex of the lizard, and is generally weaker than those of of free-standing water (less than 1°C contrast). This shows that short-term dehydration can influence, albeit weakly, thermal preferences under some circumstances in this species. Environmental humidity conditions are important methodological factors to consider in the analysis of thermal preferences.

scholarly journals Environmental Impact Statement on Kolleru Lake Water

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2509-2512
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Surface Water Bodies ◽  
Alternative Water ◽  
The Impact

Catchments are most important for the purpose of practicing irrigation and recharging groundwater by collecting water during the rainy season so that the nearby land will be in surplus quantity of groundwater due to the continues percolation of water from the catchments, even the stored water in the form of catchments will be used as an alternative water source for other requirements apart from the irrigation practices such as for industries and other developmental activities taking place nearby the catchments. Year by year it was noticed that in the world scenario the pollutant concentration is keep on increasing especially water and air pollution due to the excessive load of population that is increasing from the rural to urban areas [10]. Coming to water pollution the major portion of pollution is increasing in the surface water bodies [4] due to various activities like surface runoff, intentionally releasing of untreated effluents from the nearby industries into the catchments [8] and the agricultural runoff etc, whatever the reason there is an immediate need and an emergency to monitor these catchments as the average rainfall is gradually decreasing due to the changing climatic conditions like global warming which leads to the reduced availability of water in the surface water bodies at the other side the existing water is being contaminated [5] by the activities of nearby people. The impact will be severe when the same situation continues in the days to come where the living standards of the people will be decreased at a notable level and the impact will be much more severe on the irrigated land which depends on the catchments. The study has done at Kolleru Lake in west godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Collected Six Water samples from six locations around the lake for analysis [7] and then the results of the analysis compared with Central Pollution Control Board 1979and Indian standards 1982 guidelines for water in the surface water bodies to find out the present scenario of lake water.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document