Causes of the dieback of littoral stands in an overpopulated water-bird reserve: Role of eutrophication, fish and geese

European fishponds can serve as refuges for water birds if the fish stocks are limited, but the effects of other ecological factors on their ecological stability are rarely considered. The aim of this study is to determine the causes of marked dieback of littoral stands dominated by Typha angustifolia L. in a hypertrophic fishpond that is also a valuable water bird reserve. A field study and two experiments were conducted in order to separate the effects of mineral nutrient availability, redox conditions, fish and water birds. The physico-chemical characteristics of the water and sediments confirmed hypertrophic conditions in the fishpond, but a mesocosm experiment did not indicate it had a negative effect on plant growth. On the other hand, a field enclosure experiment showed that in sparse stands, unfenced parts had a significantly smaller shoot density than fenced parts. This was attributed to grazing by greylag geese (Anser anser L.). In addition, damage to belowground parts of plants were ascribed to large individuals of albeit a few large common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). This study highlights a conservation dilemma as large numbers of geese destroy littoral stands in fishpond nature reserves, which then become unsuitable nesting sites for other species of water birds.

Water Birds as Indicators of Ecological Conditions in a Ramsar Wetland (Sebkhet Bazer, East of Algeria)

Background: Wetlands are the highly complex ecosystems due to various interactions between the components, where, the most iconic of ecological changes are the water birds. The current study was aimed to examine the interactions between the water birds diversity, abundance and the abiotic factors in Sebkhet Bazer. Methods: The investigation was conducted between March 2013 and December 2014 in Sebkhet Bazer (Sétif, Algeria, 36°05'N and 5°45'E), by monitoring water birds abundance (grouped into 4: Anatidae, Rallidae, Phoenicopteridae and Shorebirds) and measuring the physico-chemical water parameters (depth, temperature, pH, salinity and vegetation cover). All statistical analysis was performed using the InfoStat software (2017), it was carried out in two steps, by testing of fixed linear models; first of the seasonal differences in water body variables and second of the seasonal differences in bird abundance for the 4 water bird groups. Result: The results showed that the physico-chemical parameters of water varied considerably from season to season. The four groups of birds reached their lowest abundance in summer, with Rallidae and Phonicopteridae being more abundant in spring, Anatidae in winter and Shorebirds in autumn, suggesting that this variation is attributed to changes in water body characteristics between the four seasons. Therefore, the abundance of the different water bird group could be used as an ecological indicator of this wetland’s characteristics. If these features are altered by climate change, the water bird community would be also affected.

THE VARIETY SPECIES OF WATERBIRDS IN REGION WETLAND AT VILLAGE SUNGAI RASAU SUBDISTRICT BUMI MAKMUR DISTRICT TANAH LAUT AS MATERIAL ENRICHMENT IN THE FORM OF HANDOUT COURSES OF ZOOLOGI VERTEBRATE

Biodiversity in some region are the local potential that can developed in support learning in school or college, can be either teaching material. The potential of based on local need to develop so the learners more understand the object of studied superior Biology learning who has a relate with living creatures. Various of learning material in learning wich one is handout . bird is a live object in variety of habiats, in land or waters (water bird), wherethe wetland is one of habitats, provide resources and place for bird. The development of teaching materials based on local doing for increase of comprehension and learning outcomes of students. Sungai Rasau is one of wetland in Kalimantan Selatan can be habitats for birds especially waterbird. This research purpose to analyze variety of waterbirds in region wetland village Sungai Rasau Kecamatan Bumi makmur district Tanah laut and analyze the validity of handout compiled from result of research. The kind of research used are descriptif and developed up to the stage of test readability. The result of researchshowed for the species of waterbirds found there are 21 types includes in 7 family. While handout courses of zoology vertebrate develop from result of research include in categories very valid.

An Assessment of Water bird species and associated water bird composition in the Haiderpur Wetland of Hastinapur Wildlife sanctuary Uttar Pradesh, India

Bird species are natural indicators of healthy ecosystem. Indian sub-continent contributes about 13% of the world avian species. A study was carried out between year 2017 and 2019, at Haiderpur wetland (Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary) along the Ganga River in Utter Pradesh. Total 66 water bird species belonging to 15 families were encountered. Among the water bird species 04 Vulnerable (Common Pochard, Black headed ibis, Sarus crane, Indian skimmer), 06 near threaten (River Lapwing, Northern lapwing, River tern, Painted stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-tailed Godwit) and 01 Endangered (Black-bellied Tern) waterbird species (as per IUCN records) were reported in the Haiderpur wetland area. The contribution of water migratory bird is about 29% in the study area. This area is contributing as birding site thus more focus on conservation of this site.

Disentangling causes of the dieback of littoral stands in an overloaded water-bird reserve: roles of eutrophication, fish and geese

European fishponds used for semi-intensive fish production can serve for refuges of water birds if the fish stocks are limited but the effects of other ecological factors on the ecosystem stability are seldom considered. The aim of this study is to elucidate causes of a marked decline of littoral stands dominated with Typha angustifolia in a hypertrophic fishpond forming a part of a valuable water-bird reserve. Field investigation and two experiments were conducted in order to separate the effects of mineral nutrient availability, redox condition, fish and geese. The physico-chemical characteristics of water and sediments confirmed hypertrophic conditions in the fishpond but a follow-up mesocosm experiment did not prove a negative effect of the sediment quality on the plant growth. On the other hand, a field enclosure experiment showed a significant negative effect on shoot density, which was attributed to grazing by geese. An additional damage to plant belowground parts was ascribed to large carp individuals, albeit in small numbers. The study points to a conservation dilemma caused by large numbers of geese destroying littoral stands in a fishpond nature reserve, which then looses its nesting function for other water-bird species.

Medicinal Plants from Vettangudi Water Bird Sanctuary in Sivagangai District of Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Most of the people depending on traditional medicine to meet their primary healthcare needs. Documenting the indigenous knowledge through ethnobotanical studies is important for the conservation of biological resources as well as their sustainable utilization. It is also necessary to collect the information about the knowledge of traditional medicines before it is permanently lost. Having all these facts in mind, the present study was carried out to document the plants used as medicine by the people inhabiting around the Vettangudi Water Bird Sanctuary of Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu, India. The field survey was conducted in two villages situated near to Vettangudi Water Bird Sanctuary. The medicinal uses of 40 angiospermic plant species belonging to 36 genera of 24 families for various diseases and ailments were recorded by this study. The people inhabiting in the study area used 45 herbal therapies prepared from 40 plants to treat 27 different illnesses. Regarding the plant parts used, leaf was the mostly used plant part (51.16%) and extract was found as mostly followed mode (42.28%) to treat a particular disease. Attention should be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinally important plant species. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Vettangudi Water Bird Sanctuary, Sivagangai district, Tamil Nadu.