Biodiversity and habitat use of wintering and breeding waterbirds in Burullus Lake (Ramsar site), Egypt | ||
| Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences | ||
| Article 5, Volume 19, Issue 1, September 2019, Pages 47-54 PDF (463.74 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/cat.2019.49179 | ||
| Author | ||
| Basma M Sheta* | ||
| Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, 34517 New Damietta, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The present study seeks to assess the bird biodiversity at the Important Bird Area (IBA) and Ramsar site, Lake Burullus, northern Egypt. Waterbirds biodiversity was assessed at 14 selected sites in the lake during winter and spring seasons. The assessment included richness, composition, evenness, abundance, and Simpson and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices. Bird species diversity varied spatially and temporally among different sites during the study period. Estimated species richness was 49 species. Winter birds were mainly migratory waterbirds like waterfowl, distributed in the islets for foraging, which was the main activity of 51% of total birds, followed by 36% roosting and 13% breeding at the lake. Evidence of breeding was recorded, such as collecting nest material, courtship behavior and food collecting for juveniles. The hierarchical cluster analysis separated the lake sites into four distinctive habitats: lake shores, open water, islets and reed beds. Seven bird species showed significant affinities with different habitat types: Laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) favored the lake shores habitat (P< 0.04); Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) (P< 0.04), Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) (P< 0.04), Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (P< 0.02), Pied wagtail (Motacilla alba) (P< 0.04), and Graceful prinina (Prinia gracilis) (P< 0.01) were found in islands habitat. Little egret (Egretta garzetta) dominated the reed beds habitat group (P< 0.03). The results reflected the importance of Burullus Lake as a wintering and breeding habitat for birds and suggested that more implemented conservation and management strategies should be adopted. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Waterbirds; habitat use; Burullus Lake; Ramsar; IBA; Bird monitoring | ||
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