Wetland Monitoring

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Impact of Migratory Birds on The Wetland Ecosystem with Special Reference to The Nutrient Load and Primary Productivity of an Urban Wetland: A Preliminary Study Darshana Patel Hem. North Gujarat University Patan (Gujarat)

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Wetlands an assemblage of diverse and heterogeneous habitats for macrofauna including local as well as migratory birds. Migratory birds often provide several ideas helpful in monitoring and management of wetland. North-Central part of Gujarat is always been a center of attraction for wintering waterfowls. The present study has been designed to prepare a management plan for wetlands of North Gujarat.

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Wetlands in Gujarat (Source: Gujarat Ecology Commission)

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The study have been started with several objectives such as to monitor migratory birds through regular survey, to study hydrology of wetlands, monitoring of bird community, study of community integrity and impacts of migratory birds on the functioning of wetland ecosystem.

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Location: 23°53'N, 72° 8'E Patan District, Gujarat Area: 4.2 Km2 Type: Urban wetland Use: Irrigation and Domestic

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A view of Lake in Premigratory season A view of Lake in Migratory season

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Methodology Bird count was made by Point Count Method at three different points. Each site was visited during Migratory Season as well as Post and Pre Migratory Season. Water samples were collected through all the seasons. Three chief nutrients viz. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur were estimated. Primary Productivity in water samples were also estimated.

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Findings… 57 species of birds were recorded 29 families 33 are wetland obligatory Migratory Bird Species 35% Resident breeding 53% Resident and Resident Migrants 6% each Bird Assemblage:

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Findings… Bird Assemblage:

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….Findings

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Nutrient load: ….Findings (t = 0.079, p<5%, n=5)

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….Findings Correlation between bird species and lake nutrient level r2 = 0.87, 0.72, 0.68

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Primary Productivity: ….Findings Post Migratory season 9.4 (mg/m3/hr) Pre Migratory season 8.74 (mg/m3/hr)

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Nutrients released are significantly higher in Migratory season Nutrient load is positively correlated with bird species richness The excess of nutrient during migratory season tend to reduces in the post migratory season revealing its consumption by the other biotic components in a lake. Conclusion …

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Aquatic macrophytes in the lake balancing the nutrients added through bird assemblage in various season. This variation in the nutrient content may play a key role in sustaining this highly disturbed wetland. Especially migratory birds are playing a vital role in cycling the nutrients in such a closed ecosystem; the nutrients in turn consumed by primary producers. … Conclusion

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Future Research … To estimate chlorophyll and carotene from aquatic vegetation. Evaluation of bird assemblage through community integrity index (IMBCI). To evaluate anthropogenic pressure and threats to wetlands in the region. Monitoring of all selected wetlands in the region.

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“Birds are an Ecological Litmus Paper” “Save Birds”