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Avian Research 2020, 11(1): 39 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00224-7
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Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park

Show Author's Information Vasilios Liordos1,2 ( ),  Vasileios J. Kontsiotis2
Hellenic Forest Service, 12 Minoas str, 19100, Megara, Attiki, Greece
Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 172, 66100, Drama, Greece
Keywords:
Habitat use, Habitat selection, Mudflats, Niche overlap, Null models, Open water, Small coastal wetlands
Cite this article:
Liordos V, Kontsiotis VJ. Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park. Avian Research, 2020, 11(1): 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-020-00224-7
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

Small coastal wetlands are vital sites for wintering waterbirds. Identifying important habitats is critical for managing waterbirds effectively. The Vourkari inlet is a small coastal wetland located near the capital Athens, within the most urbanized and industrialized area of Greece. We aimed at identifying the most important habitats for waterbirds at the Vourkari inlet during winter.

Methods

Data about habitat use and availability were collected for 14 waterbird species and for seven habitat classes. Habitat selection (Manly's selection ratio), overlap indices (Pianka's niche overlap index) and null models were calculated.

Results

All the studied waterbird species selected available habitats nonrandomly. Shallow waters (0-2 m), were used by 13 waterbirds and selected by five waterbirds. Pools and channels were used and selected by 10 species. Mud was used by nine species and selected by six species. Mud with rocky substrate was used by nine species and selected by eight species. Medium (2-4 m) and deep (4-6 m) open water habitats were used by seven species and selected by four species. Halophytic vegetation was used by six species and selected by two species. Several habitats were selected by nationally important populations: mudflat habitats (i.e., mud, mud with rocky substrate and pools and channels) by Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus), halophytic vegetation by Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), shallow waters by Common Shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) and medium and deep waters by Sandwich Terns (Thalasseus sandvicencis), whilst shallow waters and mudflat habitats were preferred by a possibly internationally important population of Mediterranean Gulls (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus). Although overlap in habitat use between species was generally low, null models indicated habitat sharing and a lack of competition.

Conclusions

Waterbirds coexisted in the absence of competition for habitats at Vourkari, where they mostly used and preferred shallow water and mudflats. Small coastal wetlands are numerous, both in Greece and worldwide, therefore our findings would be useful as a basis for comparisons, both temporal at the inlet and spatial with other sites, that would help assess the importance of habitats and improve management strategies to benefit waterbirds, especially in areas with similar Mediterranean-type habitats and climate.


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About this article

Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park

Show Author's information Vasilios Liordos1,2 ( ), Vasileios J. Kontsiotis2
Hellenic Forest Service, 12 Minoas str, 19100, Megara, Attiki, Greece
Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, P.O. Box 172, 66100, Drama, Greece

Abstract

Background

Small coastal wetlands are vital sites for wintering waterbirds. Identifying important habitats is critical for managing waterbirds effectively. The Vourkari inlet is a small coastal wetland located near the capital Athens, within the most urbanized and industrialized area of Greece. We aimed at identifying the most important habitats for waterbirds at the Vourkari inlet during winter.

Methods

Data about habitat use and availability were collected for 14 waterbird species and for seven habitat classes. Habitat selection (Manly's selection ratio), overlap indices (Pianka's niche overlap index) and null models were calculated.

Results

All the studied waterbird species selected available habitats nonrandomly. Shallow waters (0-2 m), were used by 13 waterbirds and selected by five waterbirds. Pools and channels were used and selected by 10 species. Mud was used by nine species and selected by six species. Mud with rocky substrate was used by nine species and selected by eight species. Medium (2-4 m) and deep (4-6 m) open water habitats were used by seven species and selected by four species. Halophytic vegetation was used by six species and selected by two species. Several habitats were selected by nationally important populations: mudflat habitats (i.e., mud, mud with rocky substrate and pools and channels) by Common Redshanks (Tringa totanus), halophytic vegetation by Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), shallow waters by Common Shelducks (Tadorna tadorna) and medium and deep waters by Sandwich Terns (Thalasseus sandvicencis), whilst shallow waters and mudflat habitats were preferred by a possibly internationally important population of Mediterranean Gulls (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus). Although overlap in habitat use between species was generally low, null models indicated habitat sharing and a lack of competition.

Conclusions

Waterbirds coexisted in the absence of competition for habitats at Vourkari, where they mostly used and preferred shallow water and mudflats. Small coastal wetlands are numerous, both in Greece and worldwide, therefore our findings would be useful as a basis for comparisons, both temporal at the inlet and spatial with other sites, that would help assess the importance of habitats and improve management strategies to benefit waterbirds, especially in areas with similar Mediterranean-type habitats and climate.

Keywords: Habitat use, Habitat selection, Mudflats, Niche overlap, Null models, Open water, Small coastal wetlands

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Publication history

Received: 07 March 2020
Accepted: 25 September 2020
Published: 18 October 2020
Issue date: January 2020

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© The Author(s) 2020.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

This study was part of a project on the dynamics and behavior of waterbird populations at the Vourkari inlet, supported by the Hellenic Forest Service at Megara. We thank the handling editor and two anonymous reviewers whose comments and suggestions helped greatly improve the manuscript.

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