Abundance and Behavior of Migratory Birds in a Mangrove and Salt Marsh Ecosystem in Guyana, South America

Shiwdas, Annushka; Lakenarine, Rovindra; Seecharran, Diana

doi:10.1007/s12595-023-00485-2

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Mangroves serve as nesting sites, roosting trees, and foraging habitats for egrets [14][15][16]. In the initial phase of our research, we hypothesized that the large-scale death of R. stylosa in Yingluo Port could potentially be related to large gatherings of egrets, considering that egret feces would contribute to soil pollution and eutrophication [17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Culprit behind the Mass Death of Mangroves: Egrets or Rats (Rattus losea)?

Xue,

Liu,

Pan

et al. 2024

Forests

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Mangroves play a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecological balance. This study focused on the impact of branch-breaking behavior on the mortality of Rhizophora stylosa in the Guangxi Shankou Mangrove Reserve. However, we found mangrove mortality in areas devoid of egret habitation, prompting a reevaluation of our research hypothesis. Further investigation suggested that nesting behavior was the primary cause of mangrove mortality. A comparison of the data from areas with egrets (Egretta garzetta, Ardea intermedia) and lesser rice-field rats (Rattus losea) activity indicated significant mechanical damage caused by rats to mangroves as the main cause of mortality. Additionally, we found that the biological characteristics of R. stylosa, particularly its stunted growth and recovery abilities after branch breaking, were key factors affecting its survival. These findings imply that rat-induced mortality may not occur in other less susceptible mangrove species. The results contradict assumptions regarding the impact of egret behavior and highlight the importance of the biological characteristics of R. stylosa. This offers fresh insights into mangrove conservation and management, emphasizing the need for ongoing observation and hypotheses verification. Future studies should explore the influence of lesser rice-field rats’ activity and the intrinsic characteristics of R. stylosa on the ecosystem’s long-term stability.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Culprit behind the Mass Death of Mangroves: Egrets or Rats (Rattus losea)?

Xue,

Liu,

Pan

et al. 2024

Forests

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“…Mangrove wetlands are biodiversity hotspots that support both terrestrial and aquatic animals [1], especially as important habitats for migratory birds, and support fisheries in coastal water [2]. Mangrove wetlands also provide other ecological services such as carbon sequestration and climate regulation, coastal protection, water purification, and nutrient cycling [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Anthropogenic Pollution on Tidal Water Quality in Mangrove Wetlands

Lam,

et al. 2023

JMSE

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Mangrove wetlands are vulnerable coastal ecosystems that provide critical habitats for aquatic life. Tai O is a popular tourist village on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, which is surrounded by mangrove wetlands with rich biodiversity; and this village is also famous for its traditional stilt houses. However, the untreated municipal sewage from some stilt houses is directly discharged into nearby tidal channels, potentially threatening health of the adjacent mangrove wetlands. In order to evaluate the anthropogenic impact on these wetlands and identify the potential sources of their pollution, this study aimed to evaluate spatial (at the sampling points) and temporal (during weekdays and weekends) differences in the quality of their tidal water, and examine relationships between the water quality and the density of the stilt houses. The results indicated that the water quality was worse during weekends. The ammonia concentrations in most samples exceeded the limits of the Hong Kong Water Quality Objectives, China’s Sea Water Quality Standards, and even the U.S. EPA criterion for fish reproduction. This high ammonia input could potentially adversely affect the mangrove ecosystem, underscoring the need for further comprehensive studies. Moreover, some of the weekend water samples had lower dissolved oxygen levels and were polluted by phosphate. Our Principal Component Analysis revealed that water quality was correlated with stilt house density, suggesting that anthropogenic inputs of untreated sewage was the major source of pollution. These findings highlight that nutrients released from human activities, particularly ammonia and phosphate, must be controlled for a better protection of mangrove wetland ecosystems.

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The Effects of Enrichment on Zoo-Housed Scarlet Ibis Behavior

Rachinas-Lopes,

Rocha,

Dias

et al. 2024

Animals

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Good zoo animal welfare is commonly promoted with environmental enrichment; however, some species are less likely to be offered enrichment than others. This study tested the effect of enrichment on a group of scarlet ibises from Zoomarine Algarve, Portugal. The study consisted of a first baseline condition, followed by four types of enrichment displays with individual presentations, a post-enrichment condition, and a post-enrichment with all enrichment types presented simultaneously. The enrichment types chosen were physical, with a tidal simulation in the lakes of the enclosure; nutritional, presenting mussels in a plastic mesh tube; sensory, by playing scarlet ibises calls; and tactile, with brushes through the habitat. The data collection was performed for 21 days between January and March 2021, 3 times a day, using scan sampling and instantaneous time sampling every 2 min. The comparison between conditions revealed that most behaviors showed similarity between the baseline and post-enrichment conditions, suggesting that after removing the enrichment, the behaviors returned to their initial baseline. It was also found that each enrichment influenced different types of behaviors and these behaviors also changed depending on the time of day. Exploratory behavior was only associated with the presence of enrichment, and vocalizations were only heard after the sensory enrichment was performed. This study demonstrates that the use of physical and tactile enrichments increased activity and decreased stationary behaviors in this group of ibises and may be used to improve their lives in zoological contexts if included in the housing and husbandry protocols.

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Abundance and Behavior of Migratory Birds in a Mangrove and Salt Marsh Ecosystem in Guyana, South America

Cited by 3 publications

References 47 publications

The Culprit behind the Mass Death of Mangroves: Egrets or Rats (Rattus losea)?

The Culprit behind the Mass Death of Mangroves: Egrets or Rats (Rattus losea)?

The Impact of Anthropogenic Pollution on Tidal Water Quality in Mangrove Wetlands

The Effects of Enrichment on Zoo-Housed Scarlet Ibis Behavior

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