The effect of mangrove restoration on avian assemblages of a coastal lagoon in southern Mexico

Abstract

Background Mangrove forests provide many ecosystem services, including the provision of habitat that supports avian biodiversity. However, hurricanes can knock down trees, alter hydrologic connectivity, and affect avian habitat. In 1995, Hurricanes Opal and Roxanne destroyed approximately 1,700 ha of mangrove forest in Laguna de Términos, Mexico. Since then, hydrological restoration has been implemented to protect the mangrove forest and its biodiversity. Methods Since avian communities are often considered biological indicators of ecosystem quality, avian diversity and species relative abundance were evaluated as indicators of mangrove restoration success by comparing undisturbed mangrove patches with those affected by the hurricanes. Using bird surveys, similarity analyses, and generalized linear models, we evaluated the effects of water quality variables and forest structure on the relative abundance and diversity of the avian community in disturbed, restored, and undisturbed mangrove patches. Results Higher bird species richness and relative abundances were found in disturbed and restored sites compared to the undisturbed site. After restoration, values of frequency of flooding, water temperature, tree density, and the number of tree species were more similar to that of the undisturbed site than to the values of the disturbed one. Such variables influenced the relative abundance of bird guilds in the different habitat conditions. Furthermore, some insectivorous bird species, such as the Yellow Warbler and Tropical Kingbird, were found to be similarly abundant in both undisturbed and restored sites, but absent or very low in occurrence at the disturbed site. Conclusions Collectively, our results strongly suggest that hydrologic restoration helps to enhance niche availability for different bird guilds, including water and canopy bird species. Our work can help inform management strategies that benefit avian communities in mangrove forests and wetland systems.

Assessment of The Various Type of Mangrove Areas by Avifaunal Diversity and Community in Tamban Beach, Sumbermanjing Wetan, East Java

“…Besides that, anthropogenic factors such as fragmentation, deforestation, pollution, garbages, noises, and poaches also impacted avifaunas distribution, which may also be related to the decline of its habitat [38]. Hence, to reduce the risk of avifauna's absence and habitat loss in study location, the necessary step must be considering the aspect of the sustainable conservation management plan for vegetation and abiotic factor cycle, such as habitat quality improvement program (planting avifauna's native house plant, intensification of reforestation in degraded areas, keeping the area from hunting or poaching) simultaneously by mangrove succession effect [10]. Thus, the specific improvement for heterogeneous habitats, such as degraded areas which consist of the highest terrestrial avifauna species, by the similar type composition of lowland forest was recommended for the reforestation of forest vegetation referring to the area of Sempu Island Natural Preserve [39].…”

“…This serious problem not only threatens livelihood but also impacts the surrounding community of biodiversity in the mangroves [9]. Hence, to mitigate the effect of the problems, local public awareness has been conducted for several movements of rehabilitation and restoration of the remaining mangroves ecosystem [10]. In East Java province, it was recorded in Delta Porong, Sidoarjo Region [11], Clungup Beach, and Tamban Beach, Malang Region [12].…”

“…In addition, mangroves also facilitated the hiding and perching place [16], especially for the niches of water birds and arboreal bird families [17]. For mangrove restoration efforts, the avifauna parameter assessment such as species diversity, abundance, families community structure, and specialization roles could be the key factors to monitor the success of long-term mangrove restoration [10]. Therefore, to assess the avifauna community, we conduct the comparison across the type of mangroves plot in the study location divided into natural, restored, and degraded areas.…”

Determining hydrological flow paths to enhance restoration in impaired mangrove wetlands

“…However, the reactivation of the process of biomass production, which is an indicator of success in the restoration of the mangroves [51], was achieved. Finally, there is evidence showing that the reactivation of the hydroperiod gave rise to ideal habitat conditions for fish, crustaceans, and birds [72].…”

The fish community in Gulf of Mexico mangroves, a response to hydrological restoration

“…Hydrological restoration projects for the mangrove ecosystem have resulted in recruitment and mangrove growth, hydrological reconnection with Terminos Lagoon, and lower-salinity soils (Zaldívar-Jiménez et al 2017, Pérez-Ceballos et al 2020. As for wildlife, bird communities were more diverse in the restored vs. natural sites (Canales-Delgadillo et al 2019), while ectoparasites of Yucatan gambusia Gambusia yucatana did not differ in diversity between restored vs. natural sites (Morales-Serna et al 2019). Although fish are a very diverse taxonomic group in this ecosystem with a life cycle closely related to the mangrove (Amador-del Ángel et al 2015, Sepúlveda-Lozada et al 2017, the response of the fish community to the restoration process has not been evaluated in Terminos Lagoon.…”