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Can aggregate quarry silt lagoons provide resources for wading birds?

Day, George; Mayes, William M.; Wheeler, Philip M.; Hull, Susan L.

Authors

George Day

Philip M. Wheeler

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Dr Sue Hull S.Hull@hull.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology and Ecology/ Programme Director, Marine Biology



Abstract

Wading birds have declined across Europe as the intensification of lowland agriculture has resulted in the loss and degradation of wetland areas. Lowland aggregate extraction sites that incorporate areas of fine, waste sediments deposited in silt lagoons have the potential to be restored for wader conservation. We set out to determine the potential value of silt lagoons to wading birds by comparing the water quality, sediment profiles, aquatic invertebrate abundance and diversity (prey availability) and wader site use at five sites representing various stages of active aggregate extraction and restoration for conservation purposes. Wader counts were conducted monthly over a twelve month period using replicated scan samples, and the invertebrate communities studied during the breeding and autumn migration season (June–September). Water quality variables were similar between sites, but sediments from active quarries were dominated by moderately sorted fine sands in comparison to the coarser sediment profiles of restored areas. June and September there was no significant difference in invertebrate diversity between sites, however richness was significantly lower on quarry sites and total abundance a factor of ten higher at restored sites than on silt lagoons, with the dominant taxa similar across all sites. Waders used all sites; albeit at lower abundance and richness on silt lagoons and two species were recorded breeding on active silting sites. We conclude that the fine, uniform sediments of modern silt lagoons limited invertebrate diversity and abundance, diminishing the value of silt lagoons to waders. Simple low-cost intervention measures increasing substrate heterogeneity and creating temporary ponds could increase invertebrate richness and abundance, and enhance the conservation potential of these sites.

Citation

Day, G., Mayes, W. M., Wheeler, P. M., & Hull, S. L. (2017). Can aggregate quarry silt lagoons provide resources for wading birds?. Ecological engineering, 105, 189-197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.04.055

Acceptance Date Apr 27, 2017
Online Publication Date May 10, 2017
Publication Date 2017-08
Deposit Date May 17, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Ecological engineering
Print ISSN 0925-8574
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 105
Pages 189-197
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.04.055
Keywords Silt lagoons, Wetland intervention, Waders, Aquatic invertebrate diversity and abundance, Conservation, Restoration
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/451460
Publisher URL http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925857417302409
Additional Information This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Can aggregate quarry silt lagoons provide resources for wading birds?; Journal Title: Ecological Engineering; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.04.055; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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