Constructed Borrow-Pit Wetlands as Habitat for Aquatic Birds in the Peace Parkland, Canada
Joint Authors
Kuczynski, Eva C.
Paszkowski, Cynthia A.
Source
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-13, 13 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2012-09-16
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
13
Main Subjects
Earth Science , Water and Environment
Abstract EN
The Peace Parkland, Alberta, Canada is part of a continentally important region for breeding and migrating aquatic birds.
As a result of resource development and agricultural conversion, many wetlands have been lost.
Road construction in the area results in the creation of borrow pits, <3 ha ponds created when soil is removed to form the road bed.
We surveyed 200 borrow pits for aquatic birds in May through August 2007.
We examined patterns of occurrence and richness, categorizing ponds based on surrounding landscape type: agriculture (0–33.3% forest within 500 m), mixed habitat (33.4–66.6% forest), and forested (66.7–100% forest).
Principal Component Analysis indicated that pond environments differed based on local and landscape features.
Twenty-seven species of aquatic birds used borrow pits, with 13 nesting.
Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling and Indicator Species Analysis of birds observed in each month revealed assemblages characteristic of agricultural ponds, including horned grebe, lesser scaup, American coot, and mallard, and of ponds with >33.3% forest, including bufflehead, ring-necked duck, green-winged teal, and American wigeon.
Because borrow pits were used by a variety of dabbling and diving aquatic birds in repeatable assemblages across the breeding season, we propose that these wetlands be integrated into avian conservation strategies.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Kuczynski, Eva C.& Paszkowski, Cynthia A.. 2012. Constructed Borrow-Pit Wetlands as Habitat for Aquatic Birds in the Peace Parkland, Canada. ISRN Ecology،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-13.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-455388
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Kuczynski, Eva C.& Paszkowski, Cynthia A.. Constructed Borrow-Pit Wetlands as Habitat for Aquatic Birds in the Peace Parkland, Canada. ISRN Ecology No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-13.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-455388
American Medical Association (AMA)
Kuczynski, Eva C.& Paszkowski, Cynthia A.. Constructed Borrow-Pit Wetlands as Habitat for Aquatic Birds in the Peace Parkland, Canada. ISRN Ecology. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-13.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-455388
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-455388