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The birds of Tarquinia Salinas: regional and local determining factors

The birds of Tarquinia Salinas: regional and local determining factors. E.Lanzuisi 1 , M.Biondi 2 , J.Cecere 3 , G.Nascetti 1 & G.Tallone 3 1 DECOS Department, Tuscia University, Viterbo 2 GAROL, Rome 3 LIPU, Parma Corresponding Author: Elisa Lanzuisi, lanzuisa@libero.it. Study goals.

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The birds of Tarquinia Salinas: regional and local determining factors

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  1. The birds of Tarquinia Salinas: regional and local determining factors E.Lanzuisi1, M.Biondi2, J.Cecere3, G.Nascetti1 & G.Tallone3 1 DECOS Department, Tuscia University, Viterbo 2 GAROL, Rome 3 LIPU, Parma Corresponding Author: Elisa Lanzuisi, lanzuisa@libero.it (working hypotesis)

  2. Study goals • Description of the Salina’s bird fauna • Analisis of temporal dynamics (year-round cycle) • Historical trends • Local environmental factors - possible correlations with species presence • Definition of management prescriptions for the site

  3. Tarquinia Salinas • State Reserve from 1982 • Salt production ended in 1997

  4. Description of the Salina’s bird fauna • Historical data analysis (bibliography and non-published data) • Check-list of species recorded in the site • Quantitative description of the bird species during year-round cicle (migratory, overwintering and nesting species)

  5. Methods • Field surveys and complete count of waterbirds only, counts every 10-15 days [December 2004-April 2006] for the year-round cycle • Frequent winter counts (october-march), every 15 days [2006-07 and 2007-08 winters] • Midwinter counts data (INFS-IWC) from 1982 to 2008 – mid January counts • Data for the winter 1975-6 published by Allavena (1977)

  6. Main determinants at regional scale(working hypotesis) • Year round biological spatial dynamics (migration, overwintering) at continental scale (Europe, Mediterranean) • Wheather (Temperature, rainfall, …) • Sub-continental factors (“island effect”: wider site, larger numers)

  7. Main determinants at local scale (working hypotesis) • Hyperaline “extreme” environment • Conspicuous gradient in salinity (from N to S) • Oxigen, pH • Water level • Water inputs: salt water from the sea, rain, floodings during stormfalls • Trophic availability • Distrurbance (humans inside, planes, predation, fast water level modifications)

  8. 1.Description of the Salina’s bird fauna(nesting species) (working hypotesis)

  9. Nesting species (shorebirds) • Stilt – Cavaliere d’Italia (Himantopus himantopus): irregular breeding (not in the study period) • Kentish plover - Fratino (Charadrius alexandrinus): irregular breeding (not in the study period) • Little Ringed Plover - Corriere piccolo (Charadrius dubius): irregular breeding (not in the study period) • Redshank - Pettegola (Tringa totanus): possible breeding in the past • Avoset – Avocetta (Recurvirostra avocetta): attempt to breed in 2007

  10. Nesting species (waterbirds) • Shelduck - Volpoca (Tadorna tadorna): one or two pairs, regular breeding • Egret - Garzetta (Egretta garzetta): nesting in a site nearly the reserve with 20-30 pairs • Airone Guardabouoi (Bubulcus ibis): first nesting in 2008; • Bee-eater - Gruccione (Merops apiaster): nesting attempts in 2005 (aborted for disturbance), nesting of a colony in 2006-7-8

  11. Why so small success in nesting? • Small area, low idoneity • Disturbance from water level fast variation • Disturbance from predators (Gulls, dogs, rats, …) • Direct disturbance (humans inside for management works, researchers, … example: Merops apiaster colony attempt to breed)

  12. 2. Analisis of temporal dynamics (year-round cycle) (working hypotesis)

  13. Results: Year-round cycle • Strong stagionality, typical in Mediterranean wetlands, and especially in salinas • Low number of breeding species • Maximum numbers in winter (December-January)

  14. Species richness (S) – for count

  15. Species richness (S) – monthly average

  16. Abundance (N) – monthly average

  17. Abundance (N) – monthly average • Different species • Terns • Gulls • Shorebirds • Gruiformes • Anseriformes • Greater Flamingo and • Spoonbill • Herons, Egrets and Cormorants • Grebes

  18. 3.Historical trends (working hypotesis)

  19. Results: Historical trends(Overwintering birds) • Long historical series – IWC Counts (from 1982) • Recent data during study (2004-2008) • Species richness and abundance • General trend: increasing in numbers

  20. Abundance (N) – IWC Counts (January) (For 1982-2008 series R=0,643; F=16,921; p=0,0004) Trend: increasing N. max=2.742

  21. Different species • Terns • Gulls • Shorebirds • Gruiformes • Anseriformes • Greater Flamingo and • Spoonbill • Herons, Egrets and Cormorants • Grebes NB 1992 lack of data

  22. Why an increasing? • Local factors: area legal protection from 1980, fence around the site from the ’80, more patrolling since half of ’90 • Regional factors: increasing in numbers after new hunting regulation in 1992

  23. Carring capacity reached? • Site is quite small • Some other large site in the sorrounding Tyrrenian coastal area (Burano, Orbetello)

  24. A size-number effect?

  25. A size-number effect? Tarquinia R=0,72752078; R²= ,52928648; F(1,6 DoF)=6,7466; p<0,04080

  26. 4.Local environmental factors (possible correlations with species presence) (working hypotesis)

  27. Greater Flamingo - Fenicottero (Phoenicopterus ruber) • Filtratore iperspecialista hypersaline environments • General trend to increasing (R= ,72104457; R²=0,51990527; F con 1 e 25 gdl=27,073; p<,00002)

  28. Common Teal - Alzavola (Anas crecca) • Mostly herbivorous • General trend to increasing R= 0,393; R²= 0,154; F con 1 e 25 DoF=4,5814; p<,04226)

  29. Wigeon – Fischione (Anas penelope) • Mostly herbivorous • A general trend for the whole period doesn’t exist, but since 1987 a decreasing statistically signifiant is present (R= 0,607; R²= 0,369; F (1,20 DoF)=11,701; p<,00271)

  30. Coot – Folaga • (Fulica atra) • Mostly herbivorous • Constant, a peak in 2000, without any signifiant trend

  31. Dunlin - Piovanello pancianera (Calidris alpina) • Feeding on invertebrates in mud • Trend to increasing presence (R= 0,39353967; R²=0,15487347; F (1, 25 DoF)=4,5814; p<,04226)

  32. “Anatre” guild distribution Concentred in ponds in the north of the salinas, with sea-like salinity and deep water column

  33. “Erbivori” guild distribution Concentred in ponds in the north of the salinas, with sea-like salinity and deep water column

  34. “Filtratori” guild distribution Distributed in near all ponds, with different salinity and deep water column

  35. “Gabbiani” guild distribution Distributed in near all ponds, with different salinity and deep water column, but concentrated in southern ponds

  36. “Limicoli” guild distribution Distributed in near all ponds, with different salinity and deep water column, but concentrated in central and southern ponds

  37. Possible local determinants • Salinity • Water column deep • Oxigen • pH • Biomass (plancton, benthos)

  38. First evidences

  39. Greater Flamingoes with markers

  40. 5.Definition of management prescriptions for the site (working hypotesis)

  41. Management prescriptions • Water level management for shorebirds • Mantaining salinity gradient • Avoiding disturbance (hides, access, …) • Creating islands for bird nesting • Developing birdwatching • Mantaining patrolling

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