Wetland Habitat Types of the Carmel River Lagoon.

This is a report delivered to California Department of Parks and Recreation. The purpose of this report is to document and describe the presence, location, and general characteristics for each of the wetland types currently found in the lagoon area. Comments are also made on the general use by different fauna. (Document contains 15 pages)

A review of the biology, ecology and management of Scirpus Olneyi. Volume 1: An annotated bibliography of selected references

This annotated bibliography of selected literature on Olney's three7square (Scirpus olneyi Gray )compiled basically for two reasons: 1) to assist a task force in its pursuit of an explanation for the substantial reduction in marsh acreage at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Maryland, and 2) to serve as the author's foundation for the initiation of ecological research on this species as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Botany Department of the University of Maryland. Both purposes are directly related in that the Author's research will be of use to the task force, along I with its other technical information and research results, in under-standing and possibly correcting the marshland loss problem at the Refuge. (PDF contains 100 pages)

Wetlands and coastal water quality: Should wetland size matter?

Generally, wetlands are thought to perform water purification functions, removing contaminants as water flows through sediment and vegetation. This paradigm was challenged when Grant et al. (2001) reported that Talbert Salt Marsh (Figure 1.) increased fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) output to coastal waters, contributing to poor coastal water quality. Like most southern California wetlands, Talbert Salt Marsh has been severely degraded. It is a small (10 ha), restored wetland, only 1/100th its original size, and located at the base of a highly urbanized watershed. Is it reasonable to expect that this or any severely altered wetland will perform the same water purification benefits as a natural wetland? To determine how a more pristine southern California coastal wetland attenuated bacterial contaminants, we investigated FIB concentrations entering and exiting Carpinteria Salt Marsh (Figure 2.), a 93 ha, moderate-sized, relatively natural wetland.(PDF contains 4 pages)

Effects of landscape gradients on wetland vegetation communities: information for large-scale restoration

Projects of the scope of the restoration of the Florida Everglades require substantial information regarding ecological mechanisms, and these are often poorly understood. We provide critical base knowledge for Everglades restoration by characterizing the existing vegetation communities of an Everglades remnant, describing how present and historic hydrology affect wetland vegetation community composition, and documenting change from communities described in previous studies. Vegetation biomass samples were collected along transects across Water Conservation Area 3A South (3AS).

Fishes of the Lagunas Encadenadas (Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina), a wetland of international importance

The Lagunas Encadenadas form a large endorheic wetland. The system comprises a chain of five main lagoons (Alsina, Chochico, Del Monte, Del Venado, and Epecuen). During two recent collection trips, 13 species of fish were caught. From the collected material and available data in the literature the following points can be made: The fish fauna of this wetland comprises 18 species from 11 families and six orders. Four species (Cyprinus carpio, Hoplias malabaricus, Loricariichthys anus and Parapimelodus valenciennis) are new records for these water bodies. Fish species diversity decreases from east to west, ie from the most freshwater lagoon (Alsina, with 15 species) to the most saline (Epecuen, 1 species). A similar diversity pattern has been found in zooplankton species.

The avifauna of Laguna Llancanelo (Mendoza, Argentina), a South American wetland of international importance

Laguna Llancanelo is a large (40,000 ha), very shallow (less than 3 m deep), inland saline waterbody, located in southern Mendoza, Argentina. A survey of the avifauna was undertaken during 1983 to 1985; field trips were made mostly to the northeastern and central-western sectors of the lagoon, in the months of April, May, September, October and December. Complementary studies were made by an aerial survey and assessments of terrestrial birds in the surroundings of the lagoon. A total of 64 species in 22 families of birds usually associated with aquatic environments were recorded. The best-represented families of aquatic birds in terms of numbers of species were: Anatidae (13 swans, geese, ducks), Scolopacidae (7 sandpipers and other small waders), Ardeidae (6 herons, bitterns, egrets, Podicipedidae (4 grebes), Rallidae (4 rails, coots) and Charadriidae (4 plovers, lapwings). The most abundant nesting birds on the lagoon were: Black-necked swan Cygnus melancoryphus (824), silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (202) and black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax (100).

The ecology of Atlantic white cedar wetlands: a community profile

This monograph on the ecology of Atlantic white cedar wetlands is one of a series of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service profiles of important freshwater wetland ecosystems of the United States. The purpose of the profile is to describe the extent, components, functioning, history, and treatment of these wetlands. It is intended to provide a useful reference to relevant scientific information and a synthesis of the available literature. The world range of Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) is limited to a ribbon of freshwater wetlands within 200 km of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, extending from mid-Maine to mid-Florida and Mississippi. Often in inaccessible sites and difficult to traverse, cedar wetlands contain distinctive suites of plant species. Highly valued as commercial timber since the early days of European colonization of the continent, the cedar and its habitat are rapidly disappearing. This profile describes the Atlantic white cedar and the bogs and swamps it dominates or codominates throughout its range, discussing interrelationships with other habitats, putative origins and migration patterns, substrate biogeochemistry, associated plant and animal species (with attention to those that are rare, endangered, or threatened regionally or nationally), and impacts of both natural and anthropogenic disturbance. Research needs for each area are outlined. Chapters are devoted to the practices and problems of harvest and management, and to an examination of a large preserve recently acquired by the USFWS, the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.

River Gowy rapid corridor survey July 1995. Ecology South Mersey

This is the River Gowy rapid corridor survey July 1995: Ecology South Mersey report produced by the National Rivers Authority North West Region in 1995. This report looks at the survey carried out by the South Mersey Ecology Team prior to routine deweeding operations on the main River Gowy at the end of July, 1995. The survey covered Flood Defence Stretch References RGOW03 to RGOW16. These stretches were further divided into a series of 43 stretches, each one being approximately 500m in length for ease o f mapping by Ecology. Recommendations for each length have been cross-referenced with the Bill of Quantities where possible, e.g. retention o f margins. In Flood Defence stretch RGOW03, the South West Winter Wetland forms an important habitat for birds. In stretches RGOW04 to RGOW05, the Gowy Meadows and Ditches have been designated a Grade A, Site of Biological Importance, by Cheshire County Council due to the nature of the acidic grassland and diverse ditches. In stretches RGOWIO to RGOW11 the left bank forms Hockenhull Platts, Grade A Site of Biological Importance and County Trust Reserve. In stretches RGOW15 to RGOW16, the area from Mill Farm to the Shropshire Union Canal is a Grade A Site of Biological Importance. These sites are very sensitive and detailed recommendations for working practices can be found in the relevant sections o f the survey.

Feasibility study of biofuel production from freshwater fern, Azolla sp in Anzali Wetland

Production of bioethanol through acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis of aquatic Azolla sp., as a new source of bio-mass, has been performed, as a means to control increasing growth and reducing undesirable effects of this plant in Anzali lagoon. After sampling, drying and crushing, Azolla was hydrolyzed, using diluted acid and enzyme. Diluted acid hydrolysis was done using both autoclave and a high-pressure system (Batch Synth® Microwave synthesizer). The effects of temperature and time (in autoclave) and concentration of acid (in both) were compared. Cellubrix®, a ommercial cellulase source, was used for enzymatic hydrolysis process. The amounts of reducing sugars, glucose and furfural, released from hydrolyzate, were measured. To produce alcohol, Sacchromyces cerevisiae (to ferment sixcarbon sugars), Zygowilliopsis californica and Pichia stipitis (to ferment five-carbon and sixcarbon sugars) were used. Maximum amounts of glucose (4.83% w/w) and reducing sugars (14.15% w/w) were obtained using acid hydrolysis in autoclave. In the microwave oven, maximum glucose (5.04% w/w) and reducing sugars (13.27 w/w) were obtained at 180 and 200 °C, respectively. Under these conditions, maximum produced furfural was 1.54 g/L. The difference between amounts of furfural obtained from acid hydrolysis of Azolla in microwave oven compared to autoclave was statistically significant. Amounts of alcohol produced and its yields were 3.99 g/L and 33.13% for S. cerevisiae in 48 hours, 3.73 g/L and 30.45% for Pichia stipites in 48 hours, and 3.73 g/L and 30.45% for Z. californica in 24 hours after inoculation, respectively, with significant differences. Statistical comparison of results showed significant differences (P<0.05) in glucose production, at different conditions. Amounts of reducing sugars and glucose increased after optimization of levels of acid, time, and temperature. The overall optimum released sugar and glucose were obtained with 1.67% (w/v) acid using autoclave. Higher temperatures in microwave oven caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in furfural. Furfural severely inhibits fermentation. Hence, regarding the issues of energy consumption and time, amounts of inhibiting substances and sugar production, autoclave is found to be superior to the high temperature and pressure, generated in microwave oven, for hydrolyzing Azolla. Furthermore, given the amounts of Azolla in Anzali lagoon, it may be recommendable to use this plant as a biomass resource.

Vegetation structure and faunal composition of Wathurana wetland ecosystem Tebuwana, Kalutara, Sri Lanka

A study was conducted in Tebuwana Wathurana Wetland ecosystem to understand its vegetation structure and faunal composition in order to assess its conservation needs. As there are no published records on the flora and fauna of Wathurana Wetlands in Tebuwana, it is necessary to understand the ecological and other relevant features in order to develop strategies to conserve this wetland. These objectives were pursued by surveying the vegetation of the wetland and by identifying fish and bird species present. A total of 66 species of flora and 61 species of fauna were identified in the survey. Of the 27 fish species recorded from the Tebuwana Wetland, 9 species were endemic and 17 species belonged to the indigenous category. With regard to the flora in the wetlands, the dominant families were Rubaceae, Fabaceae and Arecaceae. The 66 species belonged to 39 families and 61 genera while 12 species were endemic and 4 species were considered highly threatened. These flora were found in four layers. Of the 22 species of birds recorded, two species were endemic. This study revealed that these Wathurana Wetlands have a high species diversity but that they face many threats including encroachments, extraction of forest products mainly as timber, land filling, mining and occurrence of invasive species. It is essential to minimize the exploitation of natural resources from this wetland in the future and in particular to mark the boundary, conduct awareness programmes and continue research.

Ecosystem structure of Gomishan Wetland

Gomishan Wetland is situated in the extreme southern part of the eastern coast of Caspian Sea. It is connected to the Caspian Sea, so its hydrological features are directly generated from the sea. The whole wetland area (which also consists of the northern part of the wetland that is situated in Turkmenistan republic) is calculated with the aid of the Satellite Images for the years of 1977, 1987 and 1998 respectively 5070, 16320 and 29520 hectares. To have better ideas about food chains in the aquatic ecosystem, five permanent stations was appointed in different parts of the wetland. During one year field study, at the beginning of each month, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the water and the sediment was surveyed and different specimens were gathered, fixed and took to the laboratories for the relevant analyses. The factors measured in water samples were mainly consist of turbidity, pH, EC, DO, BOD, PO4, NO3, alkalinity, Cl and hardness . The factors measured from sediment samples were the percentage of Sand, Very Fine Sand, Silt, Clay, K, P, N, and Organic Carbon. Biological examinations of the water has been consist of planktonic sample collections, determination, counting and analysis of both phyto and zoo planktons of the wetland. For example the zooplanktons of the Gomishan Wetland are determined in 15 groups, belonging to 5 phyla. The seasonal changes are recognized considerable. The least density of the zooplanktons is occurred in February. The density of most of the groups is seen from the beginning of the summer until the mid autumn. The annual mean density for any 15-zooplankton groups and also the minimum and maximum density with %95 confidences, for each of them, is calculated for the environment of all of the stations and also for the whole wetland. The spatial distribution of the individuals within the population of each of the groups is introduced, according to regular or contagious or random distribution. Diversity indices are calculated for the zooplanktons living in the environment of the stations. Comparison of the wetland, with the southeastern Caspian Sea, from the point of view of zooplankton density and diversity is also obtained. Benthos invertebrates in each station from sediment samples were also extracted. The specimens were colored by Rose Bengal solvent and then were determinate and counted, in separate groups of macro and meio benthos. Among the macro benthos, the highest density was seen in the species of Fyrgula caspia. After that, more density was seen respectively in Apra ovata, Cerastoderma sp., Balanus sp., Nerds divesicolarr, lifytilaster lineatus and Dreissena sp. Among the meio benthos, the most density was seen in Foraminifera and then respectively in Ostracoda, Nernatoda and Bivalve larvae. The indices of diversity and distribution are also calculated. As the birds in this lagoon are of prime importance, all mid winter waterfowl censuses available from recent 13 years are gathered and analysis. Also a whole year (12 times, each at the beginning of one month) waterfowl census was undertaken, throughout the wetland. According to this study, the Eastern Ecosystem of the wetland, is supporting the most population (%75) of the waterfowls, the Middle Open Water Ecosystem and the Western Reed bed Ecosystem, are supporting respectively %14 and %11 of the population. Four of the species are found in the global threatened red list, and the wintering population of the 20 species of the site, in some years, are observed more than %I of the global populations. The Waterfowl Species Diversity and Similarity Indices are given also.

Rapid assessment of the fish biodiversity of the Mburo-Nakivali wetland systems and Opeta-Bisina wetland systems, Uganda

There are 46 different fish species in the Lake Kyoga basin with some of them endemic. The Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) was introduced into the main Lake Kyoga, Nakuwa and Bisina in the late 1950s to increase the fish production. The Nile Perch profileration in lakes Kyoga and Nakuwa led to the almost complete elimination of many native fish species such as Orechromis esculentus and variabilis, Mormyrus kanumme, Schilbe mystus and several Haplochromines species. Lakes Mburo, Kachera, Nakivali and Kijjanebalora are part of the complex system of lakes separated from Lake Victoria by extended swamps known as the Koki lakes, some of the satellite lakes in the Lake Victoria basin. The fisheries of these lakes are important as they contribute to government efforts of increasing food security, poverty reduction and conservation of natural resource base. These lakes are important biodiversity areas because some of these lakes have been found to contain the native tilapiine Oreochromis esculentus (Ngege), absent or threatened with extinction in the main Lakes Victoria and Kyoga. It’s also important to note that this species is only unique to the Victoria and Kyoga lake basins (Graham, 1929, Worthington, 1929). The values of some of these lake fisheries are however, threatened by human activities such as over exploitation, introduction of exotics especially water hyacinth that is already present in River Rwizi and habitat degradation among others.

Determination of ecological sensitive areas of the coastal areas of Caspian Sea (Boujagh Wetland National Park) based on ecological carrying capacity and economical valuation region

The coastal districts, as an intersection of two perfectly different ecosystems of dry land and sea, is one of the most complicated and the richest natural system on earth. Considering these areas are constantly exposed to aggregation of water pollutants and also consequence resulting from construction and development activities, they are very vulnerable. Therefore, "sensitive Coastal areas" has become a common word in the related subjects to marine environment recently. The said title relates to the areas of the coastal lines which are vulnerable to the natural condition or human actions because of ecological, social, economic, educational and research importance, also they need particular supports. The southern coasts of Caspian Sea, In Iran prominent samples are of these sensitive areas which their environment are exposed to demolition and destruction intensely, due to increasing and uncontrolled development. The first stage of protecting and managing the coastal areas is identifying sensitive Coastal areas and broadening the Coasts. In this survey, we attempted to examine a definite area in the southern coasts of Caspian Sea. In Iran, by profiting from the world experiences and concluded researches in Iran especially the concluded studies by marine environment office and the Environment protection organization on the subject of determination criteria of the sensitive ecological districts. For this purpose (In Gilan Province) Boujagh national park district which is located in the mouth of sefidroud river and also is possessed of the special ecological and environmental features and distinctions. In this survey, first they said district is divided proportionally on the basis of using a grid system in order to identify the sensitive ecological districts and broaden the coast, and then the desired indices have been determined and scored by numeral valuation method in each unit and then analysis has been done by using of the geography information system (GIS) and final has estimated economic valuation of sensitive ecological areas that is presented in this essay.

Wetland Tracker Data Collection Central Coast (Morro Bay Region)

The goal of this project was to gather information on wetland restoration projects in the Moro Bay, California, region. Data provided to the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) will be used to enhance a web-based, public access database, the Bay Area Wetland Project Tracker. Wetland Tracker provides information on the location, size, sponsors, habitats, contact persons, and status of included projects. Its website provides an interactive map of planned and completed wetland projects (http://www.wetlandtracker.org). (Document contains 4 pages)

Vegetation response to cattail management at Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas

Dense, monospecific cattail (Typha spp.) stands are a problem in many prairie wetlands because they alter habitat structure and function, resulting in a decrease in use by wildlife species. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, a Wetland of International Importance in central Kansas, has experienced a large increase in cattails and a subsequent decrease in migratory wetland bird use. As a consequence, intensive cattail management is practiced. We assessed the effectiveness of prescribed burning, discing following prescribed burning, and cattle grazing following prescribed burning at two stocking rates of 5 and 20 head per 11 ha in suppressing cattail, as well as the effects of these treatments on non-cattail vegetation.