Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Relationships between breeding waterbird abundance, diversity, and clear water status after the restoration of two shallow nutrient-rich Danish lakes. / Fox, Anthony David; Jørgensen, Hans E; Jeppesen, Erik; Lauridsen, Torben Linding; Søndergaard, Martin; Fugl, Karsten; Myssen, Palle; Balsby, Thorsten Johannes Skovbjerg; Clausen, Preben.
In: Aquatic Conservation (Online), Vol. 30, No. 2, 2020, p. 237-245.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationships between breeding waterbird abundance, diversity, and clear water status after the restoration of two shallow nutrient-rich Danish lakes
AU - Fox, Anthony David
AU - Jørgensen, Hans E
AU - Jeppesen, Erik
AU - Lauridsen, Torben Linding
AU - Søndergaard, Martin
AU - Fugl, Karsten
AU - Myssen, Palle
AU - Balsby, Thorsten Johannes Skovbjerg
AU - Clausen, Preben
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Breeding waterbird communities have suffered globally from the effects of anthropogenic changes in water quality (especially nutrient enrichment) in recent decades, but few studies have demonstrated the positive effects of restorative actions. Annual breeding waterbird surveys in the period 1977–2005 at two restored southern Danish lake basins (combining nutrient load reduction and biomanipulation) showed an up to five-fold increase in abundance, and considerable changes in species richness and diversity, following restoration to clear water status in both lakes. Parallel surveys at a third lake, which retained clear water quality throughout, offering a form of natural ‘control’, showed no such changes over the same time period. Consistent relationships between breeding waterbird abundance, species richness, and diversity with measures of water clarity (Secchi disc depth, chlorophyll a, and suspended matter) suggest that water clarity mainly drives the relationship; inverse relationships between these measures and total nitrogen and phosphorus were less consistent than for water clarity. The results suggest that an improvement in water clarity plays a key role in restoring breeding waterbird communities and suggest that breeding waterbirds can be indicators of the success of lake restoration projects, but more studies are needed to confirm their wider utility under a variety of conditions.
AB - Breeding waterbird communities have suffered globally from the effects of anthropogenic changes in water quality (especially nutrient enrichment) in recent decades, but few studies have demonstrated the positive effects of restorative actions. Annual breeding waterbird surveys in the period 1977–2005 at two restored southern Danish lake basins (combining nutrient load reduction and biomanipulation) showed an up to five-fold increase in abundance, and considerable changes in species richness and diversity, following restoration to clear water status in both lakes. Parallel surveys at a third lake, which retained clear water quality throughout, offering a form of natural ‘control’, showed no such changes over the same time period. Consistent relationships between breeding waterbird abundance, species richness, and diversity with measures of water clarity (Secchi disc depth, chlorophyll a, and suspended matter) suggest that water clarity mainly drives the relationship; inverse relationships between these measures and total nitrogen and phosphorus were less consistent than for water clarity. The results suggest that an improvement in water clarity plays a key role in restoring breeding waterbird communities and suggest that breeding waterbirds can be indicators of the success of lake restoration projects, but more studies are needed to confirm their wider utility under a variety of conditions.
KW - biodiversity
KW - birds
KW - lake
KW - nutrient enrichment
U2 - 10.1002/aqc.3260
DO - 10.1002/aqc.3260
M3 - Journal article
VL - 30
SP - 237
EP - 245
JO - Aquatic Conservation (Online)
JF - Aquatic Conservation (Online)
SN - 1099-0755
IS - 2
ER -