Měkkýši přírodních památek Kalábová a Kalábová 2 v CHKO Bílé Karpaty [Molluscs of the Kalábová and Kalábová 2 Nature Monuments in the White Carpathians PLA]

The Kalábová (K1) and Kalábová 2 (K2) Nature Monuments are located in the central part of the White Carpathians PLA near the village of Březová. Both monuments protect treeless wet grasslands and tufa forming spring fens, which were originally part of a larger wetland complex. A total of 51 species were recorded in K1 (47 terrestrial and two aquatic gastropods and two bivalves). Of these, 30 species (56%) are woodland dwellers that were recorded during the survey in 2000, shortly after the area was logged. In contrast, none of these species was detected during the recent survey in 2021. However, these species are widespread in the region and Nature Monuments surroundings and some are likely present also in the ecotones of the spring meadow and adjacent forest. Currently, hygrophilous and wetland dwellers dominate (9 spp.; 17%), followed by ubiquitous (7; 15%), open-ground (4; 8%) and aquatic species (4; 8%). At K2, 19 species were recorded, including 15 terrestrial and two aquatic gastropods, and two bivalves. The two most species-rich ecogroups were hygrophilous and wetland dwellers (5; 26%) and woodland dwellers (5; 26%), the latter were prevailing probably due to relatively recent deforestation between 2012–2014. Aquatic species were represented by four species (21%), followed by three ubiquitous (16%) and one open-ground (5%) species. The spring dweller Bythinella austriaca (NT) and the declining wetland umbrella species Vertigo angustior (VU; NATURA 2000) inhabited both localities in high densities. To maintain the favourable habitat conservation status of the reserves, the sites should be managed extensively by grazing or mowing.

Study on applicability of remote sensing precipitation products in hilly-plain-wetland complex area of north China

For the hilly-plain-wetland complex ecosystem in the cold region of Northeast China, in order to solve the problems which include the scarcity of surface rainfall stations and the inability to provide accurate surface precipitation for hydrological process simulation, based on the observed precipitation of rainfall stations, three remote sensing precipitation products are taken as objects of evaluation. They include TRMM(Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) 3B42V7,3B42RT and CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data,CHIP). In this paper, the observation data of rainfall stations and IDWP precipitation data interpolated by IDW(Inverse Distance Weighted) are used as true value of precision comparison, and the detection accuracy of remote sensing precipitation products from 2001 to 2010 is evaluated on the time scale (day, month and quarter) and spatial scale in Naoli River Basin.The results of the study indicated that 3B42V7 and CHIP have a high detection accuracy for precipitation, and their CC(correlation coefficient) values are 0.47 and 0.49 respectively in daily time scale. The accuracy of their observationfor monthly precipitation is better than that of daily precipitation, and the CC are 0.85 and 0.87 respectively. The multi-year average precipitation at different grid positions in the basin is overestimated by 3B42RT, and its evaluation results are poor at different time scales.For the precipitation intensity range of (0,20], the observed results of 3B42V7 and rainfall station are close to each other. For the precipitation intensity ranges of (0,1) and (50,+∞), 3B42RT and CHIP have overestimated or underestimated the precipitation in different degrees. Based on the above analysis results, 3B42RT can be considered as data that can detect whether precipitation occurs on different spatial positions in the basin. 3B42V7 and CHIP can be applied to flood forecasting and non-point source pollution control in cold regions.

Aspects of the Feeding Ecology of Mallard and Black Swan in a Small Freshwater Lake

<p>Section 1. Limnological and waterfowl food supply characteristics of Pukepuke Lagoon are described. Emphasis is placed on describing how the balance between macrophytes and phytoplankton is established (these two forms of vegetation tend to dominate alternately in the lagoon). The question of whether heavy swan grazing may potentially shift this balance in favour of phytoplankton dominance is examined. Section 2. The year-round patterns of feeding exhibited by mallards are described on the basis of scan counts taken at one or two-hourly intervals from dawn to dusk. These feeding patterns, graphically depicted, are then interpreted and discussed against the background of what is known of the food content of the lagoon. Reference is made to the behavioural and physiological adaptability of the birds, and to the reserve capacity of the wetland complex - not just Pukepuke Lagoon - to sustain them. The relevance of these findings and interpretations, to New Zealand in general is discussed. Section 3. An hypothesis is developed to account for the way in which black swans use various waters in the Pukepuke-centred wetland complex.</p>

Aspects of the Feeding Ecology of Mallard and Black Swan in a Small Freshwater Lake

<p>Section 1. Limnological and waterfowl food supply characteristics of Pukepuke Lagoon are described. Emphasis is placed on describing how the balance between macrophytes and phytoplankton is established (these two forms of vegetation tend to dominate alternately in the lagoon). The question of whether heavy swan grazing may potentially shift this balance in favour of phytoplankton dominance is examined. Section 2. The year-round patterns of feeding exhibited by mallards are described on the basis of scan counts taken at one or two-hourly intervals from dawn to dusk. These feeding patterns, graphically depicted, are then interpreted and discussed against the background of what is known of the food content of the lagoon. Reference is made to the behavioural and physiological adaptability of the birds, and to the reserve capacity of the wetland complex - not just Pukepuke Lagoon - to sustain them. The relevance of these findings and interpretations, to New Zealand in general is discussed. Section 3. An hypothesis is developed to account for the way in which black swans use various waters in the Pukepuke-centred wetland complex.</p>

DNA metabarcoding reveals the dietary composition in the endangered black-faced spoonbill

Extensive loss of natural wetlands caused by changes in land use largely diminishes the food resources essential for the survival of migratory waterbirds. Globally, the decline in waterbird populations in East Asia is the most serious, with 64% of these populations showing a decreasing trend. In this study, we applied DNA metabarcoding to examine the spatiotemporal variations and diversities in the dietary compositions of migratory waterbirds in a natural/artificial wetland complex in Asia. By investigating 110 fecal samples from the endangered black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) wintering in the wetland, our results show that P. minor had a broad dietary spectrum. The birds fed on at least 26 species in the classes Actinopterygii and Malacostraca, with Mugiliformes, Cichliformes, and Gobiiformes being the main taxa in their diets. Our results also demonstrated clear patterns of the spatiotemporal variations between the roosting groups and intraspecific variations between the individuals, which potentially reflect some of their feeding habits, and the probable usage of different habitat types in the wetland complex. Using high-throughput sequencing, we were able to elucidate the food resources that are critical to P. minor non-invasively, this method can also be used to provide invaluable information for the conservation of many other waterbird species.

Holocene regional climate change and formation of southern Ontario's largest swamp inferred from a kettle-lake pollen record

Greenock Swamp wetland complex is one of few remaining natural wetlands in the Great Lakes region and, at 89 km2 in areal extent, is currently the largest hardwood swamp in southern Ontario, Canada. We present here pollen and sediment records from a kettle hole (Schmidt Lake) and adjacent Thuja occidentalis swamp to reconstruct regional paleoclimate and vegetation history, and to assess the timing and development of the swamp ecosystem and associated carbon stocks. Pollen-inferred paleoclimate reconstructions show the expected warming in the Early Holocene, and indicate the Mid-Holocene initiation of lake-effect snow. This enhanced snowfall may have maintained high water tables in the adjacent wetland since ca. 8300 years ago, promoting the establishment of a swamp dominated by Thuja occidentalis. Carbon accumulation rates in a >2-m-long peat core collected from a Thuja occidentalis stand adjacent to Schmidt Lake are 30–40 g C/m2/yr, which is higher than the average of northern high-latitude peatlands. Using topographic and hydrological parameters, we estimated that mean swamp peat thicknesses could exceed 2 m. Thus, this study encourages future investigations on temperate swamps from the perspective of hitherto underestimated Holocene carbon sinks and shows the importance of regional hydroclimate in supporting swamp ecosystems.

Fractional Land Cover Classification and Temporal Change Evaluation of Deh Akro-II Wetland Complex and Chotiari Wetland Complex, Sindh, Pakistan, Using Google Earth Engine

Wetlands are one of the most important and rich eco system. Deh akro II wetland complex is unique inland type of wetlands comprise of 35 wetlands in middle of Nara desert on bank of Nara Canal. They face a lot of degradation because of anthropogenic activities in the surrounding areas and lack of rainfall in last 2 decades. Chotiari wetland complex located in south east of Deh akro II wetland complex, it comprises of several fresh water lakes converted into reservoir in year 2003 for better irrigation purposes. This conversion of wetlands into reservoir does not did very well for surrounding agricultural lands and natural vegetation. So in this study two technique of Fractional cover mapping were used to classify three types of land covers in both study areas. Temporal analysis was performed using the Landsat 7 ETM+ image of year 2000 and Landsat 8 OLI image of year 2018. For better results NDVI, EVI and NDWI were also calculated. For Deh akro II wetland complex Kappa accuracy statistics for year 2000 is 84% and for year 2018 its 87%. Several changes were recorded in this time span of 18 years as 42% of water bodies area has been decreased, 48% of Agriculture area has been increased and 68% of natural vegetation area has been increased. Increase in amount of vegetation and agriculture indicates that with better management and planning, effects of climate change over the area can be minimized. Kappa accuracy statistics for Chotiari Wetland complex for year 2000 is 71% and for year 2018 it’s 73%. Enormous changes were noted in 18 years as Agriculture area has been decreased up to 91%, water area has been increased up to 15% and vegetation has unluckily decreased up to 98% in reservoir area. This huge decrease in Agriculture and natural vegetation is an alarming situation for the wildlife and native population as well as authorities of Chotiari wetland complex.

Vascular Flora of Adobe Valley and Surrounding Hills, Mono County, California

Adobe Valley and the Adobe Hills lie east of the Sierra Nevada in Mono County, California, and are within the Great Basin Floristic Province. The flora of Adobe Valley and the surrounding hills is influenced by the Great Basin Desert to the east, the Sierra Nevada to the west and the northern Mojave Desert to the south. Adobe Valley is surrounded by the Adobe Hills, Benton Range and Glass Mountain region, creating a circular closed basin with many small tributaries feeding into it. This topography contributes to the creation of a rare wetland complex, including alkali meadows, marshes, and lakes at the base of the hills, which represent some of the more botanically interesting terrain in the region. Prior to this study, the wetland complex of Adobe Valley had not been systematically investigated with regard to its botanical diversity. The vegetation types associated with the wetland complex are listed as threatened by the California Natural Diversity Database and face a number of conservation concerns including water pumping, overgrazing, and possible wind energy development. A total of 1525 herbarium specimens were collected within the study area over 59 days in the field from 2016 to 2018. The vascular flora of the Adobe Valley and Hills includes 397 minimum-rank vascular plant taxa, representing 194 genera and 61 families. Six taxa are only known from historical collections, 21 taxa are non-native and 27 taxa have conservation status. The results of the inventory are presented here in an annotated checklist, along with descriptions of vegetation alliances.