Keywords
artificial pond
energy
, migrating birds
Basrah
How to Cite
Abstract
A case study focusing on the attraction of migrating birds by brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) into an artificial pond in Basrah, Iraq. A dump area had constructed at the intertidal mudflat’s zone of Khor Al-Zubair Channel, Basrah, Iraq. Basra Gas Company implemented a dredging operation to increase the channel depth in 2019 to use the dump area as a disposal place for the company’s benthic sediments, which are usually mixed with seawater, converting the dump area to a large hypersaline artificial pond. Unexpectedly, the pond became a habitat for many shorebird species a few months later. The pond has been surveyed five times between March 2019 and January 2020. For each survey, frequent environmental and biological events were observed. Due to high temperature during most summer months (30-50°C), the water level decreased dramatically to (< 0.5 m), which ultimately led to increase levels of salinity in the pond (80 psu). Moreover, growth of blue-green algae was observed and appearance of brine shrimp A. franciscana. During autumn and winter surveys, an abundance of live A. franciscana and their cysts was observed. Birds appeared to forage primarily on A. franciscana in the pond. The abundance of brine shrimp attracts migrating birds to exploit this prey. 11 species of migrating birds were detected in the pond. These species were flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber, flocks of avocet Ricurvirosta avosetta and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna. Therefore, this site with abundant food resources could provide a rich-high energy food for migrating birds and staging area for a long flight.
References
Abdullah, D.S.M. 2007. Selection of obtimum conditions for the best production of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana (Kellogg) in Basrah. Ph. D. Thesis, College of Science, Univ. Basrah, 166 pp.
Alexander, R.M., 2013. Principles of Artemia Locomotion. Course Book ed. Princeton University press. Project MUSE, www.muse.jhu.edu/book/41646: PP 384.
Ali, M.H. and H.H. Mohammed and M.A. Salim, 2022. Survey of Khor Al-Zubair and Umm Qasr Mudflat Birds: Effect of Tidal Cycle and Seasonal Variations on Their Assemblages and Abundance, Basrah, Iraq. IOP Conf. Series: Earth Environ. Sci., Volume 1029, Second International Virtual Conference on Environment & Natural Resources, 19-20 January 2022, Coll. Sci. Univ. Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq. 1029 012037, 1-12. (doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1029/1/012037).
Ali, M.H. and H.H. Mohammed, 2019. Birds biodiversity survey at the intertidal zone of Umm Qasr, BGC Marine Terminal and the proposed disposal sites. Study report for Marine Consulting Bureau, Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah, Iraq. 15 pp.
Ali, M.H., D.S. Salman, N.A. Salman, H.K. Ahmed and H.H. Mohammed, 2021a. Biodiversity of the inland waters of Basrah following the 2003. marshlands restoration project (An overview). 1st Edition.Published by Dar Al-Fikr, Basrah, Iraq. Pp 192.
Ali, M.H., N.A.M. Fawzi, H.H. Mohammed, B. Helmuth and Dwyer, A.M. 2021b. Winners and losers: Post conflict biodiversity in the stressed ecosystem of Khor Al-Zubair , Iraq. Pak. J. Mar. Sci. 30(2): 76-95.
Bai, M-L, W.C. Chih, Y.C. Lai, P.F. Lee and Y.Y. Lien, 2018. Aquaculture ponds as important high tide habitats for waterbirds along the west coast of Taiwan. Orinthol. Sci. 17(1): 55-67. (doi:10.2326/osj.17.55).
Bildstein, K.L., C.B. Golden, B.J. McCraith, B.W. Bohmke and R.E. Seibels, 1993. Feeding Behavior, Aggression, and the Conservation Biology of Flamingos: Integrating Studies of Captive and Free-ranging Birds. Amer. Zool. 33(2): 113-125. (https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/33.2.117).
Bird Fact, 2021. Avoct Recurvirostra avosetta. (https://birdfact.com/birds/avocet).
Boreal Songbird Intiative, 2015. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata. (https://www.borealbirds.org/boreal-bird-field-list)
Brochet, A.L., M. Gauthier-Clerc, M. Guillemain, H. Fritz, A. Waterkeyn, A.J. Green, 2010. Field evidence branchiopoda, Ostracods and Bryzoans by teal (Anas crecca) in the Camargue (Southern France). Hydrobiologia, 637(1): 255-261. (doi:10.1007/s10750-009-9975-6).
Caudell, J.N. and M.R. Conover, 2006. Energy content and digestability of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) and other prey items of eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) on the Great Salt Lake, Utah. Biol. Conserve. 130(2): 251-254. (doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.12.018).
Fawzi, N.A., K.P. Goodwin, B.A. Mahdi and S.M.L. Stevens, 2016. Effects of Mesopotamian Marsh (Iraq) desiccation on the cultural knowledge and livelihood of Marsh Arab Women. Ecosyst. Health Sustainabil. (2)3: e011207. (doi:10.1002/ehs2.1207).
Gurney, R., 1921. Fresh-water crustacean collected by Dr. P. A. Buxton in Mesopota- mtamia and (Persia). J. Bombay Natural History Society, 27(4): 835-844.
Giosa, E., C. Mammides and S. Zotos, 2018. The importance of artificial wetlands for birds: A case study from Cyprus. PLOS ONE 13(5): e0197286. (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197286)
Green, A.J., M.I. Sānchez, F. Amat and J. Fignerola, 2005. Dispersal of invasive and native brine shrimps Artemia (Anostraca) via waterbirds. Limnol. Oceanogr. 50: 737-742.
Hopkin, M., 2005. Reflooding bodies well for Iraqi marshes. (https://doi org/10.1038/news05221-1).
Iraqi Ministry of Health and Environment (IMoHE), 2010. National report on biodiversity in Iraq. Fourth national report to the convention on Biological diversity (CBD), July 2010, 1-53. (www.cbd.int/doc/wold/iq/iq-nr-04-en.doc).
Karakas, P., 2017. Ornithological importance of artificial pond: a case study Kabakli pond, South eastern Anatolia, Turkey. AGRIS. 15(4): 919-930.
Kommentare, K.., 2017. Energy demand and adaptations of migrating birds. BIOGIONIK 07. Dez.blogionik.org
Kurnssa, T. and A. Bekele, 2014. Feeding Ecology of Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) in Aijata-Shalla Lakes National Park (ASLNP) with special Reference to Lakes Abijata and Chitu, Ethiopia-Asian J. Biol. Sci.7(2): 57- 65.
Mohammed, D. S., S.D. Salman, and M.H. Ali, 2010. Morphological and molecular study on Artemia franciscana (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) from Basrah, Iraq. Crustaceana, 83(8): 941-956.
Moreira, F., 2008. The winter-feeding ecology of Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta on intertidal areas. 1. Feeding strategies. Ibis. 137(1): 92-98. (doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1995.tb03224.x).
Pierce, R.J., 1985. Feeding methods of stilts (Himantopus spp.). N.Z. J. Zool., 12(4): 467-472. (https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.1985.10428298).
Roberts, A.J., 2013. Avian diet in a saline ecosystem: Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA. Hum. Wildl. Interact. 7(1): 158-168.
Rubee, C., A. Alwash and A. Bachmann, 2009. The key biodiversity Areas Project: Objectives and Scope 2004- 2008. In: Krupp F. Masselman L.J., Kotb M.M.A., Weidig I. (Eds.). Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation in Middle East. Proceeding of the First Middle Eastern Biodiversity Congress, Aqaba, Jordan, 20-23 October 2008.
Salim, M., P. Porter and C. Rubec, 2009. A summary of birds recorded in the Marshes of Southern Iraq, 2005-2008. BIORISK.? Biodiversity Ecosyst. Risk Assess. 3: 205-219. (doi: 10.3897/biorisk.3.14).
Salman, D.S., D.S. Mohammed and M.H. Ali, 2012. Review of the biogeography of Artemia Leach, 1819 (Crustacea: Anostraca) in Iraq. Int. J. Artemia Biol. 2(1): 62-73.
Seaworld Park and Entertainment, 2021. All about Flamingos Diet and Eating Habits. (https://Seaworld.org.).
Siqueira, P.R., M.F. de Vasconcelos, R.M. Goncalves and L.O. Leite, 2015. Assessment of stomach contents of some Amaxonian Birds. Ornitol. Neotrop. 26: 79-88.
Thompson, D.B.A., 1981. Feeding behavior of wintering Shelduck on the Clyde Estuary. Wildfowl. 32: 88-98.
UNEP, Partow, H., 2001. The Mesopotamian Marshlands: Demise of an Ecosystem. Early warning and Assessment.Technical Report. UNEP/DEWA/ TR-01-3 Rev.1
Van Gils, J., P. Wiersma, D.A. Christie, E.F.J. Garcia and P.F.D. Boesman, 2020. Black- tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa), Vetsion. O. In birds of the world (J. delHoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D.A. Cristie, and E. de Juana, Eds.). The Cornell Lab of ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. (https://doi-org/10.2173/bow-bktgod.oi).
Viaina, A., F. Corre, P. Dolaporte, E. joyeu and P. Bocher, 2011. Number, diet and feeding methods of common shelduck Tadorna tadorna wintering in the estuarian bays of Aiguillon and Marennes-Oleron, western France. Wildfowl. 61: 121-141.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2023 Malik Hassan Ali, Hanaa Hussein Mohammed, Dawood Salman Abdulla, Huda Kadhim Ahmed