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Responses of diurnal activity of common coot (Fulica atra) to recreation disturbance.

HA Li-ya1, CHENG Kun1, ZONG Cheng1**, LI Jin-bo2   

  1. (1College of Wildlife Resource, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; 2Bureau of Anbang River Wetland Management, Shuangyashan 155900, Heilongjiang, China)
  • Online:2014-07-10 Published:2014-07-10

Abstract: Wetland ecotourism is developing rapidly in many areas of China in recent years. Waterbirds are key elements in wetland ecosystems, and recreational activities have the potential to bring about behavioral changes of the birds. Behavioral responses of common coots (Fulica atra) to wetland recreation were investigated in Anbang River Nature Reserve of Heilongjiang Province. The diurnal activities of adult and juvenile common coots were observed separately in a dock area, a boating area and in a control area without recreation activities, using instantaneous scan sampling methods. The results indicated that adult birds in the dock area spent less time on foraging, wandering, and grooming; more time on hiding than those in the control area. Adult coots in the boating area hid and exhibited aggressive behaviors more frequently than those in the control area. Foraging, hiding and escape behaviors of juvenile coots occurred more frequently in the boating area than in the control area. Disturbance from recreation was also revealed by the punctuated foraging rhythm of adults and the shortened foraging peak of juveniles. We concluded that the boating area had fewer recreation impacts on coots than the dock area, and that juvenile birds were better habituated than adult common coots. Because the intensive disturbance has the potential to impact the energy storage of common coots before autumn migration, we propose several management suggestions, such as increasing the plant belt between the roadside and the dock area, planning buffer zones between boats and coot territories, and enhancing recreation and visitor management.

 

Key words: municipal sewage sludge, plant-soil system, sewage sludge utilization