Limnology for the ornithologist: effects of Lake Maggiore water level on migratory flows

Submitted: 30 March 2023
Accepted: 14 July 2023
Published: 8 September 2023
Abstract Views: 389
PDF: 89
Supplementary Tab. 1: 36
HTML: 4
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Wetlands are widely recognised as the most critical stop-over locations along migration flyways. Wetland ecology is mostly influenced by water levels and water regimes. This research focuses on Bolle di Magadino (Switzerland), an important stop-over site on Lake Maggiore, artificially regulated by a dam. In this work we examined how the artificial flooding of a wetland affects the use of this stop-over site by migrating passerines during spring. Bird presence in the area was evaluated using both data collected at the ringing station located in the wetlands and the bird traffic rate (BTR) supplied by the BirdScan MR1, an avian verticallooking radar (VLR) capable of automatically detecting and classifying birds in flight. In an attempt to shed light on the effect of lake level on stop-over quality, we i) simulated with GIS the extent of the flooded area and of the different habitat categories as the lake level changes; ii) calculated the relationship between lake level and the ability of stop-overing birds to acquire trophic resources; iii) verified that the flux of passerines below 500 m above ground level measured by radar could be used as a proxy for the number of stop-overing birds; iv) calculated the relationship between the number of birds leaving the stop-over and the lake level. While the number of ringed passerines has proven to be representative of the migratory flow below 500 meters of altitude at the site of interest, a high lake level seems to have a negative impact on the use by some species of the Bolle di Magadino area as a stop-over site during spring. In particular, two of the target species -the blackcap and the reed bunting- have proven to be sensitive to higher water levels. While taking into account the limitations and the relative nature of the results, could be necessary for the competent authorities to take these results into consideration in order to safeguard the Bolle di Magadino’s role as an important stop-over area during spring.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Bairlein E, 1995. European-African Songbird Migration Network. Manual of Field Methods. Wilhelmshaven.
Barenghi B, 2023. Report conclusivo progetto Interreg 2019-2022.
Bonter DN, Gauthreaux SA Jr, Donovan TM, 2009. Characteristics of important stopover locations for migrating birds: remote sensing with radar in the Great Lakes Basin. Conserv Biol 23:440-448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01085.x
Brichetti P, Fracasso G, 2010. Ornitologia Italiana volume 6. Sylviidae-Paradoxornithidae. Alberto Perdisa, Bologna; 490 pp.
Brichetti P, Fracasso G, 2010. Ornitologia Italiana volume 9. Emberizidae-Icteridae. Alberto Perdisa, Bologna; 416 pp.
Brichetti P, Grattini N, 2012. Distribution and population trend of the Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus, breeding in Italy in the years 1980-2010. Riv Ital Ornitol 81:97-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2011.69
Bruderer B, 1971. [Radarbeobachtungen über den Frühlingszug im Schweizerischen Mittelland. (Ein Beitrag zum Problem der Witterungsabhängigkeit des Vogelzugs)].[Article in German]. Ornithol Beob 68:89-158.
Buler JJ, Moore FR, 2011. Migrant-habitat relationships during stopover along an ecological barrier: extrinsic constraints and conservation implications. J Ornithol 152:101-112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-010-0640-7
Carabella M, Aletti R, Guenzani W, Lardelli R, Parnell A, Patocchi N, et al., 2022. [Gli uccelli del Lago Maggiore].[Article in Italian] Quaderni Gruppo Insubrico Ornitologia; 256 pp.
Dänhardt J, Lindström Å, 2001. Optimal departure decisions of songbirds from an experimental stopover site and the significance of weather. Anim Behav 62:235-243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.2001.1749
Davis AK, 2005. A comparison of age, size, and health of House Finches captured with two trapping methods. J Field Ornithol 76:339-344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1648/0273-8570-76.4.339
Demongin L, 2016. Identification guide to birds in the hand. Brit Birds 109:553-555.
Fornasari L, Calvi G, 2012. [Riserva naturale Bolle di Magadino: affetti del traffico aereo sull’avifauna].[Article in Italian]. Boll Soc tic Sci Nat 100:171-191.
Giuntini S, Tattoni C, Gagliardi A, Martinoli Al, Patocchi N, Lardelli R, Martinoli A, Preatoni DG, 2023. Dataset: bird traffic rate at Bolle di Magadino Natural Reserve, Lake Maggiore (CH) (1.0). Zenodo. Available from: https://zenodo.org/record/8075532
Goymann W, Spina F, Ferri A, Fusani L, 2010. Body fat influences departure from stopover sites in migratory birds: Evidence from whole-island telemetry. Biol Lett 6:478-481. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2009.1028
GRASS Development Team, 2022. Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS GIS) Software. Available from: http://grass.osgeo.org
Haest B, Hertner F, Schmid B, Preatoni D, De Groeve J, Liechti F, 2023. “birdscanR: Migration Traffic Rate Calculation Package for Birdscan MR1 Radars.” httpsAvailable from: https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=birdscanR
Hedenström A, Alerstam T, 1992. Climbing performance of migrating birds as a basis for estimating limits for fuel-carrying capacity and muscle work. J Exp Biol 164:19-38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.164.1.19
Hilbe M, Anselmetti F, Eilertsen R, Hansen L, 2009. [Bathymetrische Untersuchungen im Lago Maggiore. Bericht zur Seegrundaufnahme im April/Mai 2009].[in German]. Eawag, Duebendorf. Available from: https://www.dora.lib4ri.ch/eawag/islandora/object/eawag%3A14881/datastream/PDF/Hilbe-2009-Bathymetrische_Untersuchungen_im_Lago_Maggiore.-%28published_version%29.pdf
Hu J, Hu H, Jiang Z, 2010. The impacts of climate change on the wintering distribution of an endangered migratory bird. Oecologia 164:555-565. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-010-1732-z
Hutto RL, 1985. Habitat selection by nonbreeding, migratory land, p. 455-476. In: Cody ML (ed.), Habitat selection in birds. Academic Press, New York.
Inderwildi A, Salvetti A, 2016. [Regolazione del Lago Maggiore. Schede sulla regolazione dei livelli lacustri].[Article in Italian] Ufficio federale dell’ambiente UFAM. Available from: https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/it/home/temi/pericoli-naturali/dossier/regolazionelivelli-lacustri/principali-regolazioni-lacuali.html
Jiang H, Liu C, Sun X, Lu J, Zou C, Hou Y, Lu X, 2015. Remote sensing reversion of water depths and water management for the stopover site of siberian cranes at Momoge, China. Wetlands 35:369-379. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-015-0626-6
Khani A, Nourani E, Kafash A, Ilanloo S, Alipour J, Yousefi M, 2015. Artificial waterbodies in Sarakhs county: important stopover sites for migratory waterbirds in northeastern Iran. Sandgrouse 37:71-78.
Koch SL, Paton PW, 2014. Assessing anthropogenic disturbances to develop buffer zones for shorebirds using a stopover site. J Wildl Manag 78:58-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.631
Komenda‐Zehnder S, Jenni L, Liechti F, 2010. Do bird captures reflect migration intensity? – Trapping numbers on an Alpine pass compared with radar counts. J Avian Biol 41: 434-444. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-048X.2010.04891.x
Korner-Nievergelt F, Korner-Nievergelt P, Baader E, et al., 2007. [Herbstlicher Tagzug auf der Beringungsstation Ulmethöchi im Jura: Veränderungen in den Fangzahlen über 40 Jahre (1966–2005)].[Article in German] Ornithol Beobr 104:3-32.
Lardelli R, 2006. [La migrazione degli uccelli attraverso il Ticino: analisi delle ricatture di uccelli inanellati].[Article in Italian]. Boll Soc. tic Sci Nat 94:17-24.
Lardelli R, Scandolara C, 2023. [In volo tra Africa ed Europa].[Article in Italian]. Fondazione Bolle di Magadino and Ficedula; 160 pp.
Liu M, Swanson DL, 2015. Stopover duration, movement patterns and temporary home ranges of fall migrant yellow‐rumped
warblers Setophaga coronata in native and anthropogenic woodlands of the Northern Prairie region, USA. J Avian Biol 46:452-461. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jav.00672
Ma Z, Cai Y, Li B, Chen J, 2010. Managing wetland habitats for waterbirds: an international perspective. Wetlands 30:15-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-009-0001-6
Mehlman DW, Mabey SE, Ewert DN, Duncan C, Abel B, Cimprich D, Sutter R, Woodrey M, 2005. Conserving stopover sites for forest-dwelling migratory landbirds. Auk 122:1281-1290. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/122.4.1281
Moore FR, Aborn DA, 2000. Mechanisms of en route habitat selection: How do migrants make habitat decisions during stopover? Stud Avian Biol 20:34-42.
Morabito G, Rogora M, Austoni M, Ciampittiello M, 2018. Could the extreme meteorological events in Lake Maggiore watershed determine a climate-driven eutrophication process? Hydrobiologia 824:163-175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-018-3549-4
Mueller T, O’Hara RB, Converse SJ, Urbanek RP, Fagan WF, 2013. Social learning of migratory performance. Science 341:999-1002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1237139
Nilsson C, Dokter AM, Schmid B, Scacco M, Verlinden L, Bäckman J, et al., 2018. Field validation of radar systems for monitoring bird migration. J Appl Ecol 55:2552-2564. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13174
Overdijk O, Navedo JG, 2012. A massive spoonbill stopover episode: identifying emergency sites for the conservation of migratory waterbird populations. Aquat Conserv 22:695-703. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2275
Packmor F, Klinner T, Woodworth B, Eikenaar C, Schmaljohann H, 2020. Stopover departure decisions in songbirds: do long-distance migrants depart earlier and more independently of weather conditions than medium-distance migrants? Movement Ecol 8:6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-020-0193-1
Peckford ML, Taylor PD 2008. Within night correlations between radar and ground counts of migrating songbirds. J Field Ornithol 79:207-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1557-9263.2008.00165.x
Plum N, 2005. Terrestrial invertebrates in flooded grassland: a literature review. Wetlands 25:721-737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2005)025[0721:TIIFGA]2.0.CO;2
QGIS Development Team, 2022. QGIS Geographic Information System. Available from: https://www.qgis.org
RSIS, 2017. Bolle di Magadino. Ramsar Sites Information Service. Available from: https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/231
R Core Team, 2021. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna. Available from: https://www.R-project.org
RStudio Team 2020. RStudio: Integrated Development for R. RStudio PBC, Boston. Available from: http://www.rstudio.com
Schmid B, Zaugg S, Votier SC, Chapman JW, Boos M, Liechti F, 2019. Size matters in quantitative radar monitoring of animal migration: estimating monitored volume from wingbeat frequency. Ecography 42:931-941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.04025
Saporetti F, 2018. [L'avifauna acquatica della ZPS IT 2010502 "Canneti del Lago Maggiore" - Risultati del monitoraggio 2015-2017].[Article in Italian]. Technical report. Gruppo Insubrico di Ornitologia Onlus – Clivio.
Sergio F, Tanferna A, de Stephanis R, López Jiménez L, Blas J, Tavecchia G, Preatoni DG, Hiraldo F, 2014. Individual improvements and selective mortality shape lifelong migratory performance. Nature 515:410–413. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13696
Spina F, Volponi S 2009. [Atlante della Migrazione degli Uccelli in Italia. Vol. 2: Passeriformi].[in Italian]. ISPRA, Rome; 630 pp.
Tattoni C, Ciolli M, 2019. Analysis of bird flyways in 3D. ISPRS Int J Geo-Information 8:1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi8120535
Tattoni C, Giuntini S, Gagliardi A, Martinoli Al, Lardelli R, Patocchi N, et al., 2022. Effect of water level on migratory birds habitat at Lake Maggiore. Int Arch. Photogramm Remote Sens Spatial Inf Sci XLVIII-4/W1-2022:473-478. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-4-W1-2022-473-2022
Tattoni C, Soardi E, Prosser F, Odasso M, Zatelli P, Ciolli M, 2019. Fruit availability for migratory birds: A GIS approach. PeerJ 7:e6394. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6394
Trosch B, Lardelli R, Liechti F, Dieter P, Bruderer B, 2005. Spatial and seasonal variation in nocturnal autumn spring migration patterns in the western Mediterranean area: a moon-watching survey. Avocetta 292:63-73.
Tsvey A, Bulyuk VN, Kosarev V, 2007. Influence of body condition and weather on departures of first-year European robins, Erithacus rubecula, from an autumn migratory stopover site. Behav Eco Sociobiol 61:1665-1674. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0397-z
Ufficio protezione della natura della Repubblica e Cantone Ticino, 2005. [Modello digitale del terreno della zona protetta delle Bolle di Magadino].[in Italian]. Ufficio dei corsi d'acqua della Repubblica e Cantone Ticino, Bellinzona.
Verhoeven MA, Loonstra AJ, McBride AD, Kaspersma W, Hooijmeijer JC, Both C, Senner N, Piersma T, 2021. Age‐dependent timing and routes demonstrate developmental plasticity in a long‐distance migratory bird. J Anim Ecol 91:566-579. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13641
Webb EB, Smith LM, Vrtiska MP, and Lagrange TG, 2010. Effects of local and landscape variables on wetland bird habitat use during migration through the Rainwater Basin. J Wildl Manag 74:109-119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2193/2008-577
Welcker J, Liesenjohann M, Blew J, Nehls G, Grünkorn T, 2017. Nocturnal migrants do not incur higher collision risk at wind turbines than diurnally active species. Ibis 159:366-373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12456
Wikelski M, Tarlow EM, Raim, A, Diehl RH, Larkin RP, Visser GH, 2003. Costs of migration in free-flying songbirds. Nature 423:704-704. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/423704a
Wright JR, Powell LL, Matthews SN, Tonra CM, 2020. Rusty Blackbirds select areas of greater habitat complexity during stopover. Condor 122:duaa040. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duaa040
Zaugg S, Saporta G, van Loon E, Schmaljohann H, Liechti F, 2008. Automatic identification of bird targets with radar via patterns produced by wing flapping. J R Soc Interface 5:1041-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2007.1349
Zehnder S, Åkesson S, Liechti F, Bruderer B, 2001. Nocturnal autumn bird migration at Falsterbo, South Sweden. J Avian Biol 32:239-248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0908-8857.2001.320306.x

Edited by

Angela Boggero, National Research Council, Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Verbania Pallanza, Italy

Supporting Agencies

Regione Lombardia/EU–INTERREG Italia Svizzera 2014/2020

How to Cite

Giuntini, Silvia, Clara Tattoni, Alessandra Gagliardi, Alessio Martinoli, Nicola Patocchi, Roberto Lardelli, Adriano Martinoli, and Damiano G. Preatoni. 2023. “Limnology for the Ornithologist: Effects of Lake Maggiore Water Level on Migratory Flows”. Journal of Limnology 81 (s2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2022.2123.

Similar Articles

<< < 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

List of Cited By :

Crossref logo