Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand
Dam construction for the provision of hydropower and a stable water supply poses a major threat to freshwater biodiversity. Water fluctuation due to dam management has adverse effects on local people and biodiversity in downstream areas, including sandbar-nesting birds. The aim of this research was...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/11/1755 |
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| author | Sarun Keithmaleesatti Rongrong Angkaew Mark Gregory Robson |
| author_facet | Sarun Keithmaleesatti Rongrong Angkaew Mark Gregory Robson |
| author_sort | Sarun Keithmaleesatti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dam construction for the provision of hydropower and a stable water supply poses a major threat to freshwater biodiversity. Water fluctuation due to dam management has adverse effects on local people and biodiversity in downstream areas, including sandbar-nesting birds. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of water levels controlled by upstream dams on the breeding success of two sandbar-nesting birds, the little ringed plover, <i>Charadrius dubius</i>, and little pratincole, <i>Glareola lacteal</i>, along the Mekong River in Bueng Kan Province, Thailand. During January–May 2018, we found 160 active nests of only two species, the little ringed plover (<i>n</i> = 26 nests, 288 exposure days) and the little pratincole (<i>n</i> = 134 nests, 890 exposure days). Their nest success rates were 19.49 ± 7.52% and 5.54 ± 1.61%, respectively. Predation was a major cause of nest failure for both species (<i>n</i> = 82), followed by flooding (<i>n</i> = 44). We found a significantly increased probability of nest flooding when the water level was higher than when the nest was initiated for those located closer to the water, particularly during March and April, when water levels fluctuated. Our results indicate that dams threaten sandbar-nesting species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:44:33Z |
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| id | doaj.art-d741b624dc0849438e9be0a2cb2b6d33 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:44:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d741b624dc0849438e9be0a2cb2b6d332023-11-23T15:02:18ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-05-011411175510.3390/w14111755Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, ThailandSarun Keithmaleesatti0Rongrong Angkaew1Mark Gregory Robson2Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, ThailandConservation Ecology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10150, ThailandSchool of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USADam construction for the provision of hydropower and a stable water supply poses a major threat to freshwater biodiversity. Water fluctuation due to dam management has adverse effects on local people and biodiversity in downstream areas, including sandbar-nesting birds. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of water levels controlled by upstream dams on the breeding success of two sandbar-nesting birds, the little ringed plover, <i>Charadrius dubius</i>, and little pratincole, <i>Glareola lacteal</i>, along the Mekong River in Bueng Kan Province, Thailand. During January–May 2018, we found 160 active nests of only two species, the little ringed plover (<i>n</i> = 26 nests, 288 exposure days) and the little pratincole (<i>n</i> = 134 nests, 890 exposure days). Their nest success rates were 19.49 ± 7.52% and 5.54 ± 1.61%, respectively. Predation was a major cause of nest failure for both species (<i>n</i> = 82), followed by flooding (<i>n</i> = 44). We found a significantly increased probability of nest flooding when the water level was higher than when the nest was initiated for those located closer to the water, particularly during March and April, when water levels fluctuated. Our results indicate that dams threaten sandbar-nesting species.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/11/1755Mekong Riverdambreeding successwater fluctuationsandbar-nesting birds |
| spellingShingle | Sarun Keithmaleesatti Rongrong Angkaew Mark Gregory Robson Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand Water Mekong River dam breeding success water fluctuation sandbar-nesting birds |
| title | Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand |
| title_full | Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand |
| title_short | Impact of Water Fluctuation from a Dam on the Mekong River on the Hatching Success of Two Sandbar-Nesting Birds: A Case Study from Bueng Kan Province, Thailand |
| title_sort | impact of water fluctuation from a dam on the mekong river on the hatching success of two sandbar nesting birds a case study from bueng kan province thailand |
| topic | Mekong River dam breeding success water fluctuation sandbar-nesting birds |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/11/1755 |
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