No Cover Image

E-Thesis 161 views 116 downloads

Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries / EMMA BUTTERWORTH

Swansea University Author: EMMA BUTTERWORTH

  • 2024_Butterworth_E.final.69937.pdf

    PDF | E-Thesis – open access

    Copyright: The author, Emma Butterworth, 2024

    Download (2.21MB)

Abstract

Estuaries in Britain provide internationally important foraging resources for overwintering avian species. Seagrass, Zostera spp., in these estuaries provide significant benefits for epi- and infaunal invertebrates, yet little is known about the role of seagrass in supporting migratory invertivorous...

Full description

Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Research
Degree name: MRes
Supervisor: Unsworth, R. K. F., and Bertelli, C. M.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69937
first_indexed 2025-07-10T11:06:07Z
last_indexed 2025-07-11T05:02:55Z
id cronfa69937
recordtype RisThesis
fullrecord <?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-07-10T12:06:05.9528169</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>69937</id><entry>2025-07-10</entry><title>Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>d39b5e0d88415effe1a04417911ab0fb</sid><firstname>EMMA</firstname><surname>BUTTERWORTH</surname><name>EMMA BUTTERWORTH</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-07-10</date><abstract>Estuaries in Britain provide internationally important foraging resources for overwintering avian species. Seagrass, Zostera spp., in these estuaries provide significant benefits for epi- and infaunal invertebrates, yet little is known about the role of seagrass in supporting migratory invertivorous birds. Bird count surveys were conducted in Chichester Harbour (CH) and Milford Haven Waterway (MHW) in February and March respectively, in areas containing seagrass and unvegetated sediment. Densities of feeding birds were compared between seagrass and unvegetated habitats, as well as areas characterised by annual and perennial seagrass populations.Here I show that intertidal seagrass should be regarded as an important foraging resource for overwintering birds, including 18 species listed by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); but that its role varies between species and regions.Evidence shows that coastal and estuarine species with broad dietary niches are largely unaffected by seagrass presence. However, evidence was found that seagrass across both regions mitigated the limiting effects of tidal changes in three species of wader (redshank Tringatotanus, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, dunlin Calidris alpina). It also provided a stable environment which was used by corvids in MHW to exploit intertidal foraging resources, a previously unrecognised behaviour in this area. This study demonstrates that seagrass has a role in migratory avian ecology and provides a foundation for further research of its role as aforaging resource. It is anticipated to underpin the formation of an inventory of migratory avian species that use seagrass ecosystems, as encouraged by the CMS.</abstract><type>E-Thesis</type><journal/><volume/><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher/><placeOfPublication>Swansea University, Wales, UK</placeOfPublication><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic/><keywords>seagrass, zostera, shorebirds, estuarine, wintering birds, habitat use, wildfowl</keywords><publishedDay>26</publishedDay><publishedMonth>5</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-05-26</publishedDate><doi/><url/><notes>A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information.</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><supervisor>Unsworth, R. K. F., and Bertelli, C. M.</supervisor><degreelevel>Master of Research</degreelevel><degreename>MRes</degreename><apcterm/><funders/><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-07-10T12:06:05.9528169</lastEdited><Created>2025-07-10T11:40:31.8886003</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>EMMA</firstname><surname>BUTTERWORTH</surname><order>1</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>69937__34725__4e9d0b9730584ee3a05cb0ba53cdba51.pdf</filename><originalFilename>2024_Butterworth_E.final.69937.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-07-10T12:04:59.7971204</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>2314395</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>E-Thesis &#x2013; open access</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>Copyright: The author, Emma Butterworth, 2024</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-07-10T12:06:05.9528169 v2 69937 2025-07-10 Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries d39b5e0d88415effe1a04417911ab0fb EMMA BUTTERWORTH EMMA BUTTERWORTH true false 2025-07-10 Estuaries in Britain provide internationally important foraging resources for overwintering avian species. Seagrass, Zostera spp., in these estuaries provide significant benefits for epi- and infaunal invertebrates, yet little is known about the role of seagrass in supporting migratory invertivorous birds. Bird count surveys were conducted in Chichester Harbour (CH) and Milford Haven Waterway (MHW) in February and March respectively, in areas containing seagrass and unvegetated sediment. Densities of feeding birds were compared between seagrass and unvegetated habitats, as well as areas characterised by annual and perennial seagrass populations.Here I show that intertidal seagrass should be regarded as an important foraging resource for overwintering birds, including 18 species listed by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); but that its role varies between species and regions.Evidence shows that coastal and estuarine species with broad dietary niches are largely unaffected by seagrass presence. However, evidence was found that seagrass across both regions mitigated the limiting effects of tidal changes in three species of wader (redshank Tringatotanus, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, dunlin Calidris alpina). It also provided a stable environment which was used by corvids in MHW to exploit intertidal foraging resources, a previously unrecognised behaviour in this area. This study demonstrates that seagrass has a role in migratory avian ecology and provides a foundation for further research of its role as aforaging resource. It is anticipated to underpin the formation of an inventory of migratory avian species that use seagrass ecosystems, as encouraged by the CMS. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK seagrass, zostera, shorebirds, estuarine, wintering birds, habitat use, wildfowl 26 5 2025 2025-05-26 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Unsworth, R. K. F., and Bertelli, C. M. Master of Research MRes 2025-07-10T12:06:05.9528169 2025-07-10T11:40:31.8886003 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences EMMA BUTTERWORTH 1 69937__34725__4e9d0b9730584ee3a05cb0ba53cdba51.pdf 2024_Butterworth_E.final.69937.pdf 2025-07-10T12:04:59.7971204 Output 2314395 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The author, Emma Butterworth, 2024 true eng
title Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
spellingShingle Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
EMMA BUTTERWORTH
title_short Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
title_full Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
title_fullStr Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
title_full_unstemmed Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
title_sort Role of intertidal seagrass (Zostera spp.) habitats in supporting wintering birds in two British estuaries
author_id_str_mv d39b5e0d88415effe1a04417911ab0fb
author_id_fullname_str_mv d39b5e0d88415effe1a04417911ab0fb_***_EMMA BUTTERWORTH
author EMMA BUTTERWORTH
author2 EMMA BUTTERWORTH
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics - Biosciences
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Estuaries in Britain provide internationally important foraging resources for overwintering avian species. Seagrass, Zostera spp., in these estuaries provide significant benefits for epi- and infaunal invertebrates, yet little is known about the role of seagrass in supporting migratory invertivorous birds. Bird count surveys were conducted in Chichester Harbour (CH) and Milford Haven Waterway (MHW) in February and March respectively, in areas containing seagrass and unvegetated sediment. Densities of feeding birds were compared between seagrass and unvegetated habitats, as well as areas characterised by annual and perennial seagrass populations.Here I show that intertidal seagrass should be regarded as an important foraging resource for overwintering birds, including 18 species listed by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS); but that its role varies between species and regions.Evidence shows that coastal and estuarine species with broad dietary niches are largely unaffected by seagrass presence. However, evidence was found that seagrass across both regions mitigated the limiting effects of tidal changes in three species of wader (redshank Tringatotanus, oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, dunlin Calidris alpina). It also provided a stable environment which was used by corvids in MHW to exploit intertidal foraging resources, a previously unrecognised behaviour in this area. This study demonstrates that seagrass has a role in migratory avian ecology and provides a foundation for further research of its role as aforaging resource. It is anticipated to underpin the formation of an inventory of migratory avian species that use seagrass ecosystems, as encouraged by the CMS.
published_date 2025-05-26T05:24:48Z
_version_ 1851460040206057472
score 11.089572

Similar Items