Severe Drought Monitoring by Remote Sensing Methods and Its Impact on Wetlands Birds Assemblages in Nuntași and Tuzla Lakes (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve)

Vasile Jitariu, Alexandru Dorosencu, Pavel Ichim and Constantin Ion
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Vasile Jitariu: Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Alexandru Dorosencu: Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, 165 Babadag Street, 820112 Tulcea, Romania
Pavel Ichim: Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Constantin Ion: Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 700506 Iasi, Romania

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: The present paper aims to highlight the impact of the partial or total drying of the Nuntași and Tuzla lakes (from the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve) as a result of intense drought phenomena on groups of waterfowl that are encountered in this region. Our analysis combined satellite remote sensing techniques with bird observations that were made monthly during the analyzed period, corroborated with the meteorological context of the time interval that was taken into account. The results of the satellite image processing show a partial drying in 2013 and a total drying in 2020 of the Nuntași and Tuzla lakes, which were caused by both natural factors (drought) and anthropogenic factors (inadequate management of the area—e.g.,: communication channels with surrounding lakes are clogged). These situations have led to repercussions for groups of birds, which behave differently depending on their ecology. Pelicans and swans are the most affected birds, they leave the area in the absence of water, whereas gulls and terns are not affected by the decrease in the water surface, they even increase their numbers in such conditions. Our study also shows that from 2010 to 2020 the largest numbers of birds (total numbers of birds), with the exception of pelicans, were recorded in 2013 and 2020, more precisely in the years when the water surface decreased considerably. Another important feature of this paper involves highlighting how fragile an ecosystem can be in the context of climate change, but also how important it is to involve human society in maintaining the adequate conditions for an ecosystem that is part of one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on the planet, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.

Keywords: remote sensing; drought impact; aquatic birds; Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:5:p:672-:d:806679

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