Guest guest Posted June 17, 2004 Report Share Posted June 17, 2004 ***************************Advertisement*************************** eCentral - Your Entertainment Guide http://www.star-ecentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my) URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/6/15/features/8115777 & sec=f\ eatures ________________________ Tuesday June 15, 2004 The ecosystem link WATERBIRDS are an important component of most wetland ecosystems as they form an important link in the food web. Many wetland species also play a role in the control of agricultural pests, whilst some species are considered pests of certain crops. After fish, birds are probably the next most important faunal group that attracts people to wetlands. Waterbirds are species of birds that are ecologically dependent on wetlands. They include wildfowl, waterfowl and shorebirds/waders. In addition to these, there are other birds which are dependent on wetlands, such as kingfishers, birds of prey and passerines. Many waterbirds are migratory, undertaking annual migrations along different flyways spanning the length and breadth of the globe between their breeding and non-breeding grounds. During their annual migration, waterbirds stop for very short periods to rest and feed at staging sites that are essential for migration and crucial to their survival. They regularly cross national boundaries and thus conservation of migratory waterbirds is the collective responsibility of all countries in the flyway. Loss of waterbird habitats and non-sustainable harvesting of waterbirds for human needs have led to declines in several waterbird populations and a number of species. Some of the most catastrophic declines have taken place in the last few decades, and the list of threatened species in the Asia-Pacific region has expanded rapidly to include species from a large range of waterbird groups. Whilst the decline of some populations has been well documented, the fate of many remains unknown. It is vital to understand the underlying causes for declines in populations and to attempt to control these trends to prevent key components of the biodiversity of wetland habitats from being lost. The number of waterbirds using a particular habitat is related to the type and quality of habitat, availability of food, and level of disturbance. Monitoring of waterbirds can provide valuable information on the status of wetlands, and can be a key tool for increasing awareness of the importance of wetlands. Source: Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 2001-2005, Wetlands International Related stories: <a href= " http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/6/15/features/8075051\ & sec=features " >Counting birds</a> <a href= " http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/6/15/features/8115461\ & sec=features " >Strategy for flyways</a><p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2003 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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