Inventory and conservation of breeding waterbirds at ojo de liebre and guerrero negro lagoons, Baja California Sur México

Surveys made in 1997/98 at the lagoons of Ojo de Liebre (Scammon’s Lagoon) and Guerrero Negro,Baja California Sur, Mexico, showed that changes have occurred since 1926 in the species compositionof the community of breeding waterbirds, in the arrangement of their nesting substrate and in theirpopulat...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Aradit Castellanos, Federico Salinas, Alfredo Ortega Rubio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2001
País:México
Institución:Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C.
Repositorio:Redalyc-CIBNOR
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:48027303
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=48027303
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias de la Tierra
Ojo de Liebre
Baja California Sur
breeding waterbirds
Descripción
Sumario:Surveys made in 1997/98 at the lagoons of Ojo de Liebre (Scammon’s Lagoon) and Guerrero Negro,Baja California Sur, Mexico, showed that changes have occurred since 1926 in the species compositionof the community of breeding waterbirds, in the arrangement of their nesting substrate and in theirpopulation size. Of 17 species breeding in the area in 1926, we found 12 nesting there during our survey.Additional data from other researchers allowed us to conclude that 16 species have nested in the area after1984. Only one species (Sterna elegans) has not been reported nesting; however, it is still considered tobe a local breeder. Three species (Egretta alba, Larus atricilla and Falco peregrinus) became newestablished breeders. Most of the species that breed on the islands within Scammon’s Lagoon have astable population or have increased in number. None of the egret species breeding in 1926 in marshesoutside the islands currently nest there. Four species (Sterna antillarum, Charadrius wilsonia,Charadrius alexandrinus and Rallus longirostris) breed on the islands or at other sites in the lagoons andvicinity. Despite development in the region, the natural wetlands and open-water coverage remain almostunchanged. Natural nesting substrates are mostly confined to the islands and are vulnerable to landpredators, wave erosion and direct human disturbance. These factors may have caused the shifting ofnesting spots from one island to another and to other suitable nesting sites on the lagoons, the urbanlandscape, the saltworks and man-made structures. Breeding waterbirds have been granted limitedprotection through reserves and single-species conservation programs. We suggest guidelines to enhancetheir protection as a community in the context of El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve