Winter management of California's rice fields to maximize waterbird habitat and minimize water use

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• 作者：Khara M. Strum ; Matthew E. Reiter ; C. Alex Hartman ; Monica N. Iglecia ; T. Rodd Kelsey ; Catherine M. Hickey
• 关键词：Waterbirds ; California ; Rice ; Conservation ; Post-harvest flooding ; Wildlife-friendly farming
• 刊名：Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：1 October, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：179
• 期：Complete
• 页码：116-124
• 全文大小：1111 K

文摘

Rice agriculture provides habitat for waterbirds in California's Sacramento Valley, a region that has lost over 90 % of natural wetlands. Developed as an agronomic practice, winter-flooding of rice fields also provides habitat for waterbirds but alternatives are needed with predicted declines in water availability. During the winters of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, we compared waterbird density and water depths of Sacramento Valley rice fields in four post-harvest management treatments that varied in the amount of water used: maintenance flooding, one-time flooding, non-flooded with boards left in water control structures, and non-flooded with boards removed from water control structures. Densities of waterbirds were higher in the flooded treatments compared to non-flooded treatments. One-time flooding provided the most suitable water depths for shorebirds and long-legged waders while maintenance flooding provided the most suitable water depths for dabbling ducks. Our results confirm that the practice of winter-flooding rice fields provides waterbird habitat. However, increased habitat value and potentially less water use could be achieved using a combination of traditional and alternative flooding practices.