Water Quality and Its Influence on Waterbird Habitat Distribution: A Study Along the Lieve River, Belgium DOI Open Access
Xingzhen Liu, Long Ho, Andrée De Cock

et al.

Water, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(4), P. 595 - 595

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

Freshwater ecosystems face increasing pressures from human activities, leading to degraded water quality and altered habitats for aquatic species. This study investigates the relationship between waterbird distribution along Lieve River, Belgium, based on manually conducted counts data collected 48 transects in March 2024. Localized eutrophication was evident, with TN (2.7–5.6 mg L−1), TP (up 0.46 chlorophyll-a (median 70 ppb) exceeding environmental thresholds. Prati index analysis revealed that 58.3% of sampling points River were categorized as “polluted”, reflecting extensive degradation. Eurasian coots (71.4%) wild ducks (72.4%) predominantly found polluted areas, thriving nutrient-enriched linked high levels. In contrast, common moorhens (80.3%) preferred acceptable indicating higher requirements. These findings indicate phosphate is a key driver waterbody eutrophication, evidenced by concentrations measured on-site, which far exceed thresholds set standards. Future research should explore advanced monitoring approaches improve assessments, ensuring conservation one Europe’s oldest artificial canals, protection its habitats.

Language: Английский

Water Quality and Its Influence on Waterbird Habitat Distribution: A Study Along the Lieve River, Belgium DOI Open Access
Xingzhen Liu, Long Ho, Andrée De Cock

et al.

Water, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(4), P. 595 - 595

Published: Feb. 19, 2025

Freshwater ecosystems face increasing pressures from human activities, leading to degraded water quality and altered habitats for aquatic species. This study investigates the relationship between waterbird distribution along Lieve River, Belgium, based on manually conducted counts data collected 48 transects in March 2024. Localized eutrophication was evident, with TN (2.7–5.6 mg L−1), TP (up 0.46 chlorophyll-a (median 70 ppb) exceeding environmental thresholds. Prati index analysis revealed that 58.3% of sampling points River were categorized as “polluted”, reflecting extensive degradation. Eurasian coots (71.4%) wild ducks (72.4%) predominantly found polluted areas, thriving nutrient-enriched linked high levels. In contrast, common moorhens (80.3%) preferred acceptable indicating higher requirements. These findings indicate phosphate is a key driver waterbody eutrophication, evidenced by concentrations measured on-site, which far exceed thresholds set standards. Future research should explore advanced monitoring approaches improve assessments, ensuring conservation one Europe’s oldest artificial canals, protection its habitats.

Language: Английский

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