Crucial sites and environmental variables for wintering migratory waterbird population distributions in the natural wetlands in East Dongting Lake, China.

摘要: Abstract Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China and one of globally important wintering sites for migratory waterbirds East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Crucial environmental variables are great concern wetlands. In this research, based on annual (2003/2004–2016/2017) waterbird habitat census data, we recognized crucial during seasons by comparing difference populations at community, foraging guild species levels different natural wetlands within Lake, then identified affecting distributions analyzing relationship between variables, including vegetation area, mudflat water area with depth 0–20 cm, 20–50 cm, 50–100 cm, >100 cm, growth status (Min, Mean Max NDVI), human disturbance. Results indicated that five wetlands, i.e., Daxiaoxi, Chunfeng, Baihu lakes, Dingzi dyke Tanjiaweizi, were as Lake. Among ten selected areas 20–50 cm disturbance, Min NDVIs overall. Waterbirds exhibited significant linear certain exception Bean goose Lesser White-fronted level, which showed Gaussian distribution changes mean NDVI. The appeared to be guild- species-specific. These findings provide information managers understand differences make more targeted conservation efforts.