In recently years, the artificial wetlands such as fishponds and rice pads have become the main habitats type for waterbird due to the decrease of natural wetland. Such phenomenon exists generally in Yangtze River coastline since the coast wetlands were reclaimed during last decade. However, part of artificial wetlands in these areas is being abandoned by local farmers in the reasons of labour cost increasing and aquatic product price decreasing comparatively. Some studies concluded that the abandonment of fishpond caused the deterioration of soil and water quality, and the decrease of benthic animals. However there are few studies about the influence of natural succession after the abandonment on waterbird community. Chongming Dongtan National Nature Reserve is one of the international wetland (Ramsar Site) for waterbird conservation, where we selected the abandoned fishpond as our research area to undertake the waterbird studies in 2007, and 2011, aiming to the impact of rapid succession after abandonment on waterbird community structure, and raising relative recommendations on the further management of these abandoned fish ponds for local government.

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