Birds of the Entella river (Genoa, Italy): a qualitative assessment of bird diversity in an urbanizing biotope, with implications for management and conservation

Abstract

This work presents the first assessment of the birds of the Entella river (Genoa, Liguria), a small wetland embedded in an urbanized matrix. Data were collected through standardized in situ censuses from April 2012 to June 2017 and integrated with historical and recent data from other verified sources. A total of 278 species are known from the site; 53 species (19.06%) breed in the area, whereas 62 (22.30%) species are vagrant and 81 species (29.14%) are included in the Annex I of the Birds Directive (79/409/CEE). We determined the following indices: NP/P ratio = 1.48, O.V.I. (Ornithological Value Index) = 20.53. In-depth data are provided for vagrant species and for species of conservation concern, to prioritize conservation efforts. The results underline the importance of the Entella river as a local biodiversity hotspot and suggest a possible role of the area as a stepping stone in the regional ecological network. The study highlights a dichotomy between urbanization and high bird diversity in the area and acts as a first step towards its conservation and implementation.

Birds of Metauro river: a great ornithological diversity in a small Italian urbanizing biotope, requiring greater protection

“…Even though most of the study area is in the SPA and SCI area, it must be noted that only a portion of it is actually protected (that relating to fenced areas). The anthropogenic disturbance problems already mentioned, hinder the possibility of many species to move between the various habitats, increasing the disconnection of the little biotopes in the area (Lawton et al, 2010;Harrison, 2016;Simoncini et al, 2018). Therefore, we recommend increasing the controls in such an important area, reducing anthropic disturbance and avoiding hunting, fishing and hydraulic interventions on the river.…”

“…To calculate the Ornithological Value Index (O.V.I.) of the study area, the following algorithm was applied (Massa et al, 2004;Termine et al, 2008;Simoncini et al, 2018): (Gustin et al, 2019). To calculate the non Passerines-Passerines ratio (NP/P) of the study area we obtained the number of non Passerines (N = 167) and Passerines (N = 86) from the total number of the species recorded (N = 253), dividing the former by the latter.…”

“…For these reasons a greater safeguard to the study area could help maintaining and safeguarding the whole regional ecological network, with important consequences for all the supra-regional migratory belt of the middle Adriatic (Premuda et al, 2008). Greater protection and attention could lead to obtaining a stronger connection between the areas already recovered (lakes and ponds) with those still in good natural conditions, in order to recreate an important uncontaminated habitat (Lawton et al, 2010;Harrison, 2016;Simoncini et al, 2018) and bringing great benefits also to the urban matrix (Collins et al, 2000;McKinney, 2006). Even though most of the study area is in the SPA and SCI area, it must be noted that only a portion of it is actually protected (that relating to fenced areas).…”

“…The Metauro estuary and the river lower course has received little attention, despite numerous local publications dedicated in the last decades (Poggiani & Dionisi, 1982, 1988a, 1988b, 2019Poggiani et al, 2014). In this territory there are a series of aquatic habitats and biotopes which are of small extension but show extraordinary bird species richness, constituting a naturalistic corridor of great importance for the regional ecological network (Lawton et al, 2010;Harrison, 2016;Simoncini et al, 2018). All the area is inserted in an urban-industrial context in constant growth, which pose threats to the habitats before mentioned (McKinney, 2006;Simoncini et al, 2018).…”

“…In this territory there are a series of aquatic habitats and biotopes which are of small extension but show extraordinary bird species richness, constituting a naturalistic corridor of great importance for the regional ecological network (Lawton et al, 2010;Harrison, 2016;Simoncini et al, 2018). All the area is inserted in an urban-industrial context in constant growth, which pose threats to the habitats before mentioned (McKinney, 2006;Simoncini et al, 2018). These habitats are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance -e.g.…”