Seasonal effects of Land cover changes on ecological of migratory birds in Al-Hammar Marsh, southern Iraq

Abstract

Al-Hammar Marsh in Iraq stands out for hosting the largest concentrations of coastal migratory birds along the migration path between the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. Despite this importance, there is no complete review of the dynamics of these birds. In this study, we collected and analyzed the results of six species of migratory birds (Mallard duck, Graylag goose, White pelican, Barn swallow, Common gull, White stork) in the Region, in addition to the results of the land cover in October of 2000 to 2020, The results show the presence across the past two decades of a change in the population makeup of migratory birds. Complete numbers of migratory birds indicated a decline in the residual types between 2000 and 2020. The disproportion among numbers was also too large for trends to be observed. The region also showed a decrease in the areas of vegetation cover during the study period was equal to 5.0%, 3.5%, and 15.6%, And an increase in the areas of water bodies during the study period was equal to 7.8%, 21.0%, and 62.6%, respectively, Finally, A multivariate analysis suggests a general decline in types that depend on the Wetland for feeding and breeding an in the sublittoral and the offshore zones. Use satellite data can be used for monitoring several variables such as water bodies, vegetation cover, Climate factors that influence the activity of Migratory birds.