Year-round use of the Regional Nature Reserve of Nazzano, Tevere-Farfa (Latium, central Italy) by waterbirds

Abstract

From 2007-2011, surveys were carried out to describe the presence of waterbirds in the Regional Nature Reserve of Nazzano,Tevere-Farfa. The key parameters of the community were analysed: richness, abundance, dominance, diversity, evenness and daily energy expenditure for each 15-day period in which counts were made. A census for all breeding species was also carried out. Forty-nine species were encountered, the most abundant of which was Anas platyrhynchos, Fulica atra and Gallinula chloropus. There was negative trend in the bird population for all species combined during the years of the study, probably caused by the worsening of the water conditions due to a decrease of aquatic macrophytes. Management actions proposed aimed at improving food availability and creating wetlands with different water levels.