Today, wetlands across the world are subjected to many threats causing the loss of wetlands. Draining the wetlands and clearing its vegetation to serve the people’s need -constructions and agriculture are some of the biggest threats to wetlands.
Introduction of Invasive Species can damage the wetland ecosystem - The non-native species can invade such ecosystems which might lead to a misbalance in the existing system as such species compete with the native ones for natural resources.
Often, wetlands are being used as the dumping grounds where industrial effluents, household wastes or sewage is released. High pollution rates in such wetlands kill the flora and fauna and thus destroy the wetland habitat.
The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) is a species of tern. Adult birds have black legs, and a long thick red-orange bill with a small black tip. They have a white head with a black cap and white neck, belly and tail.
Godwits are a group of large, long-billed, long-legged and strongly migratory waders. Their long bills allow them to probe deeply in the sand for aquatic worms and molluscs. They are frequent seen in tidal shorelines, breeding in northern climates in summer and migrating south in winter.
Like all other habitats, wetlands are also suffering from climate change-induced alterations in the environment.
Many birds are important in plant reproduction through their services as pollinators or seed dispersers. Birds do pest control as they maintain sustainable population levels of their prey and predator species. After death, they become food for scavengers and decomposers.
Credits:
Ajith Gamage, Diluka Piyasena