Coastal lagoons ecosystems in Venezuela are recognized as important habitats for birds. However the

seasonal community of these waterbird communities and factors influencing the use of these wetlands

habitats have not been sufficiently studied. We estimated waterbird richness and individual abundance in

the Píritu lagoon, state of Anzoátegui, in the channel area leading out to the sea from monthly surveys

conducted during August to November 2015 and January 2016. Overall, we recorded 45 waterbird

species, belonging to 12 families. Richness was lesser in August, greater in November following the

inflow of Nearctic migrants. Waterbird families with the most number of species included Scolopacidae

(12 spp.), Ardeidae (10 spp.) and Laridae (9 spp.). Six species accounted for 78.44% of all individuals

detected (Pelecanus occidentalis L. 1758, Thalasseus maximus Boddaert 1783, Ardea alba L. 1758,

management through cooperative action of the two municipalities sharing the Píritu lagoon.

En Venezuela, los ecosistemas de lagunas costeras están reconocidos como hábitat importantes para las

con mayor número de especies fueron Scolopacidae (12 spp.), Ardeidae (10 spp.) y Laridae (9 spp.). Seis

especies acumularon el 78,44% del total de la abundancia (Pelecanus occidentalis L. 1758, Thalasseus

maximus Boddaert 1783, Ardea alba L. 1758, Sterna hirundo L. 1758, Phalacrocorax brasilianus Gmelin

1789 y Phaetusa simplex Gmelin 1789). La diversidad y equitabilidad variaron moderadamente: de 2,41 a

3,14 y 0,55 a 0,69, respectivamente. Los hábitat de aguas someras (<0,5 m de profundidad) aportaron la

más alta contribución a la riqueza de especies en esta laguna, alrededor de la cual habita una gran cantidad

de personas. Investigaciones a largo plazo serán vitales para formular planes de manejo y conservación de

las aves acuáticas que utilizan la laguna. La integridad y supervivencia de los ecosistemas de la Laguna de

Píritu se verá comprometida en las próximas décadas si la mayoría de sus ciudadanos no se involucra en su

conservación. Se propone la protección ambiental de la laguna de Píritu mediante el manejo cooperativo

Podicipediformes and Procellariformes, exploit

coastal lagoons given the diversity of habitats for

feeding, nesting and resting. Waterbirds

communities experience seasonal and anual

fluctuations in abundance and species

composition. Variations may be associated with the

habitat characteristics and the arrival of seasonal

migratory species (Brown & Dinsmore, 1986;

Elmberg et al., 1994; Gimenes & dos Anjos, 2003).

Abundance of invertebrates and fishes (Mercier &

may have consequences for the size of populations

(Robinson & Cranswick, 2003).

Given the documented species-habitat

relationships of waterbirds and wetlands, they are

an important useful taxonomic group to monitor

The ecological dynamic of coastal lagoons is

influenced by the exchange processes between

freshwater inputs and the adjacent sea (Kennish &

Paerl, 2010). Coastal lagoon ecosystems located

along densely populated areas in developing

2004; Nagarajan & Thiyagesan, 2006; Esteves et

al., 2008; Lloret et al., 2008; Marín & Marín, 2011;

Newton et al., 2014).

Waterbirds represent one of the best monitored

biological components of coastal lagoons and other

transitional coastal waters. Moreover, the

functional role of waterbirds as bioindicators of

enviromental changes has been discussed in

previous studies (Kushlan, 1993; Comin &

Herrera-Silveira, 2000; Amat & Green, 2010;

2006; Esteves et al., 2008; Conway, 2011).

The importance of Venezuelan coastal lagoons as

waterbird habitats have been reported by previous

authors (McNeil et al., 1985; Rodner, 2006; Marín

& Marín, 2011). However, the seasonal dynamics

of the waterbird community of waterbird species in

the Píritu lagoon, a site of regional importance for

birds (BirdLife International and Conservation

International, 2005), and the factors influencing

wetland have not been studied. Our objective in

formulate the rationale for its legal restoration and

management.

Study site

Píritu lagoon, located in Anzoátegui state

(10°02′~10°03′N and 65°00′~65°09′ W) is

the second largest saltwater continental lagoon in

notheastern Venezuela (Fig. 1). The open water

covers ca. 2600 km ; surrounded by an extense area

of mangroves (Rhizophora mangle L. 1753 and

There is only one outlet to sea at the northeastern

sector of the lagoon. Mean annual rainfall

pluviosity is 700 mm peaking during the rainy

season months between June and November and

high temperature, i.e., Min/Max: 27-32°C

(González, 1987; Rodríguez & González, 2001).

The lagoon volume varies throughout the day

because the marine water tidal input through the

mouth. This oulet was partially refilled reducing

located on the western end of the lagoon has altered

its natural hydrodynamic. In addition, artisanal

of the 45 bird species, 17 (37.7%) were migrants

from the boreal latitudes.

The total abundance was 2.390 individuals; it was

greater in November than other months. The total

number of species and monthly abundance of

waterbirds is shown in the Table 2. The higher

value for Simpson's diversity index was observed

in January.

The most representative families noted were

Scolopacidae (12 spp.), Ardeidae (10 spp.), and

Gmelin 1789) and Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa

simplex Gmelin 1789).

Waterbirds observed were observed mostly

feeding and roosting. Feeding habitats varied from

dry mudflats to wet mud and shallow waters of no

more than 20 cm. Small shorebirds and plovers,

e.g., Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius

semipalmatus Bonaparte 1825), Gray Plover

(Pluvialis squatarola L. 1758), Ruddy Turnstone

(Arenaria interpres L. 1758) and Calidris spp.,

during the low tide when water levels in the lagoon

were falling and the shallow waters and exposed

mudflats offer favourable conditions for foraging

and resting (Ntiamoa-Baidu et al., 1998; Mercier &

McNeil, 1994).

Although the differences in abundance and

distribution are also an important criteria for avian

distribution and diversity in coastal wetlands

(Hoyer & Canfield, 1994; Paracuellos & Telleria,

2004; Hassen-Aboushiba, 2015; Jahanbakhsh et

this area is estimated to be approximately ca.

10,000 (Espinoza, 2014).

Likewise, Brown Pelican in the Píritu lagoon

exhibited the greater abundance (34.42% of total

abundance). Although brown pelicans have few

natural enemies and nests are sometimes destroyed

colonies and consumption of chicks by humans

may be inusual, in northeastern Venezuela this

activity is surprisingly common. Abandoned

fishing line also threatens this species.

In effect, directly or indirectly, the major threat of

wetlands is the pressure of increase human

population growth (Watzin & Gosselink, 1992).

Most coastal lagoons in Venezuela are under some

richness between the five months may be a function

of low sampling effort, the observed abundance

season in the savannas of Venezuela (McNeil et al.,

1985; Vilella & Baldassarre, 2010). Similarly,

Large-billed Tern and Black Skimmer (Rynchops

niger L. 1758) nest in sandbanks during shallow

waters pulses in Orinoco river corresponding to

drought period (Navarro et al., 2010).

Our sampling methodology resulted in failure to

account for some waterbird species due to lack of

access. For example, Caribbean Flamingo

(Phoenicopterus ruber L. 1758) was observed

Proyectos 2001 which funded this investigation.

degree of threat because habitat destruction, human

encroachment especially from recreational uses,

and pollution of industrial and untreated sewage

origin, sedimentation and drainage (Suárez, 2016).

For instance, we observed wastewater discharges

in our sampling area but we have no study as to how

or if nutrient enrichment has played a role in

altering patterns of waterbirds distribution in Píritu

lagoon. In the Everglades, USA, bird abundance

aimed to create an awareness of the value of the

local avifauna, and developing human resources

for birding tourism (Rodner, 2006); however, as we

have seen recently public indifference and

goverment policies encourage, unfortunately, the

lagoon degradation and it has revealed that this

valuable program has been failed.

Our study contributed information on the waterbird

community of Píritu lagoon and highlight the need

for the adoption of conservation strategies.

pressure from hydrological alterations, sewage

discharges, shrimp aquaculture, overfishing and

human-induced urbanism, as in other lagoons of

Northeastern Venezuela (Pagavino, 1993; Marín et

al., 2006; Marín et al., 2012a; Marín et al., 2012b;

Suárez, 2016; Marín et al., 2017). Thus, future

studies should evaluate waterbirds habitat use in

this coastal lagoon, in order to improve restoration

and management strategies. In addition, the

interpretation of ecological preferences and the