The effects of recreational activities on aquatic avifauna

The Rietvlei wetland system, 10 km north of Cape Town, South Africa, supports 158 species of birds (Winterbottom,1960), and is the principal wetland for breeding waterbird numbers in the south-western Cape Province. It is an important collection, pairing and distribution centre prior to the breeding season. Emerging mudflats during evaporation in late summer are a major gathering point for waders before migratory departure. Increasing human pressure on open spaces is threatening this natural habitat of aquatic birds. For future waterbird conservation it is necessary to ascertain the impact of recreation and human disturbance in this area. Recreational activities on the northern of two dredged lakes in the northwestern corner of Rietvlei are therefore examined to investigate possible causal relationships between recreational activity and the numbers and behaviour of aquatic avifauna. Counts of waterbirds were carried out in the presence of people involved with various forms of recreational activity. These observations were made between February and May 1983. As a null hypothesis it is proposed that recreational activities on this lake and wetland system do not have a significant effect upon water birds in the area. The method used to test this hypothesis is based on statistical analysis by computer, with disturbance measured by means of correlation coefficients between recreational activities and bird numbers. The major findings (Chapter 5) and subsequent recommendations (Chapter 6) for waterbird conservation on the Rietvlei dredged lakes are presented, and proposals for further research in this field are suggested.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Environmental and Geographical Science

Year dc:date.issued

1984

Author dc:creator

• Rowlands, Beaumont W

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Hey, D
• Grindley, J R

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16999

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/16999