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A research centre for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands




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Mediterranean Reedbeds

Bearded tit

Project leader: Brigitte Brigitte POULIN (See the CV)

Team:

Emilien Duborper, Aurélie Davranche, Gaëtan Lefebvre, Raphael Mathevet , Alain Sandoz


Reedbeds are plant community types dominated in the narrow sense by the common reed, Phragmites australis (=communis), and by extension by tall emergents or semi-aquatic species (Typha, Scirpus, Cladium). They form a transition between terrestrial and aquatic habitats, and can sometimes spread over vast areas of shallow marshland. They fulfil a large number of functions, such as hydrological regulation and the accumulation of sediments or nutrients. They contribute to biodiversity through the rare and vulnerable species which they support (e.g. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Bittern Botaurus stellaris, Moustached Warbler Acrocephalus melanopogon. Their functioning and the continued survival of the populations which are associated with them are intimately linked to human activities, both within the reedbeds themselves (reed harvest, grazing, hunting) and around the edges (water management, drainage, embankments, etc). The preservation of these systems, as well as the continuation of the human activities associated with them, necessitates the finding of common ground between the needs of those who use them and the needs of the flora and fauna.

To identify the conditions which are favourable to continuing sustainable use by people as well as the preservation of the biological diversity and natural functions of the reedbeds, on the basis of a better understanding of the biology of the species (particularly emergent plants and birds), and of their relationships with environmental conditions (water levels, salinity, turbidity) and with human activities.


Contents:


Issues :

Scientific issues

  • Ecosystem dynamics of tall emergents (pdfroseau-EN.doc)
  • Structure and clonal regime as determinants of survival, spread and sexual reproductive success of Scirpus maritimus (pdfscirpe-EN.doc)
  • Sampling protocols for estimating richness and abundance of reed passerines (pdfpass3-EN.doc)
  • Ecological requirements of reed passerines in terms of hydrology, vegetation structure and food availability (pdfpass1-EN.doc)
  • Impact of reed cutting on reed arthropods and passerines (pdfpass2-EN.doc)
  • Sampling protocols to count and locate booming males of Eurasian bitterns (pdfbutor1-EN.doc)
  • Ecological requirements of Eurasian bitterns in the Camargue (pdfbutor2-EN.doc)
  • Monitoring of Purple heron colonies in southern France (pdfHP-EN.doc)

Conservation issues

  • Agro-environnemental schemes for reed harvesting (ContratNatura2000.doc in French)
  • Modelling of the ecological and socio-economic functioning of reedbeds (model.doc)
  • Control and eradication of Baccharis hamilifolia in the Camargue
  • Impact of fire on Eurasian bittern spatial distribution in Cladium marshes (fire-impact.doc in French)
  • The French reedbed network or « Rézo du Rozo » : a common scheme for reedbed follow uu
  • Waste-water treatment using reeds (epuration.doc)
  • Final report of the LIFE-Nature Programme on the Management and Restauration of Bittern habitat in France (LIFEreport.doc in French)

Activities:

Some of the research activities initiated in the Reedbed Programme between 1996 and 2005 are being continued in 2006-2010 within the project Biodiversity, management and uses of Camargue marshes (Dynamics and Management of Ecosystems -Programme 2).


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