Applying Hydrological Thresholds To Wetland Management For Waterbirds, Using Bathymetric Surveys And GIS

The Lake Warden wetland system (LWWS), on the south coast of Western Australia (WA), is a wetland of international importance for waterbirds. It occurs at the bottom of a heavily cleared agricultural catchment. Rising water levels associated with clearing have been identified as a threat to waterbird diversity. Different species of waterbird are typically found in specific ranges of water depths. Studies indicate overall waterbird diversity is sensitive to the area of shallow water, which is the only habitat in which wading birds and shorebirds can forage given their morphological limitations.