EDP Foz-Tua: Birds of Riparian Habitats - Exploration Phase [2018-2020]

Study Extent

The study was conducted in part of the sub-basin of river Tua affected by the Foz-Tua Hydroelectric Dam. The sampling was centered in the area affected by the reservoir filling and in non-affected stretches of the river (including its tributary river Tinhela) in a 1-km buffer centered in the Tua river, up to 53 km upstream the river mouth, in the municipalities of Alijó, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Murça, Mirandela and Vila Flor.

Sampling

Sampling was designed to cover all the Tua river stretches affected by the reservoir filling of the Foz-Tua dam, and the remaining non-affected stretches up to a distance of 53 km from the mouth, as well as the tributary Tinhela river. A total of 16 sampling points was used, four “impact” (lenthic environment)) and 16 “controls” (lothic environment). The first group was sampled in all seasons, while the controls were sampled in the winter and reproduction phases. At each point, a 15-minute sampling session was performed with binoculars and a telescope, in which all birds, detected by sight or vocalizations, were recorded. Although an “unlimited distance” method was used, an estimate of the distance to the observer (class of distance) was recorded. Species identification, age and sex determination (when possible) were obtained by direct observation and confirmed with appropriate field guides when necessary.

Quality Control

All individual identifications were performed by qualified technicians

Method steps

1. To be completed

The taxonomic coverage of this dataset spans 1 phylum, 1 class, 13 orders, 33 families, 56 genera and 66 species.

1. Chordata
   rank: phylum
2. Aves
   rank: class
3. Accipitriformes
   rank: order
4. Anseriformes
   rank: order
5. Apodiformes
   rank: order
6. Bucerotiformes
   rank: order
7. Charadriiformes
   rank: order
8. Columbiformes
   rank: order
9. Coraciiformes
   rank: order
10. Cuculiformes
    rank: order
11. Galliformes
    rank: order
12. Passeriformes
    rank: order
13. Pelecaniformes
    rank: order
14. Piciformes
    rank: order
15. Suliformes
    rank: order
16. Accipitridae
    rank: family
17. Anatidae
    rank: family
18. Apodidae
    rank: family
19. Upupidae
    rank: family
20. Scolopacidae
    rank: family
21. Columbidae
    rank: family
22. Alcedinidae
    rank: family
23. Meropidae
    rank: family
24. Cuculidae
    rank: family
25. Phasianidae
    rank: family
26. Alaudidae
    rank: family
27. Certhiidae
    rank: family
28. Cetiidae
    rank: family
29. Cinclidae
    rank: family
30. Corvidae
    rank: family
31. Emberizidae
    rank: family
32. Estrilididae
    rank: family
33. Fringillidae
    rank: family
34. Hirundinidae
    rank: family
35. Motacillidae
    rank: family
36. Muscicapidae
    rank: family
37. Oriolidae
    rank: family
38. Paridae
    rank: family
39. Passeridae
    rank: family
40. Regulidae
    rank: family
41. Sittidae
    rank: family
42. Sturnidae
    rank: family
43. Sylviidae
    rank: family
44. Troglodytidae
    rank: family
45. Turdidade
    rank: family
46. Ardeidae
    rank: family
47. Picidae
    rank: family
48. Phalacrocoraciade
    rank: family

Data were collected in a 1-km buffer around the Foz-Tua dam reservoir, in the non-affected portion of the river, up to 53 km upstream, and in the Tinhela river, in the municipalities of Alijó, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Murça, Mirandela and Vila Flor.