The Study of Species Diversity of Migratory Wintering Waterfowl and Waders in Maharlu Wetland in Fars Province

This research presents data from a ten-year (2002-2011) monitoring of migratory wintering waterfowl and wader's fauna species diversity in Maharlu wetland. The results showed that during a 10 periods from 2002 to 2011, a total of 290554 wintering birds composed of 65 species from14 families and 6 orders of the bird’s fauna of Iran were observed in the Maharlu wetland. The most common species counted was the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) with a total of 50355 individuals. The results indicated that among families of migratory wintering waterfowl and waders in Maharlu wetland the largest family was Anatidae with 51.638 percent abundance and the lowest was Glareolidae with 0.001 percent. In these periods of studying, year of 2004 with 56162 individuals has the highest population numbers and year of 2008 with 8866 individuals has the lowest. The highest and lowest species richness recording in years of 2003 and 2010 with 37 and 14 species respectively. The results showed that in this period waterfowl fauna with 51.76 percent and wader's fauna with 48.24 percent respectively has the highest and lowest abundances. According to the results of species diversity and evenness the year of 2004 has the highest biodiversity of migratory wintering waterfowl and wader's fauna in Maharlu wetland and year of 2010 has the lowest biodiversity (P)