Waterfowl habitats in the Iberian Peninsula

Research indicates that water bodies in the Iberian Peninsula, including volcanic lagoons and reservoirs, are serving as critical habitats for diverse waterfowl species.

In Ciudad Real, four volcanic lagoons within the UNESCO Volcanes de Calatrava Global Geopark have maintained water levels despite extreme summer temperatures. Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha attribute this resilience to a natural fracture network that recharges aquifers via underground conduits, protecting the lagoons from evaporation. These wetlands have supported over 25 species of aquatic birds, including common flamingos, common coots, little grebes, and Eurasian teals.

Broadening the scope to the Iberian Peninsula, a study by the CSIC Doñana Biological Station shows that reservoirs are providing increasingly diverse habitats. While species richness in these reservoirs has evolved similarly to natural lagoons, there has been a significant increase in functional diversity. This shift is driven by the arrival of species with distinct ecological needs, such as large piscivorous birds like the great cormorant and great crested grebe, as well as large wading birds including the white stork, black stork, and common spoonbill.