Leiden University Student Repository

Bacal, Dana (2024)

The girl and the herons: The effect of water quality on urban avifauna: A case study of Ardea Cinerea populations in urban blue spaces in The Hague

Bachelor thesis | Urban Studies (BA)

The aim of this study is to assess whether there is a correlation between water quality and the avifauna in the city of The Hague, as well as determine whether the type of land use near water bodies also have an effect on the water quality. In order to do so, the case study of Ardea cinerea (grey heron) was selected as an indicator species, a bird species that is rapidly adapting to urban environments. The selected metric to inspect water quality of urban blue spaces was pH, as it is a parameter found to be present at the basis of most reactions in aquatic environments, thus making it a rather significant indicator for this purpose. Land use was analysed based on two categories: natural areas, which include urban parks and natural reserves, and urbanised, which mainly include roads and (post)industrial areas. Urban blue spaces in three natural locations (Koekamp, Meijendel, and Henry Dunatpad), and three urban areas (Veenkade/Centrum, Binckhorst, and Leyenburg) were assessed via in...Show moreThe aim of this study is to assess whether there is a correlation between water quality and the avifauna in the city of The Hague, as well as determine whether the type of land use near water bodies also have an effect on the water quality. In order to do so, the case study of Ardea cinerea (grey heron) was selected as an indicator species, a bird species that is rapidly adapting to urban environments. The selected metric to inspect water quality of urban blue spaces was pH, as it is a parameter found to be present at the basis of most reactions in aquatic environments, thus making it a rather significant indicator for this purpose. Land use was analysed based on two categories: natural areas, which include urban parks and natural reserves, and urbanised, which mainly include roads and (post)industrial areas. Urban blue spaces in three natural locations (Koekamp, Meijendel, and Henry Dunatpad), and three urban areas (Veenkade/Centrum, Binckhorst, and Leyenburg) were assessed via in situ pH measurements to determine water quality and citizen science methods to assess A. cinerea abundance within 1 km radius of the water bodies. Findings show a moderate correlation between bird abundance and pH levels in favour of the natural areas, and statistical significance of pH as a metric to compare the two types of locations.Show less

A. cinerea abundance, water quality, pH, urban blue spaces, land use

Author

Bacal, Dana

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Sustainable City B

Supervisors

Sousa e Silva, A.R. de

ECTS Credits

10 ECTS

Language

en