W@TC - New Hydrologies, Novel Habitats: How Waterbirds Thrive in Irrigated Wetlands

Ankita Gupta is a 4th year PhD candidate at the Nicholas School of the Environment. Her dissertation aims to understand the role of water availability from irrigation canals in shaping the hydrology and ecological value of small wetlands in a rural agricultural setting. Centered on the wetlands of Gujarat, India, her research employs a mix of field surveys, remote sensing, GIS, and spatial modeling to understand waterbird distribution in relation to land use, water management, and agriculture. This work will highlight the biodiversity value of human-dominated ecosystems and promote conservation efforts that balance biodiversity preservation with natural resource access.

In this talk, Ankita Gupta will share findings from her dissertation research on how seasonal changes in wetland extent influence waterbird communities in agricultural landscapes. In semi-arid regions, irrigation canals sustain wetlands, but water availability shifts across seasons, impacting bird diversity and abundance. Using field surveys and remote sensing, Ankita examines how waterbirds respond to these dynamic wetland patterns, revealing the ecological consequences of human-managed water systems on waterbird species.