Winged stewards of the rivers: A systematic review of avian ecosystem services in the Ganga River basin

Abstract Birds are one of the prominent classes of vertebrates, occurring worldwide in nearly all habitat types, and providing a wide range of ecological functions, which in turn, generate a wide array of ecosystem services. While ornithological research on ecosystem services has become more prevalent, studies specifically focusing on the contributions of waterbirds in aquatic ecosystems have been largely overlooked. We undertook a review of the ecosystem services provided by the waterbirds inhabiting the Ganga River, which is home to a wide variety of waterbirds that compete with the human-induced developments for habitat, and therefore, their survival is dependent on human understanding of their critical role within the ecosystem. The review highlighted that the waterbirds are efficacious bioindicators of different ecological conditions, control pests, maintain the diversity of other organisms, act as predators, herbivores, vectors of aquatic plants, invertebrates, and nutrients, and also play the role of ecosystem engineers. Furthermore, they provide cultural services to human society. Understanding the functional role of waterbirds, through natural history research, can inform conservation-oriented decision making by policymakers as well as public. The findings of this study would increase public support for the conservation of biodiversity in a holistic manner.