Reedbed

The reedbed forms grasslands in muddy and anoxic soils. Phragmites australis, known as common reed, is an herbaceous species, perennial which may exceed three metres of height and which takes root in environments with salinity less than 12-15. The reedbed is the habitat for many species of birds of conservation interest, that use this environment for feeding, nesting, and night rest. The main bird species are the pygmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmeus*), the bittern (Botaurus stellaris*), the purple heron (Ardea purpurea), the little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), the marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the hen harriers (Circus cyaneus) and the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), along with a large number of passerines.

The submerged part of the reedbed and the adjacent shallow waters are the breeding and nursery habitats of various species of fishes, such as the black-spotted goby (Ninnigobius canestrinii), the seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), the eel (Anguilla anguilla), mullets (Mugil spp. Chelon spp.) as well as amphibians and invertebrates. In the Venice Lagoon, the reedbed is present in limited areas and the covered surface has been reduced remarkably in the last decades.