Land use changes affecting the bird diversity: A comparison study at different level of disturbed tanks in Vavuniya district

K.S.Sivanesan 1

Inroduction

• Bird diversity richness is an ecological indicator of natural based terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem quality

Study area Disturbed (urban area: Vairavapuliyankulam tank)-33.7

Semi Disturbed (paddy field area:Nelukkulam)-30.5

Undisturbed (forest area: Kombuvaithakulam tank)-93.5

2

Objective

• study was to compare avian species richness and numbers of individuals at three different levels of disturbance.

3

MethodSystematically selected six transects (100x100 m) was used for birds watching at three tanks. Peak observing hours were between 0630 to 0800 and 1630 to 1800 h weekdays.

4

Disturbed

5

Semi Disturbed

Nelukulam

6

Undisturbed

7

ResultsTank Total species Total count Abundance species

Disturbed 32 2873±15 Intermediate Egret

Semi Disturbed 41 3420±20 Black-headed Ibis

Undisturbed 54 4938±25 Painted stork

Intermediate Egret Black-headed Ibis Painted stork 8

Result• D - were Intermediate Egret>Little egret> Black-

headed Ibis• SD - Black-headed Ibis> Intermediate Egret>

Painted stork • UD - Painted Stork> Intermediate Egret > Black-

headed Ibis

9

Discussion

• Our results showed clearly, while of apparently ‘low-impact’, had a similar influence as much greater levels of human activity. The mean number of species in undisturbed tank was significantly greater than disturbed tank.

10

Discussion

• study confirmed that birds were significantly influenced by the activities of humans; compared to those living in completely undisturbed locations, birds living in locations experiencinghigh levels of disturbance were characterised by significantly lower species richness.

11

Conclusion• This study indicates these areas had the high

species richness of birds and the eco touristic potential. These are very important area for bird conservation and bird watching study. Land use changes have the positive correlation with affecting the biodiversity.

12

ReferenceRaman TRS. Assessment of census techniques for interspecific comparisons of

tropical rainforest bird densities: a field evaluation in the Western Ghats. Ibis.

2003;145(1):9–21.

Medellín RA, Equihua M, Amin MA. Bat diversity and abundance as indicators of

disturbance in Neotropical rainforests. Conserv Biol. 2000;14(6):1666–1675.

White MLJ, Gilbert F, Zalat S. Bird surveys and distance sampling in St Katherine

Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt in 2007. Egyptian J. Biol. 2007;9:60-68.

Mulwa RK, Böhning-Gaese K, Schleuning M. High bird species diversity in structurally

heterogenous farmland in western Kenya. Biotropica. 2012. DOI:10.1111/j.1744-

7429.2012.00877.x.

Burgess ND, Mlingwa COF. Forest birds of coastal forests in Kenya and Tanzania.

Proceedings VIII. Pan Afr Ornith Congr. 1993;295-301.

13

14