impact of shade management on avifaunal diversity

Impact of shade management on Impact of shade management on avifaunal diversityavifaunal diversity

Case study of the coffee agroforestry systems of Case study of the coffee agroforestry systems of Kodagu, Western Ghats (India)Kodagu, Western Ghats (India)

Harish T.T., Prakash,, C.G. KushalappaHarish T.T., Prakash,, C.G. KushalappaWAC Conference – Nairobi 2009WAC Conference – Nairobi 2009

August 27, 2009WCA Conference, Nairobi 2

Introduction

Avian community studies as tools for monitoring forest and agroforest ecosystems.

Few reports available on bird diversity of Western Ghats.

Landscape level dynamics question the ecological sustainability of the production system

Complementing existing tree biodiversity assessments


Objectives

• To determine and compare the similarity in bird species composition across semi-evergreen and moist deciduous vegetation types.

• To assess the impact changes on the canopy cover have on bird species diversity.

• To study the community structure and organization of bird species based on their food and feeding habitat.

• To prepare a checklist of birds of Cauvery watershed area.


Study Area


Sampling

500m50m


Methods

• The bird numbers on either side of the transect while on a walk along the transect was recorded between 7.00 A.M to 9.00 A.M and 4.00 A.M to 6.00 P.M

• The species identification based on Ali (1996) and Grimmett et al., (1999).

25 m

200m

25 m25 m

Line Transect method


Distribution of species among habitatsDistribution of species among habitats

SEG

MD

Only in SEG

Only in MD

Common in bothVegetations

82 Species

88 Species22 Species

27 Species

60 Species


Comparison of biodiversity measures

Diversity Parameters

Moist DeciduousSemi-evergreen

Native

plantations

Silver oak

plantations

Native

plantation

Silver oak

plantation

Shannon's Diversity 3.74 2.95 3.89 3.05

Species Richness 79 34 84 32

Evenness Index 0.85 0.83 0.87 0.88

Beta Diversity0.45 0.43


r = 0.57

0

1

2

3

4

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0

Tree diversityB

ird

dive

rsit

y

r = 0.58

0

1

2

3

4

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Tree diversity

Bir

d di

vers

ity

Canopy diversity and bird Canopy diversity and bird diversitydiversity


Canopy density and bird diversity

r = 0.42

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

0 20 40 60 80

Canopy per cent

Sh

an

no

n's

div

ersi

ty

r = 0.61

0

2

4

6

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Canopy per cent

Shan

non'

s di

vers

ity


Impact of G. robusta on bird diversity

r = 0.48

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percentage of Silver oakSh

ann

on

's D

iver

sity

r = 0.72

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percentage of Silver oak

Sh

ann

on

's D

iver

sity


Food Guild

Moist deciduous Semi-evergreen

Native plantation

Silver oak plantation

Native plantations

Silver oak

plantation

Aquatic

Feeder1 0 0 0

Birds of Prey 4 0 1 0

Frugivorous 13 2 19 6

Granivorous 4 1 4 1

Insectivorous 35 22 35 16

Nectarivorous 4 0 2 0

Omnivorous 9 5 11 5

Food Guild across habitatsFood Guild across habitats

•The birds such as the Spotted Dove, Green Bee-eater, Greater Coucal, Red-vented Bulbul, Scarlet Minivet, House Crow were more abundant in moist deciduous region.

•The birds such as Large-billed Crow, Scarlet Minivet, Red-whiskered Bulbul, White-cheeked Barbet, Brown-headed Barbet, Hill Myna, Indian Grey Hornbill, Spotted Dove and House Crow were more abundant in SEG.


Foraging Guild

Moist deciduous Semi-evergreen

Native plantation


Native plantation


Bark Gleaner 7 3 6 4Foliage Gleaner 34 9 43 13

Ground Gleaner 14 11 16 8

Hawker 9 2 4 2Water / Wet-mud prober

1 0 0 0

Perch-to-site species 5 1 5 2

Sallying species 9 8 10 3

Foraging Guild of Birds found in different habitats

•Foliage gleaners, ground gleaner, sallying bird species were more abundant in SEG.

•Foliage gleaners, ground gleaner were more in plantations with native tree cover.

•Ground gleaner and foliage gleaner were abundant in silver oak plantations in moist deciduous region.

•Foliage gleaner, ground gleaner and sallying bird species were more abundant in plantations with native tree cover

•Foliage gleaner and ground gleaner were more in silver oak plantations in semi-evergreen area.


Endemic Birds of Western GhatsEndemic Birds of Western Ghats

Endemic Species Habitats

Hornbill SEG, MD

Malabar Parakeet SEG, MD

Nilgiri Flycatcher SEG, MD

White-bellied Treepie

SEG, MD

• Out of 16 endemic bird species of Western Ghats, 4 endemic species viz., Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, Nilgiri Flycatcher, White-bellied Treepie were recognised in both SEG & MD.

• Nilgiri Flycatcher is one of the Threatened species was recognised in both SEG & MD as per Islam and

Rahmani (2002).


In a nutshell

•The management practices in coffee plantation to give importance for retention of native tree species in the shade layer and native forests in the landscape are necessary.

•Coffee plantations play an important role in the maintenance of diverse bird populations in Kodagu, and as a dry season refuge for mobile populations of omnivores, frugivores and nectarivores.

impact of shade management on avifaunal diversity

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