scholarly journals Bird diversity, composition and response during COVID-19 in an urban landscape, Jamalpur, Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-274
Author(s):  
Ashikur Rahman Shome ◽  
M Firoj Jaman ◽  
Md Fazle Rabbe ◽  
Md Mahabub Alam

The world has been encountering a COVID-19 pandemic since late 2019. The world’s people have also witnessed the free movement of wildlife, even in many urban areas in some countries during the imposed lockdown. We conducted research on the birds in the urban landscape of Jamalpur Sadar upazila from March 2020 to October 2020 during this pandemic situation. A total of 134 species of birds with 4338 individuals were recorded during the study period. The number of resident bird species was the maximum (115 species, 85.82%) compared to migrants. The highest number of birds was observed (120 species, 89.55%) and counted 2278 individual birds 52.51%) in the summer season. It was observed that the highest diversity of birds (89 species, 65.92%) was in March. The tree was the most (94 species, n = 2502) used microhabitat by birds in the study area. Among all birds, Pycnonotus cafer was the most abundant bird species with the highest relative abundance (6.11%). Some bird species (e.g. Metopidius indicus, Anastomus oscitans, Amaurornis phoenicurus, Streptopelia tranquebarica, Lonchura malacca) were frequently observed in the urban landscape of the study area during the pandemic. Proper management and awareness creation are essential for the conservation of the bird species in this area. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 30(2): 261-274, 2021 (July)

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 595-603
Author(s):  
URFI IZZATI ◽  
HAYATI SARI HASIBUAN

Abstract. Izzati U, Hasibuan HS. 2019. Riparian tree and bird diversity in Cisadane River, South Tangerang City, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 595-603. Riparian is a riverbank area that has unique characteristics. It is a combination of terrestrial with aquatic habitats so that riparian ecosystems have high biodiversity values. Riparian is included in a protected area that is naturally designated for vegetation, but in reality, riparian areas, especially in urban areas, have a lot of conversion of land functions by humans so that it can disrupt diversity of tree and bird species. This study aims to identify the diversity of tree and bird species and the correlation between the two. Riparian length of Cisadane River, South Tangerang City is 20.15 km. The method used was plot line with size of 20 m x 20 m for tree data and line transect for bird data by systematic sampling with a random start then analyzed using Shannon Wiener index. The results obtained were found 22 tree species included in 11 families with species diversity index (H') of 2.707 and 40 bird species belonging to 25 families with species diversity index (H') of 2.794. The diversity of tree and bird species is classified as medium. The results of the analysis using the Pearson correlation between the diversity of tree with bird species obtained that there was no relationship between the two. Based on these results, riparian zones in urban areas need to be maintained and improved in quality so that the diversity of tree and bird species increases so as to create a stable ecosystem.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marufa Sultana ◽  
Ilse Storch

Abstract Openly available species observation records on various online platforms achieve good coverage in urban areas. Thus, such digital data could provide a basis for biodiversity assessments in cities. Here, we investigated suitability of open digital species occurrence data, compared with systematically field surveyed data, in Freiburg, Germany (a Western city) and Dhaka, Bangladesh (a global-South city). We focused on resident bird species richness as an indicator of local biodiversity. We collected avian records for urban areas from ‘ornitho.de’ in Freiburg and ‘gbif.org’ in Dhaka. Additionally, we conducted point count surveys at several urban locations in both cities. Using these records, we prepared three grid (cell size 250 m × 250 m) based datasets—open digital dataset (i.e. records compiled from well-surveyed grid cells), field surveyed dataset (i.e. records of systematic bird surveys) and combined dataset (i.e. digital data and field data combined). We compared the relationship of resident bird richness with different habitat factors by applying linear regression models, separately using each of the three datasets. We assessed suitability of data from online platforms by comparing the variables retained after model selection based on digital data versus field surveyed data. We found that field surveyed data and combined data did not alter general understanding of the key driving factors of bird richness patterns we obtained from open digital data. This held for both case examples, Freiburg vs. Dhaka, respectively. This suggests that open digital data from well-surveyed urban locations can provide a suitable basis to assess drivers of biodiversity patterns within cities.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Lauren Hepburn ◽  
Adam C. Smith ◽  
John Zelenski ◽  
Lenore Fahrig

There is growing evidence that exposure to nature increases human well-being, including in urban areas. However, relatively few studies have linked subjective satisfaction to objective features of the environment. In this study we explore the links among objective environmental features (tree cover, water, and bird diversity) and subjective judgements of satisfaction. We surveyed residents of Ottawa, Canada (n = 1035) about their satisfaction with their local neighbourhoods. We then compared the survey responses to measures of nature near their homes, including bird diversity (number of bird species), tree canopy cover, and distance to water. After controlling for effects of income and subjective happiness, residents’ neighbourhood satisfaction was positively related to the number of bird species nearby, even before participants were prompted to consider nature. Residents’ appreciation of their local neigbourhood relative to others also increased with tree canopy cover and nearness to water. Unsolicited comments from participants following the survey indicated that while residents consciously appreciate trees and water, the relationship between bird diversity and neighbourhood satisfaction appears to be unconscious; very few of the participants mentioned birds. Based on these results, we speculate that a diverse local bird community may provoke feelings of satisfaction through their presence, activity, and songs. Our results create a compelling argument for city planners and individual residents to maintain bird-friendly spaces in urban areas.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Stokeld ◽  
Andrew J. Hamer ◽  
Rodney van der Ree ◽  
Vincent Pettigrove ◽  
Graeme Gillespie

Context Species vary broadly in their ability to adapt to urbanisation. Freshwater turtles are vulnerable to the loss and degradation of terrestrial and aquatic habitat in urban environments. There have been few publications investigating impacts of urbanisation on freshwater turtles in Australia. Aims We investigated the effects of urbanisation on the distribution and abundance of the eastern long-necked turtle (Chelodina longicollis) in greater Melbourne. Methods We examined occurrence and relative abundance of C. longicollis at 55 wetlands across an urban–rural gradient in relation to site- and landscape-level factors. Occupancy was modelled using the program PRESENCE, and incorporated landscape and habitat covariates. A negative binomial regression model was used to examine the influence of landscape and habitat factors on relative abundance by using WinBUGS. Key results C. longicollis occupied 85% of the 55 wetlands we surveyed, and we found no evidence that wetland occupancy was influenced by the variables we measured. However, relative abundance was highest at wetlands with low water conductivity and heavy metal pollution, and in wetlands furthest from rivers. Conclusions C. longicollis appears to be resilient to urbanisation and is likely to persist in urban landscapes, possibly because of the creation of new wetlands in Australian cities. However, long-term studies focussed on demographic parameters, or survivorship, may elucidate as yet undetected effects of urbanisation. Although no specific management recommendations may be necessary for C. longicollis in urban areas at this time, this species may be in decline in non-urban areas as a result of climatic changes and wetland drying. Implications Our findings suggest that caution is required before drawing generalised conclusions on the impacts of urbanisation on turtles, as the effects are likely to be species-specific, dependent on specific ecology and life-history requirements. Further studies are required to ascertain these relationships for a wider array of species and over longer time spans.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trymore Muderere ◽  
Amon Murwira ◽  
Paradzayi Tagwireyi ◽  
Ngoni Chiweshe

AbstractIn this study, we tested whether urban landscape structure influences avian species diversity using data for Harare, Zimbabwe. Initially, we quantified landscape structure using fragmentation indices derived from a 5m resolution SPOT 5 imagery. We collected bird species data through field-based observations of birds at 35 locations occurring in five land use/land cover types. We quantified avian species diversity using Barger-Parker, Menhinick and Simpson’s Indices. Regression analysis was used to determine the nature and strength of the relationships between avian species diversity and fragmentation indices. Results indicated that woodland specialist avian species are negatively associated with landscape fragmentation, while grassland specialist and generalist avian species positively responded to patch edge density, habitat patch size and shape complexity. Overall, our results suggest that changes in landscape structure due to expansion of built-up areas in tropical urban areas may influence avian species diversity.


BIBECHANA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 113-120
Author(s):  
Sanju Dahal ◽  
Damodar Thapa Chhetry

The diversity and population of birds was studied from January, 2011 to December, 2011, once a week regularly. Altogether fifteen species of wetland birds were recorded from Tengra and Budhi rivers. Maximum species were recorded in January and minimum in July and August. Out of total bird species 40% were migratory, 46.67 % were resident, and 13.33 % were winter visitors. On the basis of abundance, there were 46.67% scarce, 33.33% fairly common and 20% common. On the basis of their population status, maximum number belonged to Ardeola grayii species and minimum in Leptoptilos javanicus species. Maximum species of the birds belonged to family Ardeidae. According to statistical analysis, the resident bird were more diversed then migrant and winter visitor respectively. Similarly, resident birds were much evenly distributed then winter visitors and migrant respectively. The study revealed decreasing trend of bird species from previous period. The conversion of wetland into agricultural land and plotting programmes were the main causes to decline the bird species. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v9i0.7184 BIBECHANA 9 (2013) 113-120


Geography ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
María García-Hernández ◽  
Manuel de la Calle-Vaquero

The concept of urban heritage has two meanings. First, urban heritage can refer to the list of heritage elements located in urban areas: archaeological vestiges, historical buildings, vernacular architecture, historical gardens, social practices, rituals, and festive events, among others. Second, urban heritage can refer to the city as heritage, a special type of cultural property that is mainly associated with neighborhoods, urban centers, and historic cities. This article focuses on the second meaning. The focus is placed on the heritage values of the urban space, which are overall values resulting from the integration of different components. The use of the term urban heritage has become popular during the last decades. However, it is closely linked to conservation and restoration proposals of historic centers in European cities since the mid-20th century. From Europe, urban conservation extends to other parts of the world, driven by organizations such as UNESCO that establishes a special category of cultural properties named “groups of buildings” in the World Heritage Convention in 1972, generally associated with towns. Since the beginning of the 21st century, UNESCO is promoting an extended approach to urban heritage that goes beyond the built environment and integrates social, economic, and functional dimensions. The Recommendation on Historic Urban Landscape of 2011 provides a more global vision and gives special prominence to the communities that inhabit historic towns or historic centers. This approach also implies a disciplinary opening, with an increasing number of inputs coming from social sciences. In this sense, this article basically includes some recent works on urban heritage that allow to establish the present state of the issue. Historical trajectory of the concept is described until reaching the current approximations in terms of the historical urban landscape. A set of contributions that deal with its components are presented, from the location conditions to the social representations and their meanings. References to the main vectors that threaten the preservation of their values and also to the mechanisms to make heritage a vector of sustainable development are included. Special attention is paid to the management of heritage sectors of the city. This urban management must balance the safeguard as heritage properties and the maintenance of adequate levels of quality of life for the communities that live there. Due to the important tourist dimension of these spaces, reflecting on the positive and negative effects of an increasing influx of visitors is very important nowadays. Finally global preservation strategies, in case of the World Heritage List, are contrasted with specific situations of very different geographical areas (Europe, Latin America, China, Middle East, etc.).


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 62-71
Author(s):  
Praveen Kumar Jha

Bird survey was conducted in Phulchoki hill during two different seasons in January 2018 and April 2018. The objective of the study was to identify seasonal avian diversity, and to determine relative abundance and species richness. Fixed radius point- count method was used to evaluate the bird diversity and their number. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index was used to calculate the diversity of species during two different seasons. A total of 78 species of birds belonging to 7 orders and 24 families were recorded. Passeriformes was the most dominant order with 58 species and Sylvidae was the most dominant family with 14 species. 59 bird species were recorded in winter and 50 in spring seasons. The analysis of data on residential status revealed that 64 species were residents, 10 species winter visitors and 4 species summer visitors. The relative abundance of species was Very Common (n= 16), Common (n= 38), Uncommon (n= 9) and Rare (n= 15). Higher Shannon- Weiner Diversity Index (H'= 1.488) was recorded during the winter season and low during the spring season (H'= 1.169). Evenness index showed that birds were evenly distributed in winter season (E= 0.253) than spring season (E= 0.207). Maximum birds were seen in Mining area during both winter and spring season and minimum birds in the bus park area of Phulchoki due to habitat destruction and human disturbances.


2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Goulart Rodrigues ◽  
Márcio Borges-Martins ◽  
Felipe Zilio

ABSTRACT: Urbanization causes environment changes that directly affect biotic diversity, and understanding the relationship between fauna and urban features is a key aspect of urban planning. Birds are particularly affected by urbanization. Noise levels, for instance, negatively affect birds’ behavior and social communication, while the presence of green areas promotes bird diversity. The effects of urbanization could differ according with the level of urbanization, and our goal was to understand how bird species assemblages are related to urban features in an intermediate stage of urbanization (a city in Brazil with 2,470 inhabitants/km²). We used canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and generalized linear models (GLM) analyses to assess how bird species assemblages are affected by urban features (e.g., noise level, abundance of buildings) as well as habitat features (e.g., vegetation cover). Despite we did not find a clear pattern of urbanization both the urban and habitat features had, even if weak, an effect on bird species distribution. Bird species distribution was spatially correlated, and we identified three groups: 1) grassland and wetland species; 2) forest species; 3) species tolerant to habitat degradation. Species richness was positively related to the proportion of trees, abundance of people and presence of buildings, and negatively affected by higher levels of noise. The abundance of species decreased as noise levels increased, but the proportion of green areas (open or forest vegetation) had a positive effect. Agreeing with previous research, our study shows that noise levels and vegetation cover seem to be the best predictors of diversity in urban areas. Nevertheless, the presence of particular habitats (wetlands, grasslands, woodlots), patchily distributed in the urban matrix, could buffer the effects of urbanization on birds. These habitats should thus be taken into account in urban planning.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Gatesire ◽  
D. Nsabimana ◽  
A. Nyiramana ◽  
J. L. Seburanga ◽  
M. O. Mirville

Using the point count method, linear mixed models, Shannon’s diversity index, and Bray-Curtis cluster analysis, we conducted a study of the effect of urban fabric layout on bird diversity and distribution in northern Rwanda. The results showed a significant effect of city landscapes on bird richness and relative abundance; residential neighborhoods, institutional grounds, and informal settlements had the highest species diversity in comparison to other microlandscape types. Riversides were characterized by specialized bird species, commonly known to be restricted to wetland environments. Built-up areas and open field landscapes had comparable results. One Albertine Rift endemic bird species, the Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris stuhlmanni), was recorded. Three migratory birds were found in Musanze city for the first time: the Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), the Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), and the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus). Two bird species have not been previously reported in Rwanda: the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) and the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina). The implications of this study are particularly relevant to urban decision makers who should consider the existence of a great diversity of avian fauna when developing and implementing master plans, especially when villages and cities are in proximity of protected areas or natural reserves.


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