An Assessment of Water bird species and associated water bird composition in the Haiderpur Wetland of Hastinapur Wildlife sanctuary Uttar Pradesh, India

Bird species are natural indicators of healthy ecosystem. Indian sub-continent contributes about 13% of the world avian species. A study was carried out between year 2017 and 2019, at Haiderpur wetland (Hastinapur wildlife sanctuary) along the Ganga River in Utter Pradesh. Total 66 water bird species belonging to 15 families were encountered. Among the water bird species 04 Vulnerable (Common Pochard, Black headed ibis, Sarus crane, Indian skimmer), 06 near threaten (River Lapwing, Northern lapwing, River tern, Painted stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-tailed Godwit) and 01 Endangered (Black-bellied Tern) waterbird species (as per IUCN records) were reported in the Haiderpur wetland area. The contribution of water migratory bird is about 29% in the study area. This area is contributing as birding site thus more focus on conservation of this site.

Bird composition of different valley habitats after land-use changes in Northern Honduras

The northern coast of Honduras is potentially covered with tropical rainforests, reaching from the Caribbean Sea up to the cloud forests of the Pico Bonito summits. Therefore, it was blessed with the mega-diverse avifauna of the Central American humid neotropics. Although local bird species have been generally well documented, there are hardly any updates on the biodiversity of northern Honduras. Thus, this study contributes to our knowledge of the natural shift of bird life, following up the Cangrejal River with its different slight land use intensification in the region. Standardized bird records along the valley are analyzed, reaching from the beaches of La Ceiba up to the managed rainforests of El Toncontíns in the lower montane rainforests. Nine points were checked over the course of at least 6 days, taking point counts between 16 March and 20 June 2005. A NMDS of the joined nine point-lists elucidates four main groups, namely the beach/city ecosystems, open habitats along the river banks, slightly cleared forests (park landscape), and a mature rainforest. In total, 115 bird species, from 102 genera and 44 families, were found in 2005. As methods are limited, results can represent merely a prodromus of bird composition of neotropical valleys of the Central American isthmus. However, avi-diversity is affected by forest degradation and increasing land-use changes. Since deforestation is still soaring in the region, bird species composition should be monitored, as it will be as dynamic as land use changes in the region.

Temporal variation of regional bird assemblages in highly dynamic fluvial wetlands: seasonality and influence of water level and habitat availability

Study of temporal variation of bird assemblages may be particularly important in highly dynamic ecosystems as fluvial wetlands to identify the factors that influence and contribute to the maintaining of regional diversity. We study temporal variation in regional bird species composition and richness and the factors that drive it in the fluvial system of the Paraná River in Argentina. We sampled birds on a regional scale by performing surveys during 2 years (2011-2013; 16 total surveys) at 60 sites located along the fluvial system. We recorded a total of 162 species and 12,738 individuals, with a mean of 72.7 ± 1.9 species and 796.1 ± 41 individuals per survey. Temporal beta diversity accounted for 57% of regional species richness. Bird composition varied seasonally because of the turnover (and not nestedness) of species between autumn-winter and spring-summer periods; migrant species contributed to but did not account for all these differences. Difference in bird composition between years was caused primarily by turnover of species within autumn-winter periods; that turnover was related to changes in water levels. Temporal variation in availability of habitats across the regional extent of the fluvial system accounted for the highest proportion of temporal beta diversity. Species richness did not vary seasonally nor was it related to fluctuations in water level or habitats. Our results showed that climatic seasonality and environmental dynamics of the fluvial system, as a function of water-level fluctuations and of variations in habitat availability, jointly influence regional composition of birds through temporal turnover of species. These variations in regional composition were not related to variations in regional species richness. These results show the importance of the natural dynamic of the fluvial system to conserve the processes that maintain the regional assemblage of birds.

Urbanization, environmental stabilization and temporal persistence of bird species: a view from Latin America

BackgroundA scarcely studied consequence of urbanization is the effect of temporal stabilization of the environment on bird communities. This alteration is thought to dampen environmental variations between day and night, seasons and years, promoting a temporal persistence of bird composition in urban areas. The aim of this study was to review current evidence of temporal stabilization of biotic and abiotic factors in urban environments and the potential effects of such stabilization on temporal variation of bird species presence at different temporal scales.MethodsI selected the literature by searching published articles and book chapters using Scopus and Google scholar. I only included articles that compared the temporal variation of bird composition or resources between different levels of urbanization.ResultsIn general, there is evidence of temporal stabilization of abiotic and biotic factors at the three time scales considered. At the diurnal scale, the main factor considered was artificial light in the context of light pollution. At the seasonal and interannual scales, several case studies found a smaller temporal variation of primary productivity in urban than in natural and rural areas. Bird species composition showed more stabilization in urban environments at the three temporal scales: (1) several case studies reported bird activity at night, associated with artificial light; (2) studies in urban parks and along urbanization gradients showed smaller seasonal variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas; and (3) in general, case studies along urbanization gradients showed smaller interannual variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas, although some studies showed no relationships or opposite trends than expected.DiscussionThe published evidence suggests that urban areas dampen the natural cycles at several temporal scales. The stabilization of biotic and abiotic factors, such as light, temperature, food and habitat structure, is desynchronized from natural diurnal, seasonal and interannual cycles. However, there is a dearth of long-term comparisons of bird composition and studies that simultaneously analyze the relationship between resources and bird composition stabilization at the seasonal and interannual scales. More research is needed in the Southern hemisphere, where there is a lack of studies dealing with the seasonal and interannual variations of primary productivity along urbanization gradients and nocturnal activity of bird species. A future research agenda should include differentiation of spatial and temporal homogenization of avifaunas.

Urbanization, resources stabilization and the temporal persistence of bird species: A review

Background. A scarcely studied consequence of urbanization is the effect of the temporal stabilization of habitat structure and resources on bird communities. This alteration is thought to dampen environmental variations between day and night, seasons and years, promoting a temporal persistence of bird composition in urban environments. The aim of this study is to review actual evidence of temporal stabilization of habitats and resources in urban environments, and its potential effects on the temporal variation of bird species presence among different temporal scales. Methods. Selection of literature was made by searching published articles and book chapters using Google scholar. I only included articles that compared the temporal variation of bird composition or resources between different levels of urbanization. Results. In general, there is evidence of temporal stabilization of habitat structure and resources along the three scales considered. At the diurnal scale, the main factor considered was artificial light in the context of light pollution. At the seasonal and interannual scales, several case studies found a lesser temporal variation of primary productivity in urban areas compared with natural and rural areas. Bird species composition showed more stabilization in urban environments at the three temporal scales: 1) several case studies reported bird feeding at night, associated with artificial light; 2) studies in urban parks and along urbanization gradients showed lower seasonal variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas; and 3) in general, case studies along urbanization gradients showed lower interannual variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas, although some studies showed no relationships or opposed trends than expected. Discussion. The published evidence suggests that urban areas dampen the natural cycles at several temporal scales. The stabilization of biotic and abiotic factors, such as light, temperature, food and habitat structure are desynchronized from natural diurnal, seasonal and interannual cycles. However, there is a dearth of studies that simultaneously analyze the relationship between resources and bird composition stabilization. I also emphasize the need to differentiate spatial and temporal homogenization of avifaunas for a future research agenda. Moreover, the relationship between urbanization and other taxa is also commented. Finally, I propose suggestions for future work at different spatial scales.

Urbanization, resources stabilization and the temporal persistence of bird species: A review

Background. A scarcely studied consequence of urbanization is the effect of the temporal stabilization of habitat structure and resources on bird communities. This alteration is thought to dampen environmental variations between day and night, seasons and years, promoting a temporal persistence of bird composition in urban environments. The aim of this study is to review actual evidence of temporal stabilization of habitats and resources in urban environments, and its potential effects on the temporal variation of bird species presence among different temporal scales. Methods. Selection of literature was made by searching published articles and book chapters using Google scholar. I only included articles that compared the temporal variation of bird composition or resources between different levels of urbanization. Results. In general, there is evidence of temporal stabilization of habitat structure and resources along the three scales considered. At the diurnal scale, the main factor considered was artificial light in the context of light pollution. At the seasonal and interannual scales, several case studies found a lesser temporal variation of primary productivity in urban areas compared with natural and rural areas. Bird species composition showed more stabilization in urban environments at the three temporal scales: 1) several case studies reported bird feeding at night, associated with artificial light; 2) studies in urban parks and along urbanization gradients showed lower seasonal variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas; and 3) in general, case studies along urbanization gradients showed lower interannual variation of bird composition in the more urbanized areas, although some studies showed no relationships or opposed trends than expected. Discussion. The published evidence suggests that urban areas dampen the natural cycles at several temporal scales. The stabilization of biotic and abiotic factors, such as light, temperature, food and habitat structure are desynchronized from natural diurnal, seasonal and interannual cycles. However, there is a dearth of studies that simultaneously analyze the relationship between resources and bird composition stabilization. I also emphasize the need to differentiate spatial and temporal homogenization of avifaunas for a future research agenda. Moreover, the relationship between urbanization and other taxa is also commented. Finally, I propose suggestions for future work at different spatial scales.

The effects of forest-savanna-grassland gradients on bird communities of Chiquitano Dry Forests domain, in western Brazil

ABSTRACT Different vegetation types are distributed in mountains according to altitude, topography and soil. The composition and structure of bird communities in these areas can change in relation to the vegetation gradient, with particular communities occupying each habitat type. In this study we present the changes in composition, species richness and bird abundance over the gradient of forests, savannas and altitudinal grasslands of Maciço do Urucum, a mountainous region located in the Chiquitano Dry Forests domain in western Brazil. We recorded 165 bird species through qualitative and quantitative methods. Forested savannas, riparian forests and submontane forests presented the highest richness and abundance of birds, while arboreal savannas and altitudinal grasslands had intermediate and low values, respectively. The bird composition was similar between riparian and submontane forests, while other vegetation types present more dissimilar bird communities. Our results show differences in composition, richness and bird abundance among the vegetation types present at Maciço do Urucum, and highlight an important function of vegetation gradients for the conservation of bird communities in mountains. Additionally, this is the first study of the bird communities in the Brazilian Chiquitano Dry Forests, an important domain in the west of Brazil which has been poorly studied.