Is there any impact of non-native vegetation on bird communities in Delhi, India?

Autor: Faiyaz A. Khudsar, Aisha Sultana, Gaurav Barhadiya, Mohammad Shah Hussain
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Tropical Ecology. 63:49-60
ISSN: 2661-8982
0564-3295
Popis: This study compared the bird communities of native plant assemblages with non-native plant forest in Delhi, India to see the impact of alien plant species on bird diversity and richness and to identify what vegetation variables most influenced bird distribution. Point counts were conducted in 38 native and 31 in non-native forests. 38 bird species were encountered (36 species in native and 21 species in non-native forest) and bird attributes were significantly higher in native forest than non-native forest. In each forest vegetation variables were quantified (tree density, diversity, richness and shrub density, diversity, richness) and correlated with bird diversity, richness and biomass. There was a significant difference in tree species diversity (F = 11.72), richness (F = 8.60) and density (F = 3.83) in native forest and non-native forest. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on vegetative physiognomic variables revealed 78.33% variance and two components were selected. Finally, regression models were developed and tested predicting bird species richness in two components. The following variables loaded into the predictive models: tree and shrub diversity, richness and density. The models explained 45% of variation in bird species diversity, 34% of variation in bird species richness. Bird diversity and richness was positively correlated with high tree diversity and density. This work showed the negative impact of non-native vegetation on bird species so recommendation has been made to study the impact of non-native plant species on other faunal species in whole ridge area of Delhi to make a comprehensive strategy to conserve the whole biodiversity.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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