Bird composition as an environmental quality indicator in Wallacea’s urban area

Abstract

North Sulawesi Province, part of Wallace Bioregion, has a complex ecosystem. Advanced urban development brings various impacts, such as environmental change. Birds’ existence around human provides some advantages, such as assisting the process of plant pollination, controlling insect populations, and indicators of environmental quality. This study aimed to determine the bird species composition in four locations and the environmental quality was analysed using the Bird Community Index (BCI). This study gathered data on bird species in Manado Bay, Gunung Tumpa, Kawanua Arboretum, and the Kaki Dian areas. We conducted field observation through point count method as primary data and the secondary data were obtained from previous publications. Data were analyzed using Bird Community and Sorenson indexes. This study revealed that the birds’ quantities and composition moderately varied in four locations. This study found 37 bird species in Manado Bay, 33 in Tumpa Mountain, 36 in Kawanua Arboretum, and 49 in the Klabat mountain areas. The Bird Community Index (BCI) accumulation ranged from 56.0 – 68.4 and it was categorized as medium environmental quality. Sorensen’s community similarity index displayed a value of 30.3-51.0% which classified as low to medium community similarity.