Birds as potential bioindicators for terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract

Considering the lack of ecosystems’ monitoring in Armenia and the urgent necessity of setting up such a system for decision making in nature conservation and natural resource management, the current paper aims at identification of indicator bird species for the key types of ecosystems in the country and crosscutting influence of climate change. In the forests, the study identified the bird species composition, total number of all birds, and 11 species as indicators of degradation, fragmentation, and aridization. In grasslands, the total number of all birds and seven species indicate degradation of the mountain steppes and meadows due to overgrazing and uncontrolled mowing. In arid lands, the change of bird species composition and total number of all birds indicate degradation of semi-deserts, scrublands, and juniper woodlands due to their transformation into orchards, while six species indicate degradation of these habitats due to overgrazing. In rivers and streams, four species indicate fragmentation of the rivers. In wetlands, at least seven species indicate drainage of the wetlands, and at least one indicates wetlands’ pollution. Also, the study identified seven species, which indicate the influence of climate change on birds’ distribution at the Eurasian scale. There is still a need for additional study of the indicators of wetlands and lakes, and influence of climate change. A need for improvement of the policy and institutional framework is important as well.