Community Structure of Birds at Islands in Karon River in Ahvaz City in Spring and Summer 2014

Abstract

The main objectives of this study was to determine and compare the density and diversity of water birds and terrestrial birds using total count method at islands in Karon river in Ahvaz city . A total of 5218 bird individuals from 57 bird species were recorded in the islands. Out of the total 57 species, 20 (35.08% of all detections) and 37 (64.91% of all detections) bird species belong to water birds and terrestrial birds respectively, that 14 species of them were breeder. The results showed that average terrestrial bird density of the islands was 173.93±4.53 bird’s ha -1 and ranged from 91.4-262.6 birds ha -1 (95% confidence interval). The terrestrial birds have higher density (173.93±4.53 bird’s ha -1 ) as compared to water birds (43.63±1.78 birds ha -1, ranged from 16.6-63.1 birds ha -1 ). The highest water bird density was recorded for Little Egret (89.3±0.89 bird’s ha -1 ) and the lowest was Spoonbill (0.2±0.11 bird’s ha -1 ). The highest terrestrial bird density was recorded for Scrub Sparrow (93.4±1.05 bird’s ha -1 ) and the lowest was Roller and Red-backed Shrike (0.2±0.11 bird’s ha -1 for each). The highest species diversity i.e. Shannon’s index (2.817), species richness i.e. Margalef’s index (R 1 = 6.227), species evenness, i.e., McIntosh’s index (E = 0.509) and Fisher alpha’s index (11.08) was recorded for all birds. This study indicated that islands in the Karon River are a highly important habitat and provide diverse food, shelter, nesting and roosting sites for water birds as well as terrestrial birds.