Abstract
BackgroundHabitat heterogeneity clearly distinguished in terms of availability of food and habitat resources and landscape features (natural or human-modified) play a crucial role in the avian species composition and population structure. To examine this, a study was carried out in Bhubaneswar, India, to understand the ecological niche distinction in birds based on habitat heterogeneity. Regular sampling was conducted in 30 sampling sites covering six different habitat types in a predominantly urban landscape of Bhubaneswar for understanding the ecological niche in birds. The birds were classified into 11 types of foraging guilds.ResultsThe insectivorous guild had the highest bird species richness (181 species) and the omnivorous guild had the lowest (11 species). The piscivorous guild and wetland habitat had the strongest linkage, followed by the insectivorous guild and agricultural land. The frugivorous guild was significantly correlated with forest habitats (r = 0.386, p < 0.01) and park and garden habitats (r = 0.281, p < 0.01). This urban area hosted a higher number of bird species in certain habitat types, viz., agricultural lands (52%, 115 species) and forest patches (50%, 111 species).ConclusionThe present study highlights the importance of agricultural lands, forest patches, parks and gardens, and wetlands inside the cityscape for supporting avifauna. It is therefore suggested that such habitats should be conserved inside an urban area to protect native avifauna. Thus, the city development plan must invariably include strategies for conserving the forest patches inside the urban area. Measures must be taken to restrain the degradation of agricultural lands and reduce their utilization for non-agricultural purposes, which will help in further reducing the bird population decline in the urban landscape.
Highlights
Birds have long been regarded as excellent model systems for studying all biodiversity clans due to their presence in all climatic zones and habitat types (McCain and Grytnes 2010)
The present study was conducted in six different habitats: (i) grassland (GL): large grass fields are found that have fewer herbs and shrubs, (ii) wetland (WL): large water bodies and swampy area, (iii) forest patch (FP): dense woody vegetation with a high density of trees, (iv) park and garden (PG): scrublands and manmade gardens with human interference, (v) agricultural land (AL): farmlands and crop fields inside the city, and (vi) human habitation (HH): residential colonies and urban structures with high human disturbance
In total, 222 bird species belonging to 19 orders and 65 families were recorded in and around Bhubaneswar city, which differed significantly among the habitats (F = 2.69, p < 0.01)
Summary
Birds have long been regarded as excellent model systems for studying all biodiversity clans due to their presence in all climatic zones and habitat types (McCain and Grytnes 2010). Panda et al Ecological Processes (2021) 10:31 different environmental factors affect the avian species assemblage within a particular guild. Snep et al (2015) suggest distinguishing the richness gradients for different guilds for a better understanding of the community structure of birds and their habitat selection mechanisms. Habitat heterogeneity clearly distinguished in terms of availability of food and habitat resources and landscape features (natural or human-modified) play a crucial role in the avian species composition and population structure. A study was carried out in Bhubaneswar, India, to understand the ecological niche distinction in birds based on habitat heterogeneity. Regular sampling was conducted in 30 sampling sites covering six different habitat types in a predominantly urban landscape of Bhubaneswar for understanding the ecological niche in birds. The birds were classified into 11 types of foraging guilds
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