Abstract
Avifaunal diversity and abundance were studied in two wetlands of Jalpaiguri District, West Bengal, India, in relation to eight wetland characteristics supposedly directly or indirectly affected by human activities. Although the climatic and geophysical conditions of both the wetlands are almost similar, a total of 80 bird species were recorded from one wetland and the other supported only 42 species. The relationship between habitat characteristics and community structure varied throughout the year, suggesting that the birds respond differently to one or other habitat characteristic depending on the season. Larger wetland size supported higher bird diversity and abundance as far as resident and local migrants are concerned. Winter migrant density and diversity, however, reached higher values in structurally more heterogeneous wetlands having fewer submerged aquatic vegetation. All these habitat characteristics become highly influenced by intense agricultural practices in the wetland with fewer bird diversity and density.
Highlights
Author Details: Associate Professor in Zoology of Ananda Chandra College, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal
Eighty species were recorded at Gajoldoba Beel, and 42 species were recorded at Domohani Beel
Out of the 80 species recorded at Gajoldoba, 44 species were exclusive to this wetland
Summary
Author Details: Associate Professor in Zoology of Ananda Chandra College, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. Working on wetland ecology and biodiversity; specially on diversity of zooplanktons, fishes and water birds. I am thankful to the Department of Zoology, Ananda Chandra College, for providing all sorts of infrastructural support. I thank Dr Amal Kumar Patra, Mr Santanu Ghosh Dastidar and Mr Suman Senupta who helped me in various ways during field studies and laboratory works.
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