Importance of riparian forest in enhancing the avifaunal diversity of upland agricultural landscape

Abstract

To understand the importance of riparian forest in enhancing the avifaunal diversity in upland agricultural landscape, this study compared the avifaunal community of riparian forest strip to avifaunal community of a swidden farm and a nearby primary forest in Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines from August to November 2010. Results revealed that the riparian forest strip has the highest species richness, diversity index and abundance compared to swidden farm and primary forest. Moreover, the bird assemblage found in it has high index of community similarity when compared to swidden farm and primary forest. This indicates that the bird community in the riparian forest is comprised of an assortment of species that thrive in the primary forest and in the swidden farm. Meanwhile, the low abundance, species richness and diversity index together with the concurrent decline of endemic and conservation priority birds in swidden farm uncovered the vulnerability of these birds to habitat degradation. On the contrary, the high abundance, species richness, and diversity index alongside with the presence of high number of endemic and conservation priority species in the riparian forest strip unfolded its significance in enhancing the avifaunal diversity in upland agricultural landscape. Moreover, the presence of endemic and high conservation priority bird species that are restricted only to primary forest highlights the need to conserve the remaining tracts of primary forest in the area. Preserving the networks of riparian forests in upland agricultural vegetation matrix is also recommended to improve the avifaunal ecosystem functions in the area.