Population Density of Avian Species in a Man-Made Wetland of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

This study determined the density and diversity of water and terrestrial dependent avian species in man-made Putrajaya wetlands, Peninsular Malaysia using the distant point count techniques. A total sum of 36,544 bird’s individuals (25water bird and 75 terrestrial bird species) was identified from November 2016 to July 2018. The overall bird’s density is 1.17 ± 0.04 birds’ ha−1 at 95.00% confidence limit. The terrestrial bird species (TBS) had a higher density (1.35 ± 0.04 birds’ ha−1), while the water bird species (WBS) had a lower density (0.98 ± 0.16 birds’ ha−1). For WBS, Nycticorax nycticorax and Casmero diusalbus recorded the highest (5.31 ± 3.27 birds’ ha1) and least (0.13 ± 0.15 birds’ ha−1) densities respectively. Also, Columba livia and Arachnothera flavigaster recorded the highest (7.15 ± 1.77 birds’ ha−1) and least (0.07±0.02 birds’ ha−1) densities respectively in TBS. The TBS had higher Shannon– Wiener species diversity index (N1 = 5.67), Margalef’s species richness index (R1 = 15.06) and Pielou’s J species evenness index (E = 1.29) in contrast to the WBS (N1 = 3.71; R1 = 4.58 and E = 1.18). The study revealed the potentials of the man-made Putrajaya wetlands to harbour diverse avian species. This implied the needs to conserve this enclave in order to increase the population, perpetuity and sustainability of the avian species.