Avian community structure in a human-impacted forest landscape: insights from Amangarh Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10681.18.9.29571-29582Keywords:
Avian density, avian diversity, avian richness, biodiversity, birds, community ecology, distance sampling, feeding guilds, habitat heterogeneity, point countAbstract
Habitat degradation and loss due to anthropogenic pressures are the primary threats to biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests. Monitoring bird communities provides valuable insights into the environmental status of both natural and human-modified ecosystems. In this study (February–April 2021), the point count method was used to assess avian species richness, diversity, and density in Amangarh Tiger Reserve (ATR)—a human-impacted forest area, aiming to understand its ecological importance and conservation potential. A proportionately stratified random sampling strategy was used for point count surveys across multiple habitat types. Species were identified, counted, and categorised by feeding guilds, and diversity indices were calculated. Bird density was calculated using Distance 7.3 software. A total of 110 bird species were recorded, indicating noteworthy species richness. Mixed forest exhibited the highest diversity, richness, and density (2029.7 birds/km², 95% CI: 1732.2–2378.2), likely due to its structural complexity. In contrast, teak plantations supported the lowest bird diversity, likely due to monoculture and low structural complexity. The riverbed had the lowest richness and density (1038 birds/km², 95% CI: 245.9–4381.1). Insectivores were the most abundant group, suggesting good ecological integrity of the region. This study highlights the ecological value of ATR for avian conservation, particularly the role of habitat heterogeneity and its mixed forests. Long-term monitoring is necessary to guide conservation planning and maintain the stability of bird communities in human-impacted landscapes such as ATR.
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