Avifaunal diversity in agroecosystems: a case study from Uttar Pradesh, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9973.18.5.28900-28910Keywords:
Birds, conservation, density, feeding guilds, insectivorous, point count, richness, status, vulnerable, wetlandsAbstract
Birds play a crucial role as indicators of environmental health, making them valuable for conservation assessments. This study presents a systematic checklist of bird species composition, diversity patterns, and foraging guild structures in the Nautanwa agroecosystem of Maharajganj District, Uttar Pradesh. Field surveys were conducted using the point count method across agricultural fields, human settlements, rivers, and wetlands between April and May 2022. A total of 52 bird species, spanning 47 genera, 28 families, and 13 orders, were recorded. Passeriformes emerged as the dominant order, while Ardeidae and Sturnidae were the most represented families. The overall bird density was ~12 individuals per ha, with the highest density in human habitats and the lowest in agricultural fields, indicating the influence of habitat heterogeneity on avian abundance. Diversity and richness indices were highest in river habitats and lowest in wetlands, underscoring the importance of habitat mosaics for supporting avian communities. Six foraging guilds were identified, with omnivores (51%) and insectivores (19%) being the most prevalent, reflecting birds’ adaptability to diverse food resources in agroecosystems. The presence of two ‘Vulnerable’ species—the Sarus crane Antigone antigone and the Lesser adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus—and one ‘Near Threatened’ species highlight the conservation value of these agricultural landscapes. The findings highlight the importance of considering agroecosystems in broader conservation strategies and emphasize the need for continued monitoring to protect vulnerable bird species in these dynamic environments.
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