Species Composition, Relative Abundance and Habitat Association of Birds in Nansebo Forest, South Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

A study on avian species composition, relative abundance, and habitat association at Nansebo forest was carried out from June 2017 - February 2018 during wet and dry seasons. To collect data for the study, the whole habitat of the study area was divided into dominant vegetation types. Accordingly, habitat of the study area was divided into moist Afromontane forest and modified habitat in Nansebo forest. A line transects count aided by binocular was employed to investigate avian species diversity, relative abundance and Habitat association. Therefore 20 transect lines of 1km lengths with a width of 0.25km or less were used to cover 27.75% of the area in Nansebo forest. A total of 105 bird species of which 1 endemic, 8 near endemics, 1 globally threatened and 9 Palearctic migrants were recorded in Nansebo forest. Species richness and abundance varied between the three and two habitats. There was significant difference in species richness among habitats (F1, 18=94.657 P=0.000) in Nansebo forest. In Nansebo forest the highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’ = 4.17) recorded from the modified habitat. It can be concluded that both area has high species diversity including endemics and endangered species. It can also be good potential for bird watching tourism that can integrate economic gain with biodiversity conservation. Hence, urgent conservation measures and further detail research is recommended to conserve the bird species.

Key words/Phrases: Avian species, Habitat types, Species richness, Species similarity

DOI: 10.7176/ALST/74-03

Publication date:May 31^st 2019