The Effect of Fragmentation and Land Use Types on Bannerman’s Weaver Ploceus bannermani (A Globally-Threatened Bird Species) on the Obudu Plateau, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

The Obudu Plateau is one of the most important single sites in Nigeria for globally-threatened bird species e.g., Bannerman’s Weaver Ploceus bannermani. The Obudu Plateau forms part of the Cameroon Mountain Endemic Bird Area which has continued to be degraded causing declines in the populations of these threatened bird species. This study examined how land use and fragmentation affect Bannerman’s Weaver on the Obudu Plateau. Birds heard or seen, and their distances were recorded from points laid 100 meters apart in forest patches that varied in their categories (less disturbed, completely protected, and partially protected, houses inside, farming inside and degraded by nomadic activity). No significant differences in the densities of Bannerman’s Weaver in the different forest patch categories: weavers were more common in protected patches and less common in unprotected patches. Patch size had a significant positive effect on the density of Bannerman’s Weaver while isolation distance had no significant difference. Patch size reduction as a consequence of fragmentation therefore negatively affected Bannerman’s Weaver. Those forest patches with partial protection should be fully protected and there should be environmental education on the need to adequately protect those forest patches that are already designated as reserves.

Keywords: Fragmentation, Threatened bird species, Bannerman’s Weaver, Obudu Plateau, Forest land use types.