Birds species composition and abundance of a relativelly undisturbed vegetation at Mount Pati, Lokoja, Kogi State

Dauda Tanko and Rita Chinweuba

Abstract
Avifauna of a relatively undisturbed vegetation at Mount Patti of Lokoja was surveyed from January to June, 2018. Line transect and point count techniques were used for data collection. This was done by weekly visits to the site between 6:00 h and 10:00 h of the day. Bird identification was done with the aid of a pair of binoculars, Field Guide of birds of Western Africa and recorded bird calls. Monthly variation and season variation in bird composition and abundance were compared using Shannon-Wiener diversity index and equitability index. There were 39 species in 21 families encountered during the survey. The Family Nectarinidae had the highest number of 5 species, followed by Columbidae and Estrildidae with 4 species each. A total of 1,148 individuals were encountered during the six months survey with village weaver having the highest encountered rate of 107 while yellow-throated Long-claw had the least encountered rate of 4 individuals. Fluctuation was observed in the monthly encountered rate of the birds. Diversity and equitability indices had their highest values of 5.24 and 1.51 in January. More birds (696) were encountered in the wet season than the dry season (452). Four species were seen only in the wet season. Species effort curve showed that there are more species to be discover. The number of species encountered in this study revealed that the mountain is rich composition of bird species, even though the site seems to favour species that show preference to disturbed areas. The on-going anthropogenic activities probably paved way to these species to move in. Monthly and seasonal fluctuation of bird species diversity and abundance may be due to a combination of physical and biological factors. The physical and biological factors observed at the site which we speculate could be reasons for the observed fluctuations include slash and burnt system of farming, fuel-wood harvesting, intensive sporting activities creation of foot paths etc. High encountered rate indicate abundance and high activity level of the species. The village weaver was the most encountered species probably because they are known to be lousy, move in flocks and breed in colonies. In view of the rich composition and abundance of bird species on Mount Patti and the site being a suitable breeding site for the weavers. We recommend further study of the place as there are yet more species to be discovered as indicated by the species effort curve. There is need for conservation procedures to be initiated at the place and this study should serve as a baseline to initiate such programme by the state government.

Keywords
Avifauna; Undisturbed vegetation; Mount Patti; Composition; Abundance.

DOI
10.21472/bjbs.061225

Full text
PDF

References
Adang, K. L.; Nsor, C.; Tela, M. Survey of avifauna of Gombe State University, Gombe, Nigeria. International Journal of Biology and Biological Sciences, v. 4, no. 2, p. 32-36, 2015.

Adang, K. L.; Tanko, D.; Kachi, J.; Abdulwahab, U. A. Bird species richness and diversity of Lokoja and Environs, Kogi State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the 6th NSCB Biodiversity Conference,Uniuyo, p. 177-124, 2018.

Andren, H. Effects of habitat fragmentation on birds and mammals in landscapes with different proportions of suitable habitat: A review. Oikos, v. 71, p. 355-366, 1994.

Bascompte, J.; Jordano, P. Plant-animal mutualistic networks. The architecture of biodiversity. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, v. 38, p. 567-593, 2007.

Benes, J.; Konvicka, M.; Storch, D.; Martinkova, J.; Gaston, J. Distribution pattern in butterflies and birds of the Czech Republic: Separating effects of habitat and geographical position. Journal of Biogeography, v. 30, p. 1195-1205, 2003.

Bibby, C.; Burgees, N.; Hill, D. Birds census techniques. London: Academic Press, 2000.

Bibby, J.; Burgress, N.; Hill, D. Bird census techniques. London: Academic Press, 1992.

BirdLife International. The threatened birds of the World. London: Lynx Editions, 2000.

Birdlife International. Birds occur in all major habitat types, with forest being particularly important. 2008. Presented as Part of the Birdlife State of the World's Birds website. Available from: <http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sowb/casestudy/172. Accessed on: March 7, 2018.

Buckley, H. L.; Freckleton, R. P. Understanding the role of species dynamics in abundance-occupancy relationships. Journal of Ecology, v. 98, p. 645-658, 2010.

Burgess, N. D.; Doggart, N.; Loveth, J. The Uluguru Mountains of Eastern Tanzania: The effect of forest loss on biodiversity. Oryx, v. 36, p. 140-152, 2002.

DeVault, T. L.; Brisbin, I. L.; Rhodes, O. E. Factors influencing the acquisition of rodent carion by vertebrate scavengers and decomposers. Canadian Journal of Zoology, v. 82, p. 502-509, 2004.

Fishpool, L. D. C.; Evans, M. I. Important birds areas and associated islands: Priority sites for. Newbury: Pisces Publications and Birdlife International, 2001. p. 673-696.

Fuller, E. Extinct birds. 2. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Gibbons, D. W. Birds. In: Sutherland, W. J. (Ed.). Ecological census tecniques. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Godoy, J. A.; Jordano, P. Seed dispersal by animals: Exact identification of source trees with endocarp DNA microsatellites. Molecular Ecology, v. 10, p. 2275-2283, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0962-1083.2001.01342.x

Harms, K. E.; Wright, S. J.; Calderon, O.; Hernandez, A.; Herre, E. A. Pervasive density-dependent recruitment enhances seedling diversity in a tropical forest. Nature, v. 404, p. 493-495, 2000. https://doi.org/10.1038/35006630

Hobson, K.; Wassenaar, L.; Mill, B.; Lovette, I.; Dingle, C.; Smith, T. Stable isotopes as indicators of altitudinal distribution and movement in an Ecuadorean Hummingbird Community. Oecology, v. 136, p. 302-308, 2003.

Jankowski, J.; Ciecka, A.; Meyer, N.; Rabenold, K. Beta diversity along environmental gradient: Implication of habitat specialization in tropical montane landscapes. Journal of Animal Ecology, v. 4, p. 315-327, 2009.

Judd, W. S.; Campbell, C. S.; Kellogg, E. A.; Stevens, A. F.; Donoghue, M. J. Plant systematics: Approach. 3. ed. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, 2008.

Lozada, T.; Koning, G. H.; Marche, R.; Klein, A.M.; Tsharntke, T. Tree recovery and seed dispersal by birds: Comparing forest, agro-forestry and abandoned agro-forestry in Coastal Ecuador. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, v. 8, no. 3, p. 131-140. 2007. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ppees.2006.10.001

Manhães, M.; Ribeiro, A. Spatial Distribution and Diversity of Bird Community in an Urban Area of Southeast Brazil. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, v. 48, no. 2, p. 285-294, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89132005000200016

Marzluff, J. M. Island biogeography for an urbanizing world: How extinction and colonization may determine biological diversity in human-dominated landscapes. Urban Ecosystems, v. 8, no. 2, p. 157-177, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-005-4378-6

Mengesha, G.; Mamo, Y.; Bakele, A. A comparison of terrestrial bird community structure in the undisturbed and disturbed areas of the Abijata Shalla Lakes National Park, Ethipopia. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, v. 3, no. 9, p. 389-404, 2011.

Pain, D. J.; Cunningham, A. A.; Donald, P. F.; Duckworth, J. W.; Houston, D. C.; Katzner, T.; Parry-Jones, J.; Poole, C.; Prakash, V.; Round, P.; Timmins, R. Causes and effects of temporospatial declines of Gyps vultures in Asia. Conservation Biology, v. 17, p. 661-671, 2003.

Rahbek, C. The role of spatial scale and the perception of large-scale species-richness patterns. Ecology Letters, v. 8, no. 2, p. 224-239, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00701.x

Shanahan, M.; Harrison, R. D.; Yamuna, R. Colonization of an island volcano, Long Island, Pua New Guinea and an emergent island, Motmot, in its caldera lake. V. Colonization by figs Ficus spp, their dispersers and pollinators. Journal of Biogeography, v. 28, p. 1365-1377, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2001.2811121365.x

Tanko, D. Some aspects of Ecology of the Dumbi Inselberg and its surrounding woodland in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Ahmadu Bello: Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, 2012. (PhD Dissertation).

Tanko D.; Ivande S. T. A survey of the avifauna of relatively undisturbed vegetation in Zaria, Nigeria. Roan: The Journal of Conservation, v. 5, no. 1, p. 131-140, 2011.

Tanko, D.; Adang, K. L.; Kachi J. B. Preliminary checklist of avifauna within Lokoja Metropolis, Kogi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Biology, v. 8, no. 2, p. 222-231, 2017.

Waterhouse, F.; Mather, M.; Seip, D. Distribution and abundance of birds relative to elevate on and biogeoclimatic zones in coastal old-growth forests in Southern British Columbia. B. C. Journal of Ecosystems and Management, v. 2, no. 2, p. 1488-4674, 2002.

Wenny, D. G.; Levey, D. J. Directed seed dispersal by bellbirds in a tropical cloud forest. PNAS, v. 95, p. 6204-6207, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.95.11.6204

Westphal, C.; Steffan-Dewenter; Tscharntke, T. Bumblebees experience landscapes at different spatial scales: Possible implication for coexistence. Oecologia, v. 149, p. 289-300, 2006.