Comparative study of avian communities in logged forest, clear-felled forest and rubber plantation at Beris River Valley, Sik, Kedah
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Date
2006
Authors
Abdullah Sani, Nur Ziana
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Abstract
A study of bird communities at three different habitats in Beris River valley, Sik, Kedah was carried out for 15 months, from July 2003 till September 2004. Three different habitats were chosen namely logged forest, clear-felled area and rubber plantation. Two methods of data recording were used; by observation along 600 m transects and mist-netting. A total of 146 species from 40 families were recorded. Pycnonotidae is dominant with 14 species (9.59%), while insectivores comprises the highest species group (69 species – 47.3%). Logged forest contained the highest number of species (112 species) followed by rubber plantation (62 species) and clear-felled area (57 species). Margalef and Menhinick Index (D) which were used to measure bird communities richness and Shannon-Weiner Index (H’) to measure diversity showed that logged forest has the highest index values (D = 43.61, 5.98; H’ = 4.14), followed by rubber plantation (D = 26.82, 4.52; H’ = 3.69) and clear-felled area (D = 23.46, 3.65; H’ = 3.24). Meanwhile, Simpson’s Evenness Index (E1/Ď) indicated that rubber plantation has the highest evenness (E1/Ď = 0.41) followed by logged forest (E1/Ď = 0.26) and clear-felled area (E1/Ď = 0.23). Jaccard’s, Sorensen’s and Modified Morisita’s Similarity Index showed that clear-felled and rubber plantation has the highest similarity percentage (Jaccard’s = 36.4%, Sorensen’s = 53.3%, Modified Morisita’s = 46.0%), followed by percentage of rubber plantation-logged forest similarity
(Jaccard’s = 31.8%, Sorensen’s = 48.3%, Modified Morisita’s = 40.9%) and clear-felled-logged forest (Jaccard’s = 28.8%, Sorensen’s = 44.7%, Modified Morisita’s = 29.2%). From the data obtained, it is clear that the area of Hutan Rezab Terenas in Beris River valley sustained very high diversity of bird species and proved that this area is suitable habitat for birds. Low percentage of similarity between the chosen habitats indicated the existence of differences in habitat choice by birds. Continuous efforts and further conservation studies in this area are needed to gain more detailed information concerning the status of bird communities and composition there, and thereby helping to preserve the communities from extinction.
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Master
Keywords
Biological science , Logged forest , Rubber plantation