EFFECTS OF HABITAT STRUCTURE AND ALTITUDINAL GRADIENTS ON AVIAN SPECIES DIVERSITY AT KURRA FALLS FOREST, NIGERIA
TURSHAK, L.G., MWANSAT, G.S. and MANU, S.A.
Keywords: birds, diversity, habitat structure, altitude.
Published in Volume 9
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Abstract:
All bird species are restricted to varying degrees in the range of habitats they occupy. They share at least a portion of their
habitat ranges, but between habitats in a local or regional landscape mosaic, some species are replaced by others as the
habitat-type or structure changes. This study was carried out at Kurra Falls Forest. The forest is a typical savanna woodlands
interspersed with gallery forests, patches of grasslands, and rocky outcrops. The forest is also characterised by altitudinal
gradients with elevations. Using line transect methods, the effect of habitat structure and altitudinal gradients on bird species
diversity at Kurra Falls Forest were studied. A total of 175 bird species were recorded, two of which are among the four endemic
birds to Nigeria. Tree height, tree number, and canopy cover together had a significant effect on bird species diversity. Bird
species diversity increased with increase in tree height. A significant decline in bird species diversity with increased number
of trees and canopy cover was noted. This result probably suggests an accumulation of forest edge species and generalist
species in the less forested habitat. Few forest species inhabited the forest interior where high number of trees and low visible
sky can be found. It is also possible that the dominant species of the forest interior might have out compete the subordinate
forest interior species. In addition, species diversity did not significantly vary with altitude.