Muhammad Nawaz Rajpar

Bird Species Abundance and Their Correlationship with Microclimate and Habitat Variables at Natural Wetland Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia

Birds are the most conspicuous and significant component of freshwater wetland ecosystem. Presence or absence of birds may indicate the ecological conditions of the wetland area. The objectives of this study were to determine bird species abundance and their relationship with microclimate and habitat variables. Distance sampling point count method was applied for determining species abundance and multiple regressions was used for finding relationship between bird species abundance, microclimate and habitat variables. Bird species were monitored during November, 2007 to January, 2009. A total of 8728 individual birds comprising 89 species and 38 families were detected. Marsh Swamp was swarmed by 84 species (69.8%) followed open water body by 55 species (17.7%) and lotus swamp by 57 species (12.6%). Purple swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio (9.1% of all detections) was the most abundant bird species of marsh swamp, lesser whistling duck—Dendrocygna javanica (2.3%) was dominant species of open water body and pink-necked green pigeon—Treron vernans (1.7%) was most common species of lotus swamp. Results revealed that the habitat characteristics such as vegetation composition (i.e. emergent and submerged vegetations, grasses, shrubs, and trees), vegetation structures (tree diameter and height) and microclimate variables (temperature, relative humidity and light intensity) were the key factors that influenced the distribution, diversity and density of the wetland bird species. This study also revealed that the wetland bird species have adapted a fairly unique set of microhabitat and microclimate conditions.

Effects of water level fluctuation on waterbirds distribution and aquatic vegetation composition at Natural Wetland Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia.

The effects of water level fluctuations on waterbirds distribution and aquatic vegetation composition was determined using distance sampling point count method and direct visual observation at Paya Indah Natural Wetland Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 2563 waterbird individual of 28 species and 8 families were detected in three habitats, that is, marsh swamp (68.59%), open water body (18.42%), and lotus swamp (12.99%). Porphyrio porphyrio was the most dominant species in marsh swamp (45.39%), and lotus swamp (23.42%), whereas Dendrocygna javanica (42.16%) was the most abundant in open water body. The highest water level for marsh swamp (2.313 m) and lotus swamp (2.249 m) was recorded in January, 2008 and for open water body (2.572 m) in January and April, 2008. In contrast, the lowest water level for marsh swamp (2.048 m) and lotus swamp (1.834 m) was determined in October, 2008 and for open water body (2.398 m) in January, 2009. Pearson test indicates weak linear correlationship between water level and waterbird abundance in lotus swamp habitat ( 𝑟 2 = 0 . 1 2 0 , 𝑃 > 0 . 0 5 ) and in marsh swamp ( 𝑟 2 = 0 . 1 0 0 , 𝑃 > 0 . 0 5 ) and negative linear correlationship ( 𝑟 2 = − 0 . 7 1 0 , 𝑃 > 0 . 0 5 ) in open water body habitat. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated strong correlationship between waterbird abundance and vegetation (73.0%) in open water body, and weaker association (29.8%) in lotus swamp. The results of this study indicate that water level is a major factor that influences the relative abundance and distribution of ducks, swamphen, crakes, herons, jacanas, and moorhens directly and indirectly. In addition, it also effects on the dynamics of aquatic vegetation composition such as, emergent, submerged, and grasses in this wetland reserve.

Assessing an Artificial Wetland in Putrajaya, Malaysia, as an Alternate Habitat for Waterbirds

Abstract. Detailed information on bird populations and wetland habitats is highly important for future conservation and management activities. More than 50% of natural wetland habitats have been lost or degraded due to human intervention, which has negatively affected wetland-dependent bird populations. In this study, the density, diversity and feeding guilds of various bird species in an artificial wetland habitat were examined using a distance sampling point count technique. A total of 20,010 individuals of 102 species representing 40 families were detected from March 2009 to June 2010. In all, 64 species were counted with 72.5% of 14,520 individuals residents, 22 species were counted with 26.4% of 5,290 individuals resident-migrants, 13 species were counted with 1.0% of 196 individuals migrants and three species were counted with 0.1% of four individuals counted vagrants. Resident birds were present at the highest density and vagrants at the lowest. The most dominant migrant, resident and resident-migrant species were the Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) (0.37 ±0.10 birds ha-1), Rock Pigeon ( Columba livia) (3.91 + 0.97 birds ha-1) and Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) (1.55 ± 0.93 birds ha-1), respectively. The community structure of resident birds was the most diverse and rich compared to migrants, resident-migrants and vagrants. Frugivore/insectivore (1.04 ± 0.20 birds ha-1) was the most dominant feeding guild for migrants, nectarivore/insectivore (0.64 ± 0.04 birds ha-1) for residents and omnivore (0.28 ± 0.03 birds ha-1) for resident-migrants. The findings of this research indicate that artificial wetlands can provide an alternative habitat for the foraging and breeding activities of different bird assemblages.

Comparison of understorey bird species in relation to edge–interior gradient in an isolated tropical rainforest of Malaysia

Forest fragmentation results in a loss of forest interior and an increase in edge habitat. As a result, these changes may affect the bird species distribution and composition. We studied how understorey bird community composition and habitat variables changed along an edge-to-interior gradient in a fragmented lowland rainforest in Peninsular Malaysia. Birds and environmental variables were recorded at each of the 93 sampling points distributed along the 14 parallel transects that were systematically placed across the gradient of distance from the forest edge to the forest interior. Species composition was different along the edge–interior gradient, although only a few species were strictly confined to either edge or interior habitat. Based on bird–habitat associations along the edge–interior gradient, some of these edge-preferred species occurred in high numbers at the matrix surrounding the patch. In contrast, the interior-specialist group, mainly terrestrial insectivores, avoided the forest edge and was positively associated with humidity, canopy cover, the number of dead trees, percentage of litter cover, and depth of the litter layer. Species endemic to the Sunda subregion were more abundant in the interior of the forest. From a conservation perspective, forest remnants in the lowlands of Peninsular Malaysia that have a deep leaf litter layer, dense canopy cover, high number of dead trees, and high relative humidity are able to support understorey bird species that are sensitive to edge effects. The forest has important conservation value even though it is fragmented and isolated.

Mangrove Fauna of Asia

Mangrove is a plant community of salt tolerant plant species which grow within transitional or inter-tidal zones of coastal, estuary and riverine areas of tropical and subtropical regions where rivers drain into the sea. They are highly productive habitat for a variety of fauna such as birds, fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and aquatic as well as terrestrial invertebrates. The occurrence of higher diversity of fauna could be due to richness of food resources and diversity of vegetation, i.e. they provide ideal foraging and breeding sites and also shelter for these wide array of animals. Mangrove fauna are an important component of the food web and play a significant role in the mangrove ecosystem. Unfortunately, despite such a richness in animal communities, mangrove areas are still declining at an alarming rate day by day due to human activities. The habitat loss has seriously caused threats to different mangrove dependent animals such as birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, i.e., extinct and critically endangered species. The current information on the various fauna such as reptiles, mammals, invertebrates and fishes in Asia’s mangrove ecosystem is not sufficient. In the future, more research is required to determine the various aspects of fauna such as species richness, diversity, distribution and the association of fauna with water quality, food resources and habitats to explore the ways and means to conserve the fauna in and around mangrove areas.

Fauna Diversity in Tropical Rainforest: Threats from Land-Use Change

Tropical rainforests are the cradle of life (perfect conditions for life) on Earth, i.e., rich in plant species composition (>250 plant species/hectare) and fauna diversity (>50% of animal species in the world). Rainforests occur near the Earths equator and cover 6% of the Earths surface across the tropical regions and are characterized by wet climate, i.e., heavy rainfall (125—660 cm), relative humidity (77—88%) and temperature (20—34°C). They are dominated by a wide range of broad-leaved trees that form dense canopy and the most complex ecosystem. Currently, the tropical rainforest ecosystem is changing faster than ever in human history due to anthropogenic activities, such as habitat loss and degradation due to deforestation for timber and conversion into agriculture fields (oil palm plantation), mining, fire, climate change, etc. The habitat loss and degradation had adversely influenced the distribution and richness of the fauna species. The current information on the fauna diversity of tropical rainforest is not sufficient and in the future, more research is required to document the various community parameters of the fauna species in order to conserve and protect them. For better future, conservation, and management, we must identify the major drivers of changes and how these factors alter the tropical rainforest.

The Effects of Climate Change on Avian Diversity in High-Altitude Wetland Habitats

Birds are a major component of wetland ecosystems and often exhibit a distinct correlationship with wetland vegetation and food resources. Conversely, long-term effects of the climate change on avian community parameters and their habitats have not been examined in high-altitude wetland habitats. However these wetlands are highly important for a variety of avian species, i.e., they utilize the high-altitude wetland habitats permanently or in transit (i.e., stopover) during migration from September to March. Climate change is a major driving factor that affects avian diversity through various ways such as altered microclimate factors (temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall pattern) and microhabitat characteristics that had caused a shift in home range, food resources, and breeding ecology of various bird species inhabiting high-altitude wetland habitats. The current chapter indicates that climate change affects phenology, distribution, migration season (i.e., arrival and departure), and breeding ecology of avian species. In fact, very little is known about the effects of the climate change on the avian diversity in high-altitude wetland habitats. Hence, it is crucially important to determine the effects of climate change on avian diversity in high-altitude wetland habitats within the context of ecological and spatial parameters to understand the effects of climate change on avian diversity and their habitat for future wetland habitat conservation and management.