Effect of habitat structure on avian diversity and distribution: the case of main camp, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Paper Details
Effect of habitat structure on avian diversity and distribution: the case of main camp, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Abstract
Bird species distribution is due to preference of certain types of habitats and many birds may disappear if their habitat is destroyed. The vegetation in Hwange National Park has been modified by elephant activity due to their high and growing numbers. An investigation into the influence of habitat structure on bird species distribution was carried out during the month of October 2012 in Main Camp, Hwange National Park. Birds were surveyed using the point count technique and various vegetation variables, that included height, stem diameter, canopy volume, were measured in six homogenous vegetation types. Visual assessments of elephant damage on the vegetation were also carried out. A total of 41 bird species and 311 individuals were found in the area sampled. The most speciose and abundant bird order found were the Passeriformes (24 species and 175 individuals respectively) and its members are found occurring in all the vegetation types. Grasslands provided the most favoured habitat for the birds. Elephant damage in the study area was moderate to high and had an insignificant influence on the bird species diversity. Regression analysis showed a relationship between bird species diversity and stem diameter as well as canopy volume (R2=0.835, p=0.007; R2=0.827, p=0.008 respectively), but no relationship was found between bird species diversity and plant species diversity as well as height and elephant damage levels (R2=0.417, p=0.099; R2=0.169, p=0.228; R2=-0.0004, p=0.970 respectively). The results therefore imply that habitat structure has an influence on the distribution of bird species in the park.
Chamaille-Jammes S, Valeix M, Bourgarel M, Murindagomo F, Fritz H. 2009. Seasonal Density Estimates of Common Large Herbivores in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology 47, 804-808.
Childes SL, Walker BH. 1978. Ecology and dynamics of the woody vegetation on the Kalahari Sands in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Vegetation 72, 111-128.
Cumming DHM, Fenton MB, Rautenbach IL, Taylor RD, Cumming GS, Cumming MS, Dunlop JM, Ford GS, Hovorka MD, Johnston DS, Kalcounis MC, Mahlanga Z, Portfors CV. 1997. Elephants, woodlands and biodiversity in Southern Africa. Southern African Journal of Science 93, 231-236.
Davison T. 1967. Wankie: The Story of a Great Game Reserve. Books of Africa, Salisbury, 106-121.
Dudley JP, Crag GC, Gibson DSTC, Haynes G, Klimowicz J. 2001. Drought Mortality of Bush Elephants in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology 39, 187.
Ferguson JC. 1938. Geological Reconnaissance in the Wankie Game Reserve, Zimbabwe Geological Survey Technical Files.69-71.
Girman DJ, Vila C, Geffen E, Creel S, Mills MGL, McNutt JW, Ginsenberg J, Kat PW. 2001. Patterns of population subdivision, gene flow and genetic variability in the African wild dog, Lycaon pictus. Molecular Ecology 10, 1703-23.
Hwange Management Plan. 2000. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe, 130-132.
Hwange Management Plan. 2003. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe, 89-91.
Hyde M A, Wursten B T, Ballings P. 2010. Flora of Zimbabwe: Outing no. 6: Visit to Hwange National Park and Bulawayo.” Available at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw Accessed on 10/06/2012.
Lockett NH. 1979. The Geology of the Country around Dett. Rhodesia Geological Survey Bulletin 85, 98-99.
Love D. 1999. Crystalline Inliers to the South of Hwange. Geological Society of Zimbabwe Newsletter 5, 13-15.
Loveridge AJ, Hunt JE, Murindagomo F. (2006). Influence of Drought on Predation of Elephant Calves by Lions. Accessed at http://213.55.94.36/iucon 17/07/2012.
McCoy ED, Bell SS. 1991. Habitat Structure: The evolution and diversification of a Complex topic. In: Bell SS, McCoy ED, Mushisky HR, ed. Habitat Structure: The Physical Arrangement of Objects in Space, Chapman and Hall, New York, 243-247.
Moreau RE. 1966. The Bird Faunas of Africa and Its Islands, Academic Press, New York-London, 135-145.
Newman K. 1983. Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa, Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, 154-156.
Ralph CJ, Geupel GR, Pyle, P, Martin TE, Desante DF. 1993. Handbook of Field Methods for Monitoring Landbirds, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-144. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 176-179.
Shannon CE. 1948. A mathematical theory of communication. The Bell System Technical Journal 27, 379-423.
Sutherland WJ, Newton I, Green R. 2004. Bird Ecology and Conservation, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 135-146.
Telleria JL, Santos T, Sanchez A, Galarza A. 1992. Habitat structure predicts bird diversity distribution in Iberian forests better than climate. Bird Study 39, 63-68.
van Wyk P, van Wyk B. 1997. Field guide to trees of Southern Africa, Struik Publications, Johannesburg, 101-119.
Wallace GJ, Mahan HD. 1975. An Introduction to Ornithology (3rd ed.), Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc, New York, 75-86.
Watson RLA. 1960. The Geology and Coal Resources of the Country Around Wankie, Southern Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia Geological Survey Bulletin, 53-58.
Wilson V J. 1975. Mammals of the Wankie National Park, The Trustees of the National Museums and Monuments of Rhodesia, Salisbury, 69-79
Makaka Caston, Mazire Samantha, 2014. Effect of habitat structure on avian diversity and distribution: the case of main camp, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 4(1), 90-108.
Copyright © 2014 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.