Assefa Alembrhan, Mesfin Kalayu, Tesfahunegny Weldemariam, Fitsum Birkti, Gaim Amleset, Meles Teklay
Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Science, Aksum University, P.O. Box, 1010, Axum, Tigray, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, Mekelle Biodiversity Center, P. O. Box, 30726, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
BMC Zool. 2024 Sep 14;9(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s40850-024-00215-x.
Artificial reservoirs are alternative habitats for bird diversity, and knowledge of the diversity and abundance of bird species contribute to the management of the ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the species diversity and abundance of birds in Mai-Nigus reservoir and its surrounding semi-forest from July 2022 to March 2023. Point count method with a total of fifteen count stations at an interval of 50 m radius was used to study the diversity and abundance of bird species in the semi-forest habitat while total count employed on the reservoir.
A total of 123 bird species comprising endemic and globally threatened species were identified. Order Passeriformes had the highest number of species followed by Charadriiformes and Pelecaniformes. Family Scolopacidae was the most abundant followed by Ardeidae, Ploceidae and Anatidae. Bird species richness and abundance were not significantly varied across seasons and habitats (P > 0.05). The highest species diversity (H´=3.96) were recorded in the Semi-forest during the wet season, whereas the least was recorded from reservoir during the dry season (H´=2.66). The highest and lowest species evenness of birds was recorded in Semi-forest (E = 0.725) and reservoir (E = 0.448) during the dry season, respectively. Most birds that inhabited the area had frequent relative abundance followed by uncommon and common species.
Mai-Nigus reservoir and surrounding habitat host high bird diversity and this requires critical conservation concerns for the long-term survival of birds.
人工水库是鸟类多样性的替代栖息地，了解鸟类物种的多样性和丰富度有助于生态系统的管理。本研究于2022年7月至2023年3月进行，旨在调查迈尼古斯水库及其周边半森林地区鸟类的物种多样性和丰富度。在半森林栖息地采用点计数法，共设置15个计数站，半径间隔50米，用于研究鸟类物种的多样性和丰富度，而在水库采用全计数法。
共识别出123种鸟类，包括特有物种和全球受威胁物种。雀形目鸟类的物种数量最多，其次是鸻形目和鹈形目。鹬科是数量最多的科，其次是鹭科、织布鸟科和鸭科。鸟类物种丰富度和丰度在不同季节和栖息地之间没有显著差异（P > 0.05）。雨季时半森林地区记录到最高的物种多样性（H´ = 3.96），而旱季时水库记录到的物种多样性最低（H´ = 2.66）。旱季时，半森林地区记录到鸟类最高的物种均匀度（E = 0.725），水库记录到最低的物种均匀度（E = 0.448）。栖息在该地区的大多数鸟类相对丰度较高，其次是不常见和常见物种。
迈尼古斯水库及其周边栖息地拥有高度的鸟类多样性，这需要对鸟类的长期生存给予关键的保护关注。
