Pant Siddha Raj, Bhattarai Bishnu Prasad, Baral Hem Sagar, Thapa Tej Bahadur
Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kirtipur Nepal.
Kailali Multiple Campus, Far Western University Dhangadhi Nepal.
Ecol Evol. 2024 Dec 17;14(12):e70538. doi: 10.1002/ece3.70538. eCollection 2024 Dec.
Wetlands serve as crucial habitats for diverse bird species, playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem. Geographical location, climate, hydrology, and vegetation composition of wetlands determine the diversity of birds. This study investigated species richness, seasonal diversity, and composition of wetland birds in three prominent water bodies of western Nepal, namely Ghodaghodi, Rani, and Jokhar lakes, from 2021 to 2022 in summer and winter using the point count method. We observed 59 wetland bird species across three wetlands, where both the richness and diversity were significantly higher in the winter. Paired t-tests revealed significant seasonal differences ( < 0.001) in diversity, species richness, and abundance at both Ghodaghodi and Rani lakes. The highest species richness was observed at Ghodaghodi ( = 58), reflecting its significance as a vital bird habitat. In contrast, diversity was higher in Rani Lake during both seasons (Winter = 2.98, Summer = 2.79). NMDS followed by ANISOM test also showed that bird community structure varies across lakes and seasons. Indicator species analysis showed that out of 59 species, 26 species are associated with one or different sites, whereas 18 of them are associated with the summer or winter season. We observed the Anatidae family with the highest relative diversity (RDI = 28.81%) and reported 1 globally vulnerable species and 7 globally near-threatened species. While in Jokhar Lake, the abundance does not vary between the seasons. This study revealed substantial differences in bird species across seasons and lakes showing that each wetland offers a distinct ecological niche for bird species. The findings reinstate the importance of these wetlands as crucial habitats for the diversity of birds and species composition. This research contributes to the conservation and management of these ecosystems, aiding the protection of wetland birds in Nepal.
湿地是多种鸟类的重要栖息地，在维持生态系统方面发挥着至关重要的作用。湿地的地理位置、气候、水文和植被组成决定了鸟类的多样性。本研究采用点计数法，于2021年至2022年的夏季和冬季，对尼泊尔西部三个著名水体——戈达戈迪湖、拉尼湖和约卡尔湖的湿地鸟类物种丰富度、季节多样性和组成进行了调查。我们在三个湿地中观察到了59种湿地鸟类，其中冬季的丰富度和多样性均显著更高。配对t检验显示，戈达戈迪湖和拉尼湖在多样性、物种丰富度和丰度方面存在显著的季节差异（<0.001）。在戈达戈迪湖观察到的物种丰富度最高（=58），这反映了其作为重要鸟类栖息地的重要性。相比之下，拉尼湖在两个季节的多样性都更高（冬季=2.98，夏季=2.79）。非度量多维尺度分析（NMDS）随后进行的ANISOM检验也表明，鸟类群落结构在不同湖泊和季节有所不同。指示物种分析表明，在59个物种中，有26个物种与一个或不同的地点相关联，而其中18个与夏季或冬季相关联。我们观察到鸭科的相对多样性最高（RDI=28.81%），并报告了1个全球易危物种和7个全球近危物种。而在约卡尔湖，丰度在不同季节没有变化。这项研究揭示了不同季节和湖泊之间鸟类物种的显著差异，表明每个湿地为鸟类物种提供了独特的生态位。研究结果再次强调了这些湿地作为鸟类多样性和物种组成的关键栖息地的重要性。这项研究有助于这些生态系统的保护和管理，有助于保护尼泊尔的湿地鸟类。
