Distribution pattern of birds in Banni Grassland of Kachchh district, Gujarat, India
Abstract
Birds are interesting group of animals which are distributed in all major types habitat. Banni is one of the large grassland of India invaded by Prosopis juliflora, an alien plant species. Invasion of this species and some other natural and anthropogenic factor leads the grassland converted into a mixture of heterogeneous habitats. A study was attempted to understand the distribution of birds in this heterogeneous grassland. The habitats were identified based on dominant species of plants. The population estimates of birds were surveyed using line transects method and point count census method.
A total of 91 species were recorded during the survey in the various habitats of this grassland. Among the seven habitats, sparse Prosopis was the most diverse habitat for bird species whereas Prosopis-Capparis was the least diverse habitat for bird species. The highest mean population density of birds were recorded in Prosopis-Capparis (15.9 individuals/km2), while lowest recorded in sparse Prosopis habitat (9 individuals/km2). It was found that, Prosopis-Salvadora (23.10±9.47) was the most dense and Prosopis-Capperis (8.84±5.26) was the least dense habitat for common birds of Banni grassland. In conclusion, bird species diversity and their population density estimates were varied among the various heterogeneous habitats of Banni grassland both in time and space gradients.
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