Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Home , Augur buzzard, Grasshopper buzzard, Little bittern, Lizard buzzard, Shining sunbird

Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources ISSN: 2578-4994 MEDWIN PUBLISHERS Committed to Create Value for researchers

Ogunyemi OO* Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife management, Ekiti State University, Nigeria Review Article Volume 4 Issue 4 March 23, 2020 *Corresponding author: Ogunyemi OO, Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Received Date: management, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, Email: olumideogunyemi80@yahoo. Published Date: May 21, 2020 com DOI: 10.23880/jenr-16000201

Abstract

Birds are an important component of earth's ecosystems. The primary objective of the study was to assess the effect of

Forest Reserve from January to December, 2017. Data were collected by employing transect count technique in the early disturbance on bird species diversity and abundance in the two stratified habitat types (disturbed and undisturbed) of Ikere

types. During the study, a total of 551 individual birds comprising of 59 species, 18 families and 11 Orders were recorded. morning (6.00- 10.00a.m) and late afternoon (4.00- 6.00 p.m) for four consecutive days every month in the two vegetation

recorded in the undisturbed vegetation. Order Passeriformes constituted the numerically dominant Order represented with Out of 59 identified species of birds, 46 (78%) of the species were recorded from disturbed vegetation, while 30 species were 16 species while Pelecaniformes, Galliformes and Colliformes were the least dominant Orders represented with one species each. At the family level, family Nectariniidae was numerically the dominant family represented with 9 species. At species level, Rufous-backed manikin Louchura nigriceps and Great-white egret Egretta alba were numerically the most dominant species.

The total abundance of birds was significantly different (P> 0.05) among the two vegetation types. The total abundance of birds ranked higher with 393 birds in the disturbed vegetation. The Shannon- Wiener index of diversity (H') varied from 3.08 that the different vegetation types supported. The results indicate that disturbed vegetation supported a higher diversity and in undisturbed vegetation to 3.61 in the disturbed vegetation. There were significant differences in the bird species richness abundance of birds than the undisturbed vegetation.

Keywords: Species Diversity; Vegetation; Transect; Abundance

Introduction The vegetation range of Nigeria has distinctive differences because it is such a large country, stretches from the beaches Nigeria has some of the most beautiful ecosystems which and mangrove swamps of the Gulf of Guinea through the remnants of the rainforest to the Savannas and thorn Scrub species are known to be breeding residents while a further of the north. These agro-ecological diversity and niches accommodates 850 species of resident birds of these 640 which have their own peculiarity in climatic conditions birds in Nigeria is associated with unique geological history, provides habitat for fascinating variety of birds. Birds group of 40 species are rare [1]. The biological diversity of are an important component of many ecosystems; such diverse climatic and physical conditions of the country [2].

Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Vegetation Types of Ikere J Ecol & Nat Resour Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria 2 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources that their study can alert us to what is going wrong in the environment, as birds are excellent environmental indicator theseason long has rainy an average season of between 240 days April with meanand mid-November annual rainfall isof 1250bimodal to 1400 with mm.a peak The in pattern September of rainfall while distribution the dry season over controls[3]. Tesfahunegny population [4] size described of harmful birds insects, as agents environmental of nutrient stretches from mid-November to the end of March. The cycles, plant gene flow through pollination, seed dispersal, opined that the probable cause of the avian decline are multi- elevation of between 12 to 110m above sea level. Light facetedsanitation and through involve various scavenging complex of carrion. combinations Rands, of et obvious al. [5] Southterrain westerly of the reserveand North is flat easterly to slightly winds undulating blow over withthe ones such as habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation or area throughout the year which characterized the seasons loss, pollination and over harvesting. Tropical rainforest in the reserve into rainy and the dry season. The reserve is surrounded by villages and farm settlements inhabited by in the world. The natural resources of tropical rainforest the largely agrarian population that engages in small holder areaccommodates presently and the extensively most diverse being range utilized of flora for andeconomic fauna food and tree cash crop production systems with poor purpose. In Nigeria, deforestation has led to the loss of habitats of many biodiversity including forest birds which plant species. The dominant tree species include Dacroydes depend on a healthy forest ecosystem. The importance of edulisfarming, Chrysophyllum methods. The albidum study area, Afzelia has Africana a diversified, Cola woodyedulis, forest ecosystem cannot be overemphasized as increase in Garcinia kola, Cola acuminate, Gmelina arborea, Pterocarpus osun, Gliricidia sepium, Parkia biglobosa, Mansonia altissima heterogeneity engenders increase in diversity of bird species and Baillaonella toxisperma. Also in certain area of study the complexity of vegetation structure, floristic composition and vegetation is characterized by secondary forests especially where the vegetation types is accentuated by farming The[6]. Anyalteration form of disturbance,in the habitat natural structure or artificial invariably destabilizes affect activities, where yam, cocoyam, cassava and maize are negativelyvegetation the structure essential and requirements bird community of birds structureespecially [7].the grown as major crops. The major challenges in Ikere Forest Reserve leading to degradation of the environment are the expansion of farmland at the expense of forestland, extensive nestnest, abandonmentcover and food. at Humanthe same induced time increasedisturbance vulnerability can have toa significant predation. negative In recent effect years on the breeding interest success in conservation by causing of to ever increasing human population. Burning of vegetation birds had grown in many countries and regions emphasized coverlogging, has burning led to and frequent high growing destruction demand of thefor firefragile wood forest due the need for more studies of the ecological impact of ecosystem in the reserve. Several forest patches show sign that assessment of bird community is important and needed storey destroyed. In the some places, the vegetation have vegetation disturbance on bird species. Sethy [8] asserted beenof fire cut damage and burn with forsome farming trees badly posing scorched severe anddanger the underto the future of the unique fauna of the habitat. Logging activities onfor biodiversity monitoring changes,and composition which will of bird lead communities’ to efficient and as is also widespread in the reserve. Within this landscapes, aeffective function conservation of habitat variation of biodiversity. is crucial Having to determine knowledge the health status of the local ecosystem. In the recent times Ikere Forest Reserve vegetation community structure disruption ofstudy disturbance area was and stratified proximity into to two human main settlements. habitats named as has taken a higher trend due to high frequency of logging disturbed (D1) and undisturbed (D2) forests based on level activities as a result of high rate of human population growth. Survey of Avifauna It is therefore necessary to understand the effect of habitat disturbance on bird species community structure in order to The census method was used to survey the abundance know the effects of disturbed and undisturbed ecosystems and diversity of avifauna species of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State. The survey was conducted on monthly basis from future conservation of bird species in the reserve. January to December, 2017 in 12 plots of approximately on birds. This will definitely play a dominant role in prioritize Methodology disturbed and undisturbed habitats in Ikere Forest Reserve, 50 hectares (ha) in each of the two stratified habitat types: Description of the Study Area relative value of each habitat for attracting different bird speciesusing the was transect determined count method by establishment described by of Bibby one transect[9]. The The study was carried out in the 72.52km2 area of Ikere Forest Reserve in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The Ikere Forest were observed by walking along the established transects inof 1kilometereach of the (km)habitat length types in for each four of consecutivethe 12 plots. days The everybirds prevailing climate is tropical with an average temperature month. Data collection commenced about 30 minutes after ofReserve 250C all is locatedyear round between and high 70 321N relative and humidity. 50 211 431 The E. rainy The

dawn and was carried out for five hours daily from 6:30- Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 3 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources

To test for variation among bird species composition to coincide with time the activities of birds were prominent 10:00am in the morning and 4:30 -6:00pm in the evening was employed using SPSS version16 computer software to birds, transect were reasonably space out by 300m distance statisticallyin the two habitats. test for variationOne way analysisamong bird of variance species (ANOVA)richness, [10]. To avoid effects of pseudo-replication in the counting of Shannon-Wiener diversity index, bird species abundance and bird feeding guilds in the disturbed and undisturbed apartIn [11]. all transects, a record was made of all the types and group number of bird species through direct observation. 2007 computer software. habitats. Graphs were drawn by using Microsoft offices excel Results The birds were observed with the aid of binoculars (Olympus Western10 and 42) Africa. to the species level and their taxonomic groups Species composition of birds were properly categorized based on field guide to birds of Data Analysis birds belonging to 59 species, 18 families and 11 orders Data were arranged, organized and entered into Microsoft inhabitThe the result disturbed of this studyand showedundisturbed that avegetation total of 546of excel or analysis. The cumulative list of bird species recorded Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State. Order Passerriformes in each of the two habitat types was used as a basic measure constituted the numerically dominant order in the disturbed of avian richness. The relative abundance of avian species was determined using the encounter rate that gives crude - Pelecaniformes and Anseriformes were the least dominant vegetation representing 32.6% of the species (n=15) while ordinal scales of abundance (abundant, common, frequent, wasorders the represented numerically with dominant 1 and 2 orderspecies represented respectively with (Table 7 ofuncommon each species and observed.rare) Bibby This [9] Encounterallows encounter rate incorporates rate to be 1). In the undisturbed habitat the order Falconiformes calculatedthe field hours for each of observation species by and dividing the number the number of individuals of birds the undisturbed habitat while Galliformes and Colliformes recorded by the number of hours spent searching, giving werespecies the which least accountsdominant 23.3% orders of represented the identified with species 1specie in categories have the following abundance scores 1.0 the largest number of species represented with 9 species a figure of birds per hour for each species. The abundance each (Table 2). At the family level, family Nectariniidae had disturbed vegetation; while in the undisturbed vegetation, diversity(rare), 1.1 was – 2.02 calculated (uncommon), using 2.1Shannon-Weiner - 10 (frequent), diversity 10.1 – thewhich family accounts Accipitridae 15.25% was of numerically the identified the dominant species infamily the 40.0 (common) and ≥ 40 (abundant) was employed. Birds’ index (H’) which was calculated using formula: ’ represented with 7 species which account 11.86% of the 1 observed species (Tables 1 and 2). i log pi Lonchura Shannon –Wiener index of diversity (H) nigriceps Egretta alba H = -∑p At species level, Rufous-backed manikin ( Where P1 is the proportion of ith species to total abundance numerically the dominant species recorded in the disturbed value vegetation) andof the Great reserve white with egret 30 number ( of individuals) were

the following equation Buteo rufofuscus Species RichnessD index = S-1 (D) was calculated by with each contributingMulvus 15.46% migrans of the total bird abundance in the lnN disturbed vegetation while Augur buzzard ( ) Where D= Species Richness Index, S=Total number of species and Black kite ( ) ranked dominant in the and N=Total number of individuals birdundisturbed abundance vegetation of the undisturbed of the reserve vegetation. with 30 and 14 number To understand bird community similarity among habitats, of individuals respectively, contributing 27.85% of the total Distribution and Abundance of Birds similarities between the two habitats. It was calculated as: Sorensen’s coefficient was applied to determine the The result of this study revealed that out of the C = 2W X 100 totality of 59 bird species recorded during the study A+B Where C= index of similarity disturbed vegetation while 30 species were recorded in the W= No of species common to both sample period, highest number: 46 species were recorded from A = No of species in sample A B = No of species in sample B undisturbed vegetation. 28.8% of birds are common to both disturbed and undisturbed vegetation with 67.5% (n=27) as compared to 32.5% (n=13) of exclusive bird species in Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 4 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources

Relative Abundance of Bird Species total 551 birds counted during the study, 393 of them were recordedthe undisturbed from the vegetation disturbed (Figure vegetation, 1). Moreover, 158 birds from were the In this study, the numbers of bird species in different observed in the undisturbed vegetation. The total abundance relative abundance categories in the disturbed and undisturbed vegetation of Ikere Forest Reserve revealed that among the 59 bird species observed, 16, 25 of them were of birds showed significant difference among the two study rare species followed by 22, 3 uncommon species while 8, 2 vegetationSpecies (P Diversity>0.05). and Community Similarity species were in frequent category respectively. The relative The disturbed habitat of the study area had the higher low population sizes and were grouped under rare and uncommonabundance findingsspecies. showsOnly 10 that species majority were of thegrouped species under had frequent species because they had relatively greater number values of species diversity (H’=3.61) and species richness (D’=7.37) than undisturbed habitat. The overall community similarity of the two study sites was fairly average (S=0.47) of individuals (Figure 2). (Table 3). S/N Species Order Family 1 Cape Teal Anas capensis Anseriformes Anatidae 2 Red-billed duck Anas erythrohynchos Anseriformes Anatidae 3 Gyps bengalensis Accipitriformes Accipitridae Verreaux’s Eagle Aqua Verreauxii Accipitriformes Accipitridae White –backed vulture 5 Martial Eagle Pole Maetus bellicosus Accipitriformes Accipitridae 4 Lizard buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus Accipitriformes Accipitridae 7 Halieetus vocifer Falconiformes Accipitridae 8 Black kite milvus migrans Falconiformes Accipitridae African fish Eagle 9 Crowned Eagle stephaoeatus caronatus Falconiformes Accipitridae 10 Grasshopper buzzard Butastus rufipennis Falconiformes Accipitridae 11 Red- necked spurfool Francolinus levcoscepus Galliformes Phasianidae 12 Scaly francolin Francolinus squamatus Galliformes Phasianidae 13 Numida meleagris Galliformes Numididae Red-eyed dove Stretopelia semitorquata Columbiforms Columbidae Helmeted guinea fowl 15 Ring-necked dove Streptopelia capicola Columbiforms Columbidae 14 16 Francolinus levcoscepnus Galliformes Phasianidae 17 Green pigeon Treron treron olax Columbiformes Columbidae Yellow –neck spur fowl 18 Laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis Colubiformes Columbidae 19 Tambourine dove Turtur tympanistria Columbiformes Columbidae 20 Green pigeon Treon australis Columbifromes Columbidae 21 Turtur chalcospilos Columbiformes Columbidae 22 Speckled pigeon Columba guinea Columbiformes Columbidae Emerald –spotted wood dove 23 Emerald cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus Cuculiformes Cuculidae Red-chested cuckoo Cuculus solitarius Cuciliformes Cuculidae 25 Centropus supercilious Cuculiformes Cuculidae 24 26 Ceratogyma atrata Coraciiformes Bucerotidae White – browed coucal 27 Hornbill Coraciiformes Bucerotidae Wattled black Hornbill 28 Tockus hemprichii Coraciiformes Bucerotidae White –crested 29 Tockus flavirostris Coraciiforms Bucerotidae Grey Hornbill 30 Golden pipit Tmetothylacus tenellus Passeriformes Motacillidae Yellow –billed hornbill

Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 5 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources

31 Ngclay macronyx croceus Passeriformes Motacillidae 32 Singing cisticola Cisticola cantans Passeriformes Cisticolidae Yellow –throated w 33 Crombec sylvcetta Brachyura Passeriformes Macrosphenidae Black and white manikin Lonchura poensis Passeriformes Estrildidae 35 Bronze manikin Lonchura cucullata Passeriformes Estrildidae 34 36 Nectarinia hunter Passeriformes Nectariniidae 37 Green throated sunbird Nectarinia rubescens Passeriformes Nectariniidae Hunter’s sunbird 38 Olive-bellied sunbird Nectarinia chloropygius Passeriformes Nectariniidae 39 Red-chested sunbird Nectarinia erythrocerca Passeriformes Nectariniidae Regal sunbird Nectarinia ronia Passeriformes Nectariniidae Scarlet-Tufted malachite sunbird Nectarinia Johnstoni Passeriformes Nectariniidae 40 Malachite sunbird Nectarinia famosa Passeriformes Nectariniidae 41 Purple-breasted sunbird Nectarinia purpure ventri Passeriformes Nectariniidae 42 Shining sunbird Nectarinia habessinica Passeriformes Nectariniidae 43 Great Egret Egretta alba Pelecaniformes Ardeidae 44 46 Rufous-backed manikin Lonchura poensis Passeriformes Estrildidae 45 Table 1: Bird species composition of disturbed vegetation in Ikere Forest Reserve.

S/N Species Order Family 1 Ardea goliath Pelecanifomres Ardeidaee 2 Ardea melanocephala Pelecanifomres Ardaidae Goliath Heron 3 Ardae cineral Pelecanifomres Ardeidae Black-headed Heron Ardea purpurea Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Grey Heron 5 Little bittern Arderailus sturmii Pelecaniformes Ardeidae 4 Purple Heron 6 Anas erythrorhynchos Anseriformes Anatidae 7 Cape teal Anas capensis Anseriformes Anatidae Red – billed duck 8 Gyps bengalensis Accipitriformes Accipitridae 9 Long crested eagleLophaetus occipitalis Accipitriformes Accipitridae White – backed vulture 10 Lammergeyer Gypaetus barbatus Falconiformes Accipitridae 11 Lophaetus occipitalis Falconiformes Accipitridae 12 Augur buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Falconiformes Accipitridae African fish eagle 13 Black kite Milvus migrans Falconiformes Accipitridae African hobby Falw cuvieri Falconiformes Accipitridae 15 Streptopelia capicola Columbiformes Columbidae 14 16 Green pigeon Treron olax Columbiformes Columbidae Ring – necked dove 17 Tambourine dove Turtur tympanistria Columbiformes Columbidae 18 Green pigeon Treron australis Columbiformes Columbidae 19 Speckled pigeon Columba guinea Columbiformes Columbidae 20 Speckled mouse bird Colius striatus Colliformes Collidae 21 Emerald cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus Cuculiformes Cuculidae 22 Cuculiformes Cuculidae Cuculus solitaries Red – chested cuckoo 23 Centropus superciliosus Cuculiformes Cuculidae

White – browed coucal Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 6 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources

Great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata Cuculiformes Musophagidae 25 Wattled black hornbill Ceratogyma atrata Coraciiformes Bucerotidae 24 26 Tropicranus albocristatus Coraciiformes Bucerotidae 27 Gray hornbill Tockus flavirostris Coraciiformes Bucerotidae White – crested hornbill 28 Tockus flavirostris Coraciiformes Bucerotidea 29 Black hornbill Ceratoauma atrata Coraciiformes Bucerotidae Yellow – billed hornbill 30 Francolinus leucoscepnus Galliformes Phasianidae Table 2: Bird species composition of undisturbed vegetation in Ikere Forest Reserve. Yellow – necked spurfowl

Study sites S D N D’ J’ H’ Disturbed 0.033 393 7.37 0.82 3.61 Undisturbed 0.068 158 5.93 0.70 3.08 0.47 Table 3: Diversity, evenness and species richness indexes of birds in the study sites.

Figure 1: Table of order, family, species and exclusive species composition.

Figure 2: Bird species in different relative abundance categories in the disturbed and undisturbed vegetation of Ikere Forest Reserve.

Ordinal scale S/N Species Disturbed Undisturbed D1 D2

1. - + - Rare Ardea goliath Goliath Heron 2. -` + - Uncommon Ardea melanocephala Black–headedGrey heron Heron 3. - + - Rare Ardea cinerea

- + - Rare Ardea purpurea PurpleCape HeronTeal 5.4. - + Uncommon Rare Anas capensis Red- billed duck 6. + + Uncommon Uncommon Anas erythrorhynchas

7. - + Uncommon Rare Gyps bengalensis White–Lammergeyer backed vulture 8. - + - Rare Gypaetus barbatus

9. - + Rare Rare Halieetus vocifer African fish Eagle Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus 10. - + - Rare occipitalis Augur buzzard 11. - + - Fairly Common Buteo rufofuscus Back kite 12. + + Fairly Common Fairly Common Milvus migrans Verreax’s Eagle 13. + - - Aquila verreavxii Martial Eagle + - Rare - Polemeatus bellicosus Crowned Eagle 15.14. + - Rare - Stephanoaetus caronnatus Grasshopper buzzard 16. + - Uncommon - Butastus rufipennis Lizard byzzard 17. + - Rare - Kaupifalco monogrammicus Red-necked spurfowl 18. + - Uncommon - Francolinus levcoscepus numida 19. + - Fairly Common meleagril HelmetedScaly guineafowl francolin 20. + - Uncommon - Francolinus squamatus Red-eyed dove 21. + - Fairly Common - Sreptopeha semitorquata Ring-necked dove 22. + + Fairly Common Rare Streptopeha capicola

Green pigeon 23. + + Uncommon Rare Treron olax Laughing dove + - Fairly Common - Streptopeha senegalensis Blue-naned mousebird colius 25.24. - + - Rare macrourus Speckled mousebird 26. + - Rare Colius striatus - Emerald cuckoo 27. + + Rare Rare Chrsococcyx cupreus Red-chested cuckoo 28. + + Uncommon Rare Cuculus solitarrius White-braved coucal centropus 29. + + Uncommon Rare superciliosus Great blue turaco 30. - + - Rare Corythaeola cristat Wattled black hornbill ceratogyma 31. + + Uncommon Rare atrata Tropicranus 32. + + Uncommon Rare albcristatu White-crested Hornbill 33. + + Uncommon Rare Tockus hemprichii Grey Hornbill Tockus + + Uncommon Rare flavirossris Yellow-billedGolden Hornbill pipit 34.35. + - Uncommon - Tmetothylacus tenellus Yellow-throated long claw 36. + - Rare - Macronyx croceus Singing cisticola 37. + - Rare - Cisticola cantans Crombec 38. + - Rare - Sylivietta brahyura Back and white manikin 39. + - Rare - Lonchura poensis Bronze manikin + - Rare - Lonchura cucullata Rufous-backed manikin 40. + - Fairly Common - Loncura nigriceps

41. + - Uncommon - Nectarinca hunter Green-throatedHunter’s sunbird sunbird 42. + - Rare - Nectarinia rubescens Olive-bellied sunbird 43. + - Fairly Common - Nectarinia choloropygius Red-chested sunbird 44. + _ Uncommon - Nectarinea erythrocera Regal sunbird 45. + - Uncommon Nectarinia ronia 46. Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 9 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources

Scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird + - Uncommon - Nectarinia johnstoni Malachite sunbird 47. + - Uncommon - Nectarinia famosa Purple-breasted sunbird 48. + - Rare - Nectarinia purpureventris Shinning sunbird 50.49. + - Rare Turtur hypanistria Tambourine dove 51. + + Uncommon Rare Turtur tympanistria Green pigeon 52. + + Uncommon Rare Treon australis Great white Egret 53. + - Fairly common - Egretta alba Emerald-spptted wood dove + - Uncommon - Turtur chalcospilos Little bittern 55.54. - + - Rare Ardeirallus sturmii African hobby 56. - + - Rare Falco cuvieri Yellow-necked spurfowl 57. + + Rare Rare Francolinus leucoscepus Speckled pigeon 58. + + Uncommon Rare Columba guinea

59. - + - Uncommon Ceratoauma atrata Black Hornbill Table 4: Seasonal occurrence of bird species observed in disturbed and undisturbed vegetation of Ikere Forest Reserve.

Discussion In this study, order Passeriformes was numerically the dominant order represented with 15 species from the 59 Species richness is often used to make quick assessment and comparison of different habitats and may reveal species .This result is in agreement with Tesfahonegy interesting general pattern which is very essential to Kafaidentified biosphere species reserve, which southwest accounts Ethiopia 32.0% of which the identifiedreported understand the health of the ecosystems and to develop [4] in belonged to the order Passeriformes. The present study in strategies and management measures. Species abundance Ikerethat among Forest the Reserve, 42 species vividly identified, showed 47.6% that theof the disturbed species andefficient diversity and are effective therefore sustainable useful considerations bird conservation when assessing bird community. The species abundance and diversity in the disturbed and undisturbed vegetation of vegetation supportof the reserve. a higher This number is in lineof bird with species the result (78%) of Ikere Forest Reserve are markedly different. The structurally and bird abundance (71.3%) as compare where to undisturbedhigh species less complex vegetation of the disturbed habitat had diversity, richness and abundance of birds was observed higher diversity than the more complex vegetation of the inAynalem the disturbed and Bekele vegetation [12], Mengesha and which [13] might be associated undisturbed study area. Also the bird species abundance with the difference in the vegetation community structure of differs between the disturbed and undisturbed vegetation the two sites that determine food, water, cover availability, of the reserve. The reason that may be ascribed for this nestling and protection opportunities based upon the variation may be as a result of farming practices which result bird’s habitat preference and feeding habits. The effects in more distinct difference in the vegetation cover between of anthropogenic disturbance on avian communities was the two vegetation types. The difference in bird species abundance and diversity in the two vegetation types may species richness due to increase in the presence of forest edge species,reported but by aLambert reduction [14] in andthe relativeJohn [15] abundance to include of increase certain therefore reflect this difference. Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 10 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources species or groups of species. The record of 59 bird species during this study shows that bird species diversity in the vegetation types of the reserve was relatively low. Also the speciationhistorical and and ecologicalsupply of colonistsfactors influences while the speciesecological richness factor bird species community was dominated by few species, most in a habitat. The identified historical factors are mainly of which had low frequency of occurrence. The vegetation The higher index of dominance recorded in the undisturbed types also comprised wide ranges of resident bird species. vegetationrelates to mortality is due to from more predation of bird byspecies the birds that of had prey higher [26]. relative abundance values. The dominance of these bird vegetation of the Abijata Shalla Lakes National Park, Ethiopia species revealed their survival superiority over other species formedSimilar resultsresources were areas found for by resident Mengesha birds. [13] The that variation disturbed in and the high encounter rates, presence of favourable habitats bird species composition and abundance among the two for certain bird species and high defense against predations vegetation types may be attributed to more of homogeneous plant species present in the undisturbed vegetation and high [27].Conclusion which invariably bring about the variation in food, cover availability,densities of micro-climaticheterogeneous variation flora in the and disturbed predation vegetation pressure. Birds are critically important component of an ecosystem as they act as bio-monitors, alerting people to that the distribution of fauna species is largely dependent what is going wrong in an environment. Birds can also be onAfolayan the availability and Ajayi of [16]food, andwater, Crowel and cover. [17] The had disturbed observed referred to as habitat quality indicators due to the fact that vegetation of the reserve that supports the larger number its population decline when habitat quality is very poor. Therefore, it is necessary to have a data base for the diversity plants whose fruits might be responsible for high number and distribution of bird species present in the disturbed and of bird species species comprises recorded. of diverseThe relative flowering abundance and agricultural estimates undisturbed vegetation types of Ikere Forest Reserve which of birds differed in values and the differences are dependent have high ornithological value in view of the presence diverse on vegetation structures. Thus, the disturbed vegetation bird species inhabiting the area. contained more bird species, order and families than the From the present study it is revealed that the bird reported higher avian species, order, family and diversity species composition and abundance varies in the two wasundisturbed found in the vegetation. disturbed Invegetation contrast, of Kilombero Wilbard [18] wetland, has study vegetation types. Bird species composition and Tanzania and ascribed the variation to plant species and abundance was higher in the disturbed vegetation related

variation in food, cover availability, micro-climatic variation wasfeeding higher habits in ofhabitats the observed dominated bird species. by woody Cody vegetation [19]; Igi and or andto high predation densities pressure. of heterogeneous The disturbed flora vegetationwhich bring did about not Ballard [20] noted that the relative abundance of bird species alter species richness and abundance negatively but did Also, the structural and complexity of habitat and diversity of alter the identities and relative abundance of avian species habitats that are structurally and floristically more diverse. by supporting more bird species than the undisturbed vegetation. In Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, vegetation birdsvegetation in the forms disturbed showed vegetation significant could correlations also be withattributed fauna types both primary and secondary play important roles in tospecies the diversitycomposition [21]. of The vegetation higher abundance that forms of individualthe main the survival and distribution of bird species it supports. If a substantial part of the bird community in the reserve is to be maintained, effort must be geared toward conservation homogenouselement of the and habitat so has Lee an andeven Rotenberry nature of vegetation. [22]; Chapman The of both the disturbed and undisturbed vegetation types of differencesand Reich [23] between whereas the the numbers undisturbed of birds vegetation recorded is in fairly the the reserve. This study suggests that a landscape of both the disturbed and undisturbed vegetation types would support diversity indices of disturbed and undisturbed vegetation birdlife. The occurrence of higher diversity and abundance of suggestvegetation that types the bird were species not significant. observed areSpecies different richness in terms and birds in the disturbed vegetation indicate that the vegetation of composition. The disturbed and undisturbed vegetation type is still within tolerable level or in reasonable ecological types showed fairly pronounced number of shared bird conditions.

References typespecies had (18 higherspecies) human because interferences these vegetation and types the had ensuing many plant species in common. However, the disturbed vegetation 1. bird species of different feeding guilds. The highest numbers ofcolonization rare bird species has diversified occurring the in foodthe undisturbed resources available vegetation to Elgood JH (1982) Birds of Nigeria. B.O.U. Pub; England, 2. pp: 246. Ogunyemi OO (2012) Ecological Diversity and abundance isOgunyemi typical OO.of suchComparative vegetation Study [24].of Terrestrial Giller [25] Birds had in the noted Disturbed that and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201. 11 Journal of Ecology and Natural Resources

of birds in the wetlands of Ekiti State. unpublished Ph.D 15. Thesis in the Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure 3-10.John AG (1995) Bird population persistence in sabahan logging concessions. Biological Conservation 75(1): 16. 3. (FUTA), Nigeria. distribution of large mammals Yankari; Game Reserve, importance of Littoral forest remnants for indigenous Afolayan TA (1980) The influence of seasonality on the birdWatson conservation JEM, Whittaker in RJ,southeastern Dawson TP Madagascar. (2005) The 17. Nigeria. African Journal of ecology 18(1): 87-93.

Biodiversity Conservation 14: 523-545. NorthernCrowel M, Animal Schif JC, community. Gubb AA (1981) South EffectAfrica of Wildlife rainfall Diversity in Kafa Biosphere Reserve: Knowledge and variation, fire vegetation and habitat physiognomy on 4. PerceptionTesahuneguy of W, Villagers Fekensa in T, SouthwestMulualem GEthiopia. (2016) Avifauna Ecology 18. Resource 11(3): 87-104. and diversity in habitats with different disturbance 5. and Evolutionary Biology 1(2): 7-13. historiesWilbard AN, at SamoraKilombero MA (2013)wetland, Bird Tanzania. species composition Journal of

RandsChallenges MRW, beyond Adams 2010. WM, Science Bennun L, Butchar SHM, 1303.Clements A, et al. (2010) Biodiversity conservation: 19. Ecology 3(7): 482-488. 329(5997): 1298- press Inc, California. 6. Cody MC (1985) Habitat selection in Birds. Academic Long term dynamics of breeding birds in broad-leaved 20. Leito A, Truu J, Roosaluste E, Seep K, Podier I (2006) migrating and overwintering grassland birds of southern TexasIgi LO,. Ballard BM (1999) Habitat associations of deciduous forest on Hanckasti Island in the West- 21. 7. Estonian archipelago. Ornis Fennica 83: 124-130. Condor 101(4): 771-782. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp: 539. abundance of avian fauna in and around Wondo Genet Wiens DA (1989) The Ecology of Bird Communities, Forest,Girma Z, South-central Mengesha G, Ethiopia. Asfaw T (2017)Research Diversity, Forestry relative 8. 1-12. and abundance of birds in and around North Orissa 11(1): 22. University,Sethy J, Sama Takatpur, D, Sethi Baripada, S (2015) Mayurbhanj, Species Odisha. diversity Int bird species and tree species assemblages in forested J innovative Res Sci Eng Technol Lee PY, Rotenberry JT (2005) Relationships between 9. 4(2): 1-12. 1139-1150. Census techniques. Academic Press, London. habitats of eastern North America. Biogeogr J 32(7): Bibby CJ, Burgess ND, Hill DA, Mustoe SH (1998) Bird 23. 10. gradients determine bird community diversity and abundanceChampan KA, in suburban, Reich PB rural (2007) and Land reserve use landscapes and habitat of surveys.Jones M Royal (1998) Geographical Study design. Society In: with Bibby the C, institute Jones M,of Marseden S (Eds.) Expedition field techniques, Birds Minnesota, U.S.A. Biological Conservation 135(4): 527- 11. British Geographer, London, pp: 15-34. 541. pseudoreplication a pseudoissue? Amazon forest communities. Living Bird 13: 127-191. Oksanen L (2001) Logic of experiments in ecology: Is 24. Lovejoy TE (1975) Bird diversity and abundance in 12. Oikos 94(1): 27-38. 25. abundance and distribution of bird fauna of riverine and wetlandAynalem habitatsS, Bekele of A (2008)Infranz Speciesand Yiganda composition, at southern relative tip Giller PS (1984) Community structure and the Niche, 26. Chapman and Hall: 58. Theory of combination, University of Illinois press, 13. of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Tropical Ecology 49(2): 199-209. UrbanaShannon Illinois. CE, Weaver W (1949) The mathematical of terrestrial bird community structure on bird 27. Mengesha G, Mamo Y, Bekele ssp. A (2015) A comparison ssp equal amplitude in plant sociology based on similarity stands in Southwestern Turkey. Forest Ecology and ofSorensen species TAcontent, (1948) and A methodits application of establishing to analyses group of the of Managementassemblages of oak (Quercus ) and pine (Pinus .) vegetation on Danish commons. K dan vidensk Slsk Bio 336: 137-147. logging for Bornean lowland forest birds. Phils. Trans 14. Lambert FR (1992) The consequences of selective Skr 5: 1-34.

R.Soc Lond 335(1275): 443-457. Ogunyemi OO. Comparative Study of Terrestrial Birds in the Disturbed and Undisturbed Copyright© Ogunyemi OO. Vegetation Types of Ikere Forest Reserve, Ekiti State, Nigeria. J Ecol & Nat Resour 2020, 4(4): 000201.