JASC: Journal of Applied Science and Computations ISSN NO: 1076-5131
SURVEY OF WATERBIRD DIVERSITY IN SUCHINDRUM POND, KANYAKUMARI S.Agneswari, S. Amutha and M. Anisha Department of Zoology,Vivekananda College, Agasteeswaram, Kanyakumari. [email protected] ABSTRACT- The knowledge about the common birds in the rural parts of India is lacking till data. Data about the avian diversity from the remote pockets will strengthen the Ornithological information of our country. To initiate this kind of work the present study was conducted in Suchindrum pond, Kanyakumari district. During the study period 20 bird species were recorded. And they are coming under 8 orders and12 families.Cattle egret and black head ibis are most abundant species in this pond.The migratory status of bird’s species showed that 72.51% were resident and 29.49% migrant birds. Higher number of birds was recorded in March followed by January.All the birds recorded in this area were categorized into 5 ecological groups based on their food and feeding; they were insectivores, carnivores, omnivores, granivores and frugivores. Key words: Ecological groups, migratory, family,birds.
1. INTRODUCTION Wetlands are one of the most complex ecosystems of the world, unique in many aspects and are as old as or older than the rivers [1]. Wetlands are described as “kidney of the landscape” because they function as the downstream receivers of water and waste from both natural and human resources [2]. They are one of the most productive ecosystems of the world[3] and occupy about 6% of the earth’s surface. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world[4]. Wetlands are important not only for local wildlife populations but also for migratory birds, a national and international resource. Of the 1230 bird’s species found in India around 23% are totally wetland dependent. Fulfilling the food and habitat requirements of these water birds is one of the most important functions performed by wetlands as it helps to maintain bio diversity globally. Ornithological studies indicate that of about 350 taxa out of 2060 taxa, known from the Indian sub-continent, are migrants; including both terrestrial and aquatic birds. Generally, most of these birds breed outside the sub-continent in the Palearctic region. India has a rich variety of wetland habitats which provide wintering grounds for these migratory water birds. Monitoring of wetland birds provides valuable information on the ecological health and status of wetland and can be a vital tool for developing awareness regarding the conservation value of the wetlands. Wetlands are important bird habitats and they used for their livelihoods. Wetland have been drained, modified, or created to produce or enhance agriculture crops and also treated as waste disposal areas around the world. This degradation has had an incalculable effect on wildlife numbers, water quality hydrological cycle and other wetland function and values. Wetlands are the important breeding centre[5]. Natural wetlands are in decline throughout the world as the human population keeps growing. Wetlands that have been drained or created to produce or enhance agriculture crops. The wetlands in Kanyakumari District is well known for the arrival of migratory birds after the government announced the Suchindrum as a wetland bird reserve Suchindrum-Theroor bird conservation reserve is the second conservation site in the state. It is situated in the southern tip of peninsular India where the Western Ghat mountain range terminates in a spectacular geographic zone of high hills, undulating highlands, lowland plains and sea coast, all within a distance of 50 km. Climate affects the abundance and distribution of many species of wildlife. Impacts of last decade’s changes in climate include reduction in population size survival, and or productivity, and a northward shift in the distribution of a variety of different organisms. Wetlands of all types have been polluted with domestic sewage, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, industrial effluents and other waste products. Fish stocks are being over-exploited or decimated by excessive fishing. The wetlands in Tamil Nadu are silting up. The most serious threats have been drainage or reclamation for agriculture, aquaculture, industry and urban development. The total inland wetland area of Tamil Nadu comprises 29,877 ha. The rate of degradation and the loss of wetlands is increasing. A management plan to conserve the wetlands is required to minimize anthropogenic pressures. Due its unique geographical location, a large number of water birds from Europe and Siberia spend a part of their winter sojourn in the ponds, lakes and canals of Kanyakumari. So for only few studies have been carried out on the status and diversity of wetland birds of Kanyakumari. Keeping in view the conservation value of wetland birds, systematic efforts were made during September 2017 to February 2018 has an over view on the diversity of wetland birds in Suchindrum.
2. METHODOLOGY The Suchindrum pond is noted for the wide variety of migratory water birds. The study was conducted over a period of six months. (September 2017 February 2018) were made throughout this period at interval of thirty days. Field data on migratory birds were recorded during the morning by direct field observation. The identification, counts & photography were carried out by using
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the following equipments: 7 x 35 prismatic field binoculars, Nikon 3LR camera & Pictorial guides. Common name and latin names were based on international ornithological committee (IOC) world Bird Names. Bird counts were clone by two different methods. Actual head counts were done for bird species that were small in number. For fast moving birds or for birds present in large. Flocks, a section of the flock was counted. Using this as a guide. The total number in the flock was estimated. Based on the waterfowl inventory and counts, the waterfowl census data statistics was under taken by arranging the data on basis of months of readings. The statistical data were interpreted using Microsoft – excel. Water samples were collected from the experimental ponds during the study period. Depending upon the availability, water samples were collected from the pond with clean plastic bottles at 06:00 hrs and brought to the laboratory for further analysis. Sampling and analytical procedures were done using American Public Health association (APHA) method. Water pH was determined with the help of digital pH meter (Elico, India). Water temperature was measured during sampling with help of thermometer. Total Dissolved solid (TDS), Conductivity, Salinity and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were analyzed by using water Analyzer Kit (Systronics Make; Model No. 371)
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A total of 20 species of birds were observed during the observation period in the suchindrum pond. The average temperature goes upto 32c. The lowest water temperature (28c) observed during the month of December. The depth of the pond was observed to be maximum during the month of December and minimum depth was observed in the month of February. Significant differences (P> 0.05) were observed between bird species and water level. The recorded PH value was 7.24 and dissolved oxygen was 4.6 during the study period. The other parameters like TDS, salinity conductivity, acidity, alkalinity, CO2, Chloride, Calcium total hardness magnexium and nitrogen were recorded and tabulated. (Table - 1). During the study period a total of 675 numbers of birds belonging to 20 species, 12 families and 8 orders were recorded. More number of species was righted in the family Ardeidae (7). The dominant birds are grey heron, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Indian pond heron, Black crowned night herov, cattle egret, and Asinan open bill. In the remaining families, only few number were recorded they ae phalacrocoracidae (1), Anhingidae(1), Ciconidae (1), Threskiornithidae(2), Pelecanidae (2), Charadritdae(1), Laridae(1), Rallidae (2), Ckharadritdae (1), Laridae (1), Rallidae (2), Anatidae (1), Acciptriforms (1). The significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between bird species and water level. Cattle egret was the dominant birds in all the observed month (185) black head Ibis was the next dominant bird in suchindrum pond (160). Suchindrum pond was perennial wetland so all the reasons most of the October great egret, Intermediate egret, purple heron and black crowned night heron were not observed. (Table - 3) Four bird species were threatened black-headed ibis Darter, painled stork and pelican were common in suchindrum pond. Great Egret was observed in less number during the study period (3). A positive correlation (0.58) was observed between water level of the pond and pelican. Ecological groups like herbivore, carnivores, insectivores, omnivores are available in recorded study area. (Table - 4).
TABLE -1. WATER ANALYSIS FOR THE SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM SUCHINDRUM POND DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2018 S. No Factors Values 1 Water temperature (0c) 32.82 0.36 2 PH 7.24 0.11 3 TDS [ppm] 90.65 6.82 4 Do [ppm] 4.6 + 0.18 5 Salinity [ppt] 0.1 0.01 6 Conductivity [us] 178.22 13.79 7 Acidity [mg/l] 21.34 0.82 8 Alkalinity [mg/l] 79.78 8.85 9 Free CO2 [mg/l] 18.78 0.72 10 Chloride [mg/l] 42.99 1.74 11 Calcium [mg/l] 8.73 1.69 12 Total harness [mg/l] 46.67 10.2 13 Magnesium [mg/l] 45.54 9.92 14 Nitrogen [g/l] 0.07 0.001
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TABLE – 2. LIST OF THE BIRD SPECIES RECORDED IS THE STUDY AREA DURING THE STUDY PERIOD S.No Common name Species Name Order Family
1 Grey heron Ardeacineroa Pelecaniformes Ardeidae 2 Great Egret Casmerodiusalbus Pelecaniformes Ardeidae 3 Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx inter media Pelecaniformes Ardeidae 4 India pond heron Ardelolagrayi Pelecaniformes Ardeidae 5 Black crowned night N.nycticorax Pelecaniformes Ardeidae heron 6 Little cormorant Phalacocoraxniger Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae 7 Dartor Anhinga melanogaster Suliformes Anhingidae
8 Cattle egret Bulbulcuibis Ciconiidormes Ardeidae 9 Asian open bill A oscitans Ciconiidormes Ardeidae
10 Painted stork MycteriaAnastomus Ciconiidormes Ciconidae 11 Blank head lbis Threskiornismelancephalus Pelecaniforms Threskiornithidae 12 Glossy ibis P.falcinellus Pelecaniforms Threskiornithidae
13 Pelican Pelecanusphilipenus Pelecaniforms Pelecanidae
14 Purple heron Ardeapurpurea Pelecaniforms Pelecanidae
15 Red wattled lapwing Vanellusindicus Charadriiforms Charadritdae
16 Staty legged crake R.eurizonoides Gruciformes Rallidae 17 White - breasted Amauronisphoenicurus Gruciformes Rallidae waterhan 18 Spot billed duck Anaspoeclorhycha Anseriformes Anatidae 19 Black kite Milvusmigrans Accipitriformes Acciptridae 20 WoodSandpiper Tringaglareola Charadriiforms Scolopacidae
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TABLE – 3. MONTH WISE VARIATION OF AVIFAUNA DURING THE STUDY PERIOD S.No Common name Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Total
1 Grey heron - 2 2 1 1 1 7 2 Great Egret - - 1 1 - 1 3 3 Intermediate Egret 1 - 1 - 1 1 4 4 India pond heron 14 10 8 10 9 10 61 5 Black crowned night 2 - 3 1 1 1 8 heror 6 Little cormorant 9 4 6 1 3 7 30 7 Dartor 3 2 2 1 1 2 11
8 Cattle egret 26 31 40 28 20 40 185 9 Asian open bill 3 2 1 2 1 2 11
10 Painted stork 1 2 2 4 1 2 12 11 Blank head lbis 32 38 21 20 19 30 160
12 Glossy ibis 10 8 2 2 10 11 43
13 Pelican 10 8 13 12 12 13 68
14 Purple heron 1 - 1 2 - 1 5
15 Red wattled lapwing 7 2 5 7 1 2 24 16 Staty legged crake 2 2 - 2 1 2 9 17 White - breasted 2 1 3 4 2 2 14 waterhan 18 Spot billed duck 2 4 4 1 1 1 13 19 Black kite - 1 1 - 1 1 4 20 Wood Sandpiper 1 - 1 - - 1 3 Total 675
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TABLE – 4. ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE RECORDED BIRDS IS THE STUDY AREA BASED IN THEIR FOOD AND FEEDING S.No Species Name Ecological Name 1 T. Glareola Carnivores 2 T. Metancephalvs Herbivores 3 R.eurizonoides Herbivores 4 M.migrans Carnivores 5 N.nycticorax Herbivores 6 B.iIbis Insectivores 7 A.cinerea Carnivores 8 A.poecitorthycha Herbivores 9 T.glareola Herbivores 10 P.falcinellvs Canivores 11 N.niger Insectivores 12 A.phoenicurus Omnivores 13 A.oscitans Carnivores 14 M.leucocephala Herbivores 15 C.alba Herbivores 16 A.grayii Herbivores 17 T.glaoreola Carnivores 18 M.intermedia Carnivores 19 P.philipenus Herbivores 20 V.indicus Herbivores
Figure 1: Order wise composition of birds recorded in the study area
Ardeidae 5% 5% 10% 35% Phalacrocoracidae
5% Anhingidae 5% Ciconidae Threskiornithidae 10% 5% Pelecanidae 10% 5% 5% Charadritdae
Figure: 2 Family wise composition of birds recorded in the study area
Pelecaniformes 5% 5% 10% 25% Suliformes Ciconiidormes 10% Pele cani forms 10% Charadrii forms 20% Gruciformes 15% Anseriformes DISCUSSION
The average water temperature was goes upto 32C. The lowest, water temperature (28C) observed during month of December. Balasubramanian[6] has reported that air temperature and water temperature showed large fluctuation because of different seasons in kurangani stream of Cardamom hills [7]. The average pH was 7.2. While studying in tributaries of kaveri river with different
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stream orders by Kubendran have recorded DO concentration range between 4-2 mg/l. Thampy [8] has recorded range of dissolved oxygen 6.5 to 8.0 mg/l was recorded by from streams of southern western Ghats. In Indian wetlands 318 species of birds were recorded out of which 193 species are fully dependent on to [9]. In our study 20 species were recorded. The total number of birds was different in each lacation and most of the lacation water level is the most important. Tamilnadu is a drought-prone state and due to vagaries of monsoon has experienced recurrent drought over the years [10] Majorities of wetlands are irrigation tanks. In years of poor monsoon or monsoon failure birds number and their breeding activity also was different [11] [12]. 26 Species of colonially nesting large water birds that are known to breed in Indian heronries[13], namely Spot – billed Pelican, Little Cormorant, Indian Shag, Great Cormorant, Darter, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Large Egret, Median Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond-Heron, Black – crowned Night – Heron, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill – Stork, White Ibis, Black Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill nest in Tamilnadu [14] out of which during our survey only eight species recorded were breeding in different wetland sites. More than 51 species of birds were recorded as very rare and nearly 10 species are recorded as occasional based on the sightings. The post winter season like January to March most f the migratory birds started moving and also the water level started decreasing in the wetlands, which are possible reasons for the less sighting frequency. Various studies reported that water level and the bird abundance are inter related ones (Colwell & Taft 2000). Cattle Egret, Little Egret and Little Cormorant are some of the common species in the study site. This species are the resident and the food abundance of this species was high in most of the sites. Wetland utilization by migratory waterfowl was studied in Kaoladeo National Park[15]. During the study period one globally threatened and two near threatened species are recorded, namely Spotbilled Pelican, Darter and Painted Stork. Depends and more open water is requiring for the Dartar for fishing. When wetlands are covered with weeds such as Ipomea and Eichhornia, these species and many others are unable to use the site. Reported that the Anhinga melanogaster population has declined in Kerala during the last three decades. This population is important and the areas must be protected and monitored. Similar type of result was observed at KTDC Complex also[16]. However, the birds variously use the lily pond ecosystem. The breeding wetlands birds of this habitat do not feed in the pond, but gather at the pond to seek relief from heat stress. Natural wetlands continue to decrease in area and throughtout world [17]. Wetlands are important conservation sites due to the extensive food chain and rich biodiversity they support [18]. However, the fast degradation of these ecosystems produces an urgent need for ecological studies to develop conservation programs. Almost half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in the last century due to agriculture and urban development. Agricultural wetlands are primary foraging sites for many species water birds, and as natural wetlands continue to decrease in area and quality, they have become increasingly important refugia for water birds throughout world [19]. Inland wetlands of India [20] have brought out the loss of these wetlands to the extent of 38% during the ten-year period of 1991 to 2001 and it was even up to 88% in some of the districts. These losses affect not only the wetland biodiversity but also drinking water and life of the people. Successful conservation of the species will depend on an improved understanding of its ecological requirements and moving patterns. Further surveys and intensive studies in different seasons of the year will bring out better results for the conservation of these wetlands.
4. CONCLUSION Kanyakumari district is rich in natural diversity. During the study period 20 bird species were recorded. And they are coming under 8 orders and12 families. Cattle egret and black head ibis are most abundant species in this pond. The migratory status of bird’s species showed that 72.51% were resident and 29.49% migrant birds. Higher number of birds was recorded in March followed by January. All the birds recorded in this area were categorized into 5 ecological groups based on their food and feeding; they were insectivores, carnivores, omnivores, granivores and frugivores.
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[7] Maltby, E.R. 1986. Water logged wealth of the world. Geographical magazine, 5:12-17. [8] Mitsch, W.J. and Gosselink, J.G. 2000. Wetlands. Third Edition P.3-6. [9] Narayana, S. 2004. Status and Ecology of the breeding wetland birds in the KTDC. Tourist complex, Kumarakom, Kerala. [10] Nathan, K.K. 1998. Droughts in Tamilnadu: A qualitative and quantitative appraisal. Drought Network News 10(3): 3 – 6. [11] Paulraj, S. 1985. Studies on Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. Project Report – Final. Part I and II. Report submitted to the Chief Conservator of forests, Madras 600 006, Tamilnadu. [12] Perennou, C. and V Santharam. 1991. An rnithological survey of some wetlands in south – east india. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87(3): 354 – 363 [13] Prasad, S.N., Jaggi, A.K., Kaushik, P., LalithaVijayan., Muralidharan, S and Vijiayan, V.S. 2010. Inland wetlands of India. Conservation Atlas. Salim Ali centre for ornithology and Natural History coibatore, India. [14] Santharam, V. 1981. Drought in Vedanthangal. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 21(5):15. [15] Sivaramakrishnan KG, Venkataraman K, Sridhar K, marimuthu S,1995. Spatial patterns of benthic macroinvertebrate distributions along kaveri river and its tributaries in south India, Int. J Eco. Environ. Sci. 1995; 21: 141 – 161. [16] Subramanya, S. 1996. Distribution, Status and conservation of Indian heronries. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 93(3): 459 – 486 [17] Thampy PSJ, Raja M, Sivaruban T, Arunachalam M, 2013. Application of Rapid Biozssessment in selected streams of the Western Ghats using Benthic macroinvertebrates, Int. J Environ. Biol. 2013; 3(4): 173 – 179. [18] Unni, K.S 2002. Wetlands of India. In: Proceedings of the national seminar on Ecology and conservation of wetlands Limnological association of keral. [19] Vijayan, V.S. 1986. On Conserving the bird fauna of Indian wetlands. In proceedings of Indian Academy of Science (Suppl): 91 – 101. [20] Weller, M.W. 1981. Freshwater marshes ecology and wildlife management. University of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis.
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