Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity 3(4): 16-26 (2019) (http://jwb.araku.ac.ir/) Research Article DOI: 10.22120/jwb.2019.104859.1058 Avifauna Species Diversity and Abundance in Kainji Lake National Park, Niger State, Nigeria Adebayo Olaoluwa Ayodeji*, Halidu The study concluded that bird species diversity Shafiu Kilishi and abundance are key contributors to a healthy ecological system. Birds are good indicators of Federal College of Wildlife Management, the biological network thereby revealing the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Nigeria status of the park environmental degradation. email: [email protected] The study recommended that stakeholders Received: 10 March 2019 / Revised: 30 April 2019 / Accepted: 26 July 2019 / Published online: 26 July 2019. Ministry of Sciences, should improve on the enactment, legislation Research and Technology, Arak University, Iran. and enforcement of laws that will safeguard Abstract areas where fauna and flora are effectively The dearth of understanding the importance of conserved. bird species diversity and abundance Keywords: Biodiversity, conservation, ecology, contributes to the low rate of conservation and wildlife. distribution of wildlife species in the ecosystem. Diversity and abundance are Introduction equally important factors for improving the It has been observed that developing ecological system. This study examined bird management strategies for conservation of species diversity and abundance in Borgu wildlife species as well as the inventory of both Sector of Kainji Lake National Park, Niger fauna and flora resources to ensure proper State, Nigeria. Line transect method was used monitoring required the knowledge of the to carry out birds’ survey at five different population, abundance, distribution and tracks, namely: Hussaini Mashi, Gilbert Child, migration of the species concerned (Child Bukar Shuaib, Shehu Shagari and Mahmud 1974). Similarly, wildlife inventory is with the Lapai Tracks. Data were obtained on birds’ aim to provide reliable information of species and abundance through the use of point management plan in order to guide the policy count for bird survey. Frequency counts, makers (park conservators) how best to percentages, means, Shannon-Weiner diversity conserve the fauna resource of the area for the Index, Simpson’s Diversity Index, Analysis of sustainable development. There is a variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse data. management concern about the decline in A total number of 70 bird species in 31 families population and distribution of bird’s species in were recorded during the survey. Shannon- some Nigeria National Parks. Arable crop Weiner diversity Index results showed that production is widely practised in the adjacent Mahmud Lapai track had the highest diversity communities of the study area. Besides, (4.185) compared to Hussaini Mashi (3.726), extensive grazing takes place within the Gilbert Child (3.928), Shehu Shagari (4.106) support zone community areas of the study and Bukar Shuaib (4.135) tracks respectively. sites (Ijeoma and Ogbara 2013). This could The results also indicated that bird species constitute a serious threat to the survival of diversity was not equally distributed in the some birds as a result of the loss of habitat at tracks. ANOVA showed that bird species the study sites. According to Neave et al. abundance was normally distributed and varied 1990), the physical structure of vegetation is significantly (p < 0.05) among the study sites. considered an important habitat component 17 | Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity 3(4): 16-26 (2019) through the provision of food, shelter and effect on birds can be very different (Tworek nesting resources and also in providing 2002). Responses of birds to habitat changes potential clues about the onset of conditions differ depending on their strategies, some suitable for successful breeding. lifestyles benefit from habitat change, while for In addition, birds are often at risk, either others it is a principal threat (Tworek 2002). directly or indirectly from pesticides spray Birds are very visible and integral part of the treatments. These primarily affect birds’ ecosystem occupies many trophic levels in a populations by reducing the availability of their food chain ranging from consumers to arthropod prey. For example, changes in predators. Their occurrences have been helpful feeding rate of pied kingfishers (Ceryl erudis) as an environmental health indicator, plant and little bee-eaters (Merops pusillus) that prey pollinators and seed dispersal as well as pest on small fish and day-flying insects controller (Hadley et al. 2012, Ramchandra respectively had been affected by spray 2013). Furthermore, they do add enjoyment to treatments (Smart 1997). Bird populations may our lives because of their distinctive colours, be reduced by the consumption of the showy display also distinctive songs and contaminated insects with Fenitrothions. This calls. causes the death of insectivorous birds through The study on avifauna species diversity and acute poisoning or causes sub-lethal effects abundance in Kainji Lake National Park, Niger which will affect their breeding success. State, Nigeria is important since it will provide Similarly, many insecticides are harmful to fish an understanding on the avifauna diversity, and thus piscivorous birds may also be at risk. distribution and abundance in a conservation Poisoning may occur when seeds dressed with centre aimed at promoting the biodiversity of insecticides are eaten (Smart 1997). Nigerian wildlife. However, the need to assess Birds generally are found in varied vegetation the species diversity and abundance of birds in and are presently threatened by man’s need for a protected area will provide policymakers with food, shelter and clothing. Birds are killed by reliable tools to formulate an appropriate policy poachers for sales and consumption. Farmers framework that might reduce the consequences use agrochemicals to prevent birds from eating derivable from the ecosystem threat. their grains and also crops that are germinating on the field especially around the buffer zones Materials and Methods (Ajayi and Hall 1979, Ijeomah and Ogbara The Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) is 2013). On the other hand, birds unite people composed of two non-contiguous sectors: the around the world for conservation (BirdLife Zugurma Sector and Borgu Sector (Fig. 1). The 2018). Insectivorous birds provide an important Borgu Sector of Kainji Lake National Park (Bs- service in terms of pest control (Bullock 2018). KLNP) is made up of the former Borgu Game Birds are habitat specific and some can occupy Reserve and the Doro River Forest Reserve. more than one habitat type, however, because Both Game Reserves were constituted as of land uses changes, most of the birds have wildlife conservation areas between 1962-1964 been displaced from their original habitats and 1964-1971 respectively. According to (Burgess et al. 2002). The studies on bird IUCN (1994, 2004) definition, Kainji Lake diversity were confined into the forest National Park is a Category II Protected Area emphasizing the general negative effects of (PA) managed mainly for ecosystem protection forest conversion to human-dominated habitats and recreation. Aside from these, the park (Burgess et al. 2002, Doggart et al. 2005, protects watersheds, provides opportunities for Frontier-Tanzania 2005, Yanda and Munishi education/research and has eco-tourism 2007). Nevertheless, human-dominated and potential. It is the second largest of the seven agricultural habitats vary a lot and therefore the National parks in Nigeria. The park covers a 18 | Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity 3(4): 16-26 (2019) Figure 1. Map of Kainji Lake National Park, Niger State, Nigeria showing the study sites total land area of 5340.82 km2. The park lies used for selecting the actual sites for sampling between latitude 90 40' – 100 30'N and longitude through line transects. It is is a non-probability 30 30' – 50 50'E. The park lies between latitude sample that is on characteristics of a population 90 40' – 100 30'N and longitude 30 30' – 50 50'E. and the objective of the study. This type of The main vegetation type of the park is the sampling is very useful in situations when the Northern Guinea Savannah (Keay 1959,1989). researcher needs to reach a targeted sample However, there are seven identified vegetation quickly, and where sampling for sub-types in the park (Child 1974, Geerling proportionality is not the main concern 1976, Afolayan 1974, 1977, 1978, Chachu (Tongco 2007). Study Sites include tracks 1982). These are: (Hussaini Mashi Track, Gilbert Child Track, i. Burkea africana / Detarium Bukar Shuaib Track, Shehu Shagari Track and microcarpum woodland Mahmud Lapai Track) in Borgu Sector of ii. Afzelia africana woodland Kainji Lake National Park. iii. Isoberlinia tomentosa woodland Method of data collection iv. Terminalia macroptera woodland Point count v. Diospyros mespiliformis dry forest Points were selected at tracks (Hussaini Mashi vi. Acacia “complex” dry forest Track, Gilbert Child Track, Bukar Shuaib vii. Riparian forest and woodlands. Track, Shehu Shagari Track and Mahmud Lapai Track) in the Borgu Sector of Kainji Sampling and Data Collection Techniques Lake National Park to observe, count and The study area was stratified according to its identify bird species with the help of a pair of habitat type. The sampling unit within the binoculars (Haldin and Ulfvens 1987). Surveys habitat was determined, assigned on the basis were conducted on foot and automobile along of area coverage and vegetation type. A the tracks. In each site, bird observations were purposive random sampling technique was carried out twice daily (6 hours a day) for a 19 | Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity 3(4): 16-26 (2019) period of seven months (December to June) S = Total number of species of the community when the activities of the birds are prominent; (number seen and heard). th morning between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and evening Pi = Proportion of each or individual (i ) between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. by moving slowly species in the sample; along the transects.