Obateru et al., 2019 Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment Vol. 11(4) December, 2019 E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe 169 jfewr ©2019 - jfewr Publications ISBN: 2141 – 1778 This work is licensed under a Obateru et al., 2019 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF AVIAN SPECIES OF LOBURO FOREST (REDEMPTION CAMP), OGUN STATE, NIGERIA Obateru, F. B. 1, *Odewumi, O. S. 2, Ogunjemite, B. G. 2, and 2Agbelusi, E. A. 1Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism, Federal Polytechnic, Ede 2Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Technology, Akure. *Corresponding Author Email: [email protected]; [email protected] ABSTRACT Impact of religious tourism on avian species composition and abundance of Loburo Forest (Redemption camp area), Ogun State Nigeria was assessed. Bird survey was conducted using both Line transect and Area search methods. A total of Eight (8) transect lines with lengths ranging from 1km to 1.5km were walked during the survey. The survey spanned three months May, June and July with 6 repeat visits. Data obtained were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. PAST Software (version 16) was used to compute bird diversity indices while differences in birds mean number between the developed and undeveloped areas were analysed using T-test. A total of 876 individual birds from 63 species, 27 families and 11 Orders were recorded in the study area. The developed area had 46 species from 24 families while the undeveloped area had 20 species from 12 families. The family Pycnonotidae had the highest number of species both in the developed (6, 13.04%) and undeveloped (6, 10.34%) areas. Mean bird density of 17.01 ±2.51 was recorded (developed area had 19.52bird/km2 while undeveloped area had 14.5 bird/km2). Similarly bird diversity indices (Simpson, Shannon and Evenness) was higher in the developed area than the undeveloped area (0.94, 0.69; 3.15, 1.935; 0.51, 0.3462) respectively. It can be concluded that urbanization and deforestation as a result of religious tourism has changed bird species composition to favour generalist and open habitat birds. It is therefore suggested that there should be policy that will compel such tourism to set aside conservation areas and to encourage greenness of the environment. Keywords: Avian species, religious tourism, Loburo forest, urbanization, conservation area. INTRODUCTION (Sayer et al., 1992). Urbanization, defined as the Loss of biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning process by which urban population increases in and stability, productivity at different trophic levels, absolute number and in proportion to rural nutrient cycling and erosion control (Tohru et al., population either through the increase in population 2010). McKee et al., (2003) reported that of existing cities or through the growth of new ones anthropogenic impacts caused by human population (Olujinmi 2011), is a major cause in the loss of density accounted for 87.9% of the variation in biological resources. Urbanization has resulted in a numbers of threatened species across the tropical large negative impact on wildlife in addition with forest. Land-use changes are one of the most regards to the flora and fauna communities. Habitat crucial human impacts on natural ecosystems, fragmentation and degradation may lead to loss in causing changes in the services obtained from the biodiversity and influence the life cycle of tropical ecosystems and biodiversity (Chapin et al., 2000; tree species by lowering pollination, limiting seed Luck et al., 2004). Increased population pressure, dispersal and increasing seed predation (Farwig et conversion of tropical forests to agricultural fields al., 2007), which may affect the population sizes and infrastructural developments has continued to and distribution of avian species. Humans, serve as the driving force in land-use changes including ecotourists, can be perceived as predators JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 11, NO. 4 DECEMBER, 2019 DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF AVIAN SPECIES OF LOBURO FOREST (REDEMPTION CAMP), OGUN STATE, NIGERIA 170 (Frid and Dill, 2002). For instance, Klein (1993) nesting and foraging opportunities that such found that approaching birds by foot was the most environments provide (De Graaf and Wentworth, distracting thing done by visitors to a wildlife 1986), but many species decline or disappear as refuge. Changes in individual behavior can have settlement intensity increases (Clergeau et al. 1998). substantial effects on individual reproductive This work aim at investigating the impact of these success and population demography (Anthony and activities on avian diversity, distribution and Blumstein, 2000). abundance in the study area. Common ground between religions and biodiversity MATERIALS AND METHODS protection is found throughout the world in the form The Study Area of sacred natural sites and religious-based Loburo Forest, Ogun State Nigeria (Figure 1 and 2), behavioural control systems (Dudley et al., 2005). is situated at between kilometer 36 – 48 along The power of religion to check destructive Lagos – Ibadan Express Way. The community behaviour in the face of challenges ranging from forest formed part of Owode and Sagamu Local political instability and conflict to poverty and lack Government Areas of Ogun State. The area of empathy for other creatures is significant, and if occupied about 75 km2 of virgin and graded level of it can be mobilized in support of biodiversity it secondary forest before The Redeemed Christian would be a noteworthy achievement (Rappaport, Church of God (Redemption Camp) started in the 1999). This study therefore offers a chance to year 1983. Few highly remote villages were there at examine the impact of religious tourism from the the time. These include Mowe in Owode Local perspective of conservation and tourism on one of Government Area and Simawa in Sagamu L. G. A. the anccient sites of South western Nigeria: Loburo The study area which started as a designated site for Forest, Ogun State which is currently hosting one of religious activity in the year 1983 has given birth to the foremost religious sites of the country: the major revivals, outreaches and establishment of Redemption Camp. Loburo Forest was one of the other religious outfits and camp ground including largest track of community forest in Ogun State the Deeper Life Bible Church and NASFAT. before the construction of Lagos-Ibadan express The areas comprise a series of ecosystems: the way in 1978. The construction of the road opened Guinea forests- Lowland rainforest, the up the region to religious activities pioneer by the predominant habitat type of the areas identified as Redemption Camp in 1982. These activities has priority for surveys is the Guinea-Congo lowland since grown in lip and bond, leading to rainforest which is found in the western most parts establishment of large communities within the area of southern Nigeria (Kaey, 1959; White, 1983; with severe consequence and high degree alteration National Atlas, 1987; and Oates et al 2008). The on the ecology and land-use pattern of the area. Redeemed Christian Church of God (Redemption Urbanization and habitat fragmentation are rampant Camp) is situated at Loburo in Owode Local all over the world. This is becoming a critical Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The challenge in the fertile wet area of tropical Africa in forest is bounded by Mowe and Loburo in the north, which the forest of southwest Nigeria (including Sagamu Local Government to the south, Ikorodu in Loburo Forest) constitute an integral part. The Lagos State to the East and Deeper Life Camp magnitude of the effects of urbanization and ground to the west. It is situated at kilometer 46 of whether they are positive or negative varies among Lagos Ibadan Express way. species (Marzluff et al. 2001). A few species thrive under these conditions by exploiting the unique JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 11, NO. 4 DECEMBER, 2019 Obateru et al., 2019 171 Figure 1: Map of South western Nigeria showing the location of Loburo Forest (Redemption Camp) Data Collection categorized based on their Order, family and Avifaunal species assessment feeding guilds like insectivore, nectarivore, Bird survey was conducted using direct count omnivore, scavenger, frugivore, carnivore, through Line transect method (Bibby and Burgess, piscivore, and granivore according to Anjos (2001). 2001) and Area search method (Nikunj et al., 2013). ' Due to high mobility of bird, two forms of major The Bird species Diversity Indices (Shannon- land used were considered for their distribution; the Weiner index; Evenness and Dominance) was developed area and the undeveloped (open calculated. secondary and fallow forest) area at Loburo Forest The species diversity index was calculated using (Redemption Camp). A total of Eight (8) transect Shannon Weiner Diversity Index: lines (four in each categories) were walked during …… (1) the survey. The existing routes in the area was used Where: as transect lines with lengths ranging from 1km to Pi = Proportion of individual species 1.5km and a fixed width of 30m in the developed S= Total number of species of the site (number seen area and 20m in the undeveloped area. At each site, and heard). transects were placed at least 200m apart. Transects i = no of individual species were walked slowly making observations by a Buzas and Gibson’s evenness/Equitability: H/S single observer. Bird species sighted directly Bird density was determined as: Number of (perching on trees or ground and flying in front) and individuals/total area surveyed (in hectare). calls heard were identified to species level with the number of individual birds encountered recorded. .Data Analysis The survey spanned three months May, June and Data obtained in the study area were analysed using July with 6 repeat visits consisting morning both descriptive and inferential statistics. PAST (between 6.00hr to 10.00hram) and evening ((Paleontological statistics software package for (16.00hr to 18.30hr) visits were made.