Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on bird diversity in Ethiopian montane forests

The condor

Andrew E. McKechnie¹  Addisu Asefa¹  Andrew B. Davies²  Berndt J. van Rensburg³  Anouska A. Kinahan⁴ 

[1] 1DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa;2DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa;2DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.4Department of Zoology, DST-NRF Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, South Africa;3Frankfurt Zoological Society, Bale Mountains Conservation Project, Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

关键词: Afromontane forest;    avifaunal diversity;    avian guilds;    Bale Mountains;    protected area;    forest specialists;    patch size;   

DOI  :  10.1650/CONDOR-16-81.1

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Central Ornithology Publication Office

【 摘 要 】

The Afromontane forests of Ethiopia are global biodiversity hotspots, known for their high biological diversity and endemism. However, conservation of these areas is challenging due to increasing human threats, including encroachment of agriculture and settlements, overgrazing of livestock, and selective logging. We examined the effects of forest disturbances on birds, and highlights the potential conservation value of unprotected tropical montane forests for birds in the dry evergreen Afromontane forests of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. We sampled birds across 2 yr in both protected forests (characterized by low levels of cultivation, overgrazing, and logging) and unprotected forests (higher levels of disturbance). Using functional traits of birds related to habitat type, diet, and foraging stratum, we characterized the differences between protected and unprotected forests in terms of avian species richness, abundance, and assemblage composition. Overall, species richness was 27% higher and bird abundance was 19% higher in unprotected forests. In contrast, species richness and abundance of forest specialists and canopy foragers were significantly higher in protected forests. These findings suggest that unprotected, disturbed tropical montane forests in Ethiopia help to achieve conservation aims in an area recognized for its global biodiversity importance. At the same time, intact forest ecosystems need continued protection to maximize functional heterogeneity associated with specialist tropical forest taxa.

【 授权许可】

CC BY