IJCRR

IJCRR - 11(14), July, 2019

Pages: 06-15

Date of Publication: 23-Jul-2019

Spatial Variation in Avifaunal Diversity from Various Green Spaces of Indore City, Madhya Pradesh

Author: Priya Gaur, C. S. Shrivastava, S. Gaherwal

Category: Life Sciences

Abstract:Indore city harbours a wide variety of birds. The objective of the present study was to assess the avian diversity and its spatial variation at four different locations of Indore city viz. Meghdoot Garden, Nehru Park, Lalbagh and Pipliyapala Regional Park. A yearly survey of avian fauna was carried out from January to December 2018 by adopting line transect and point count method.A total of 58 bird species belonging to 13 order and 34 families were recorded during the present study. The highest number of avian fauna was recorded in Pipliyapala Regional Park (58), followed by Lalbagh (41), then Meghdoot Garden(39) and the least number was 34 at Nehru Park. Order Passeriformes was found to be dominant in the study. Furthermore, family Columbidae was dominant having 8% contribution in Meghdoot Garden. Similarly, Muscicapidae was 12% in Nehru Park and Lalbagh each and family Muscicapidae was 10% dominant in Regional Park. This study highlights the need for conservation and importance of Green spaces in urban cities.

Keywords: Avian fauna, Meghdoot garden, Nehru park, Lalbagh, Pipliyapala Regional Park

Full Text:

INTRODUCTION

Birds are significant element of global biodiversity [1]. There are about 1,314 species from Indian Subcontinent, out of which 450 species are reported from Central India [2]. In recent years, ornithologists have delved into various habitats and highlighted that birds are highly sensitive to obnoxious condition [3].

Estimation of avian diversity is an essential tool in assessment of ecological health (Qualitative and Quantitative) of an ecosystem [4]. Diseases, presence of predators and competition due to limited resources have led to decline in population of birds over the years [5]. Land use pattern have changed over the years; furthermore, urban cities have recreation parks and gardens which have succeeded in attracting good avifauna. [6].

Availability of different food resources makes it possible for birds to preferring different guilds and to choose variety of habitats. Proper maintenance of the garden and increase in plantation certainly would increase the number of birds in the near future [7].

Indore city consists of favorable environment for avian fauna to survive in this area and this city is also becoming green and clean day by day. The central idea of the proposed study is to find out the richness of avian fauna in green spaces of the urban city. The result of the present investigation is helpful in evaluating the spatial variation among all the four sites of Indore city.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area:

The study area of Indore city was divided into following zones based on the cardinal directions:

Site - I: Meghdoot Garden

It is one of the voluminous gardens in Vijay Nagar (Peripheryof Indore). Dominant trees in the place include Polyalthia longifolia, Ficus benghalensis var. krishnae, Mangifera indica and Ficus bengalensis.

Site -II: Nehru Park

It is the most crowded park of Indore city and is situated near main office of BSNL Indore. Polyalthia longifolia, Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis var. krishnae, Mangifera indica, Sapodilla plum and Ficus bengalensis are few indigenous trees are present in the park.

Site - III: Lal Bagh

It is situated in the periphery of Indore city. It is maintained by the Archeological Department of the state. Trees present are perennial in nature and are exotic and indigenous both.

Site - IV: Pipliyapala Regional Park

It is also known as Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Park. It is developed by Indore Development Authority (IDA) and maintained by Nagar Nigam Indore. Trees like Callistemon citrinus, Annona squamosa and Butea monosperma are main attraction during spring season.

Study Period:

The present study was conducted in one year (2018) and it was divided into following season.

1. Winter season – (November to February)

2. Summer season- (March to June)

3. Rainy season- (July to October)

Identifications of birds were done by the following books.

Birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim In skipp [8].

A DSLR camera was used for photography birds at different locations.

Methods:

The following two different methods were adopted for study Avifaunal Diversity.

Method 1: Line Transect method

While walking on a continuous pace, it is easier to locate and detect all the avian fauna around the transect line. It is possible to cover a large area in less time. This is better than adopting any other methods [9].

Method 2: Point Count Method

This is the second method in which an observer sit or stand at a particular location of the study site and records all the birds seen around him/her by focusing on the bird call and keenly listening to every movement around him/her [9].

RESULTS

Spatial Variation

The result of spatial variation of birds of different study sites (Meghdoot Garden, Nehru Park, Lalbagh and Pipliyapala Regional Park) during January 2018 to December 2018 were represented in Table 1-4 and their graphical representation (family wise) is shown in Graph 1-4.

Spatial variation of birds in Meghdoot Garden:

In Meghdoot Garden total 39 species of avian fauna was recorded which belonged to 11 orders and 30 families. The observed species were represented in Table – 1.

These species belongs to order Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Pelecaniformes, Charadriiformes, Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Bucerotiformes, Piciformes, Coraciiformes, Psittaciformes and Passeriformes.

            The family wise percentage composition of these birds in Meghdoot Park was Columbidae (8%), Cuculidae (5%), Ardeidae (3%), Charadriidae (3%), Accipitridae (5%), Strigidae (3%), Bucerotidae (3%), Megalaimidae (3%), Meropidae (3%), Alcedinidae (3%), Psittaculidae (5%), Campephagidae (3%), Aegithinidae (3%),Dicruridae (3%), Rhipiduridae (3%), Corvidae (5%), Monarchidae (3%), Dicaeidae (3 %), Nectariniidae (3%),  Estrildidae (3%),  Passeridae (3%), Paridae (3%),  Cisticolidae  (3%), Hirundinidae (5%), Pycnonotidae (3%), Phylloscopidae( 3%),  Zosteropidae (3%), Leiothrichidae (3%), Sturnidae (5%) and Muscicapidae (5%).

Spatial variation of birds in Nehru Park:                   

In Nehru Park total 34 species of avian fauna was recorded which belonged to 12 orders and 26 families. The observed species were represented in Table – 2.

            These species belongs to order Columbiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Cuculiformes, Pelecaniformes, Charadriiformes, Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Bucerotiformes, Piciformes, Coraciiformes, Psittaciformes and Passeriformes.

            The family wise percentage composition of these birds in Nehru Park was Columbidae (9%), Apodidae (3%), Cuculidae (3%), Ardeidae (3%), Charadriidae (3%), Accipitridae (6%), Strigidae (3%), Bucerotidae (3%), Megalaimidae (3%), Meropidae (3%), Alcedinidae (3%), Psittaculidae (3%), Oriolidae (3%),  Aegithinidae (3%), Dicruridae (3%), Rhipiduridae (3%), Corvidae (9%),  Dicaeidae (3 %), Nectariniidae (3%),  Passeridae (3%), Cisticolidae  (3%), Hirundinidae (3%), Pycnonotidae (3%), Leiothrichidae (3%), Sturnidae (3%) and Muscicapidae (12%).

Spatial variation of birds in Lalbagh:

In Lalbagh, total 41 species of avian fauna was recorded which belonged to 11 orders and 27 families. The observed species were represented in Table – 3.

These species belongs to Order Columbiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Cuculiformes, Charadriiformes, Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Bucerotiformes, Piciformes, Coraciiformes, Psittaciformes and Passeriformes.

             The family wise percentage composition of these birds in Pipliyapala Regional Park was Columbidae (7%), Apodidae (2%), Cuculidae (5%), Charadriidae (2%), Accipitridae (5%), Strigidae (2%), Bucerotidae (2%), Megalaimidae (2%), Meropidae (2%), Alcedinidae (2%), Psittaculidae (2%), Campephagidae (5%), Oriolidae (2%), Aegithinidae (2%), Dicruridae (2%), Corvidae (7%), Nectariniidae (2%), Estrildidae (2%), Passeridae (2%), Motacillidae (2%), Cisticolidae (5%), Hirundinidae (5%), Pycnonotidae (2%), Zosteropidae (2%), Leiothrichidae (2%), Sturnidae (5%) and Muscicapidae (12%).

Spatial variation of birds in Pipliyapala Regional Park:  

In Pipliyapala Regional Park total 58 species of avian fauna was recorded which belonged to 13 orders and 34 families. The observed species were represented in Table – 4.

These species belongs to Order Galliformes, Columbiformes, Caprimulgiformes, Cuculiformes, Pelecaniformes, Charadriiformes, Accipitriformes, Strigiformes, Bucerotiformes, Piciformes, Coraciiformes, Psittaciformes and Passeriformes.

             The family wise percentage composition of these birds in Pipliyapala Regional Park was Phasianidae (2%), Columbidae (5%), Apodidae (2%), Cuculidae (5%), Ardeidae (3%), Charadriidae (2%), Accipitridae (7%), Strigidae (2%), Bucerotidae (2%), Megalaimidae (2%), Meropidae (2%), Alcedinidae (2%), Psittaculidae (5%), Campephagidae (3%), Oriolidae (2%), Aegithinidae (2%), Dicruridae (2%), Rhipiduridae (2%), Corvidae (5%), Monarchidae (2%), Dicaeidae (2%), Nectariniidae (3%), Estrildidae (2%), Passeridae (2%), Motacillidae (3%), Paridae (2%), Cisticolidae (3%), Hirundinidae (5%), Pycnonotidae (2%), Phylloscopidae (2%), Zosteropidae (2%), Leiothrichidae (2%), Sturnidae (3%) and Muscicapidae (10%).

DISCUSSION

A total of 58 bird species belonging to 13 order and 34 families were recorded during the present study. The highest number of avian fauna was recorded in Pipliyapala Regional Park with 58 bird species (Table – 4) followed by Lalbagh having 41 species (Table - 3), then at Meghdoot Garden (Table -1) having 39 bird species and least number of avian fauna recorded was 34 at Nehru Park (Table- 2).Species richness of 76 species of 13 order and 39 familieswere recorded in Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary[10] and 517 species were recorded in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh [11].

Family Columbidae was dominant having 8% contribution in Meghdoot Garden; Similarly, Muscicapidae was 12% in Nehru Park and Lalbagh which is also reported by several researchers [7, 12] and Muscicapidae was 10% in Regional Park [13]. Order Passeriformes was found dominant in our study with 23 species (58.9%) of the total richness in Meghdoot Park; 19 species having 55.8% contribution to the total fauna at Nehru Park; similarly, 26 species having 63.4% contribution in total avifaunal species in Lalbagh and35 species which is 60.3% of the total birds found in Pipliyapala Regional Park (Table1-4). Workers published a list of 32 species of Passeriformes [12]. Interestingly, Passeriformes dominance was concluded with 45 species [14] and68 species [15]in various study areas of the state. Thus, the results of present studycorroborate with above mentioned researchers.

CONCLUSION

The present study highlights the importance of green spaces in cities. These areas are species rich and require regular monitoring and development to increase its existing biodiversity. A total of 58 species belonging to 13 orders and 34 families were reported in all our study sites collectively and its spatial variation was estimated. This investigation was first ever study conducted at Meghdoot and Nehru Park. The present study will provide the baseline information in near future in terms of conservation, awareness and sustentation of avian diversity in Indore city.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors acknowledge the immense help received from the scholars whose articles are cited and included in references of this manuscript. The authors are also grateful to authors / editors / publishers of all those articles, journals and books from where the literature for this article has been reviewed and discussed.

SOURCES OF FUNDING

There is no funding agency for the above work.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

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