Diversity and factors shaping bird species abundance in a hilly region of Makawanpur district, Nepal
Data files
Dec 03, 2023 version files 5.04 KB
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Bird_species_data.csv
1.70 KB
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README.md
3.34 KB
Abstract
Birds play a major role in seed dispersal through pollination, nutrient cycle, and pest control. Understanding contributing factors (both ecological and anthropogenic), and their influence on the diversity of birds is crucial to sustain ecosystem balance and prosperity. We investigated the diversity and associated factors of bird species in a hilly region of Makawanpur district, Nepal. The field survey was conducted throughout the winter season (December-February 2021) using the point count method (radius=30 m). Within the study area, we established 22 sampling plots between the elevations of 431 m above sea level to 2503 m asl. We used generalized linear model to investigate the role of different factors in shaping the species richness pattern. A total of 1860 independent observations of 172 bird species were made during the study where the majority of the species were common and belonged to order Passeriformes. We observed a decrease in bird diversity with increase in elevation. The quantity of invasive plant species (IAPS) cover, disturbance and the slope of the area substantially impacted the diversity of bird species. Research on diversified bird species and their associations with many factors require a more detailed and long-term survey to investigate more species as well as other patterns and processes throughout the elevational gradient.
Reference Information
Provenance for this README
- File name: README_Birds.md
- Authors: Hari Sharan Giri
- Other contributors: Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, Sandeep Regmi
- Date created: 2023-11-09
- Date modified: 2023-11-09
Dataset Version and Release History
- Current Version:
- Number: 1.0.0
- Date: 2023-11-09
- Dataset identifier:
- Summary of changes: n/a
Dataset Attribution and Usage
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Dataset Title: Diversity and factors shaping bird species abundance in the hilly region of Makawanpur district, Nepal
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Dataset Contributors:
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Creators: Hari Sharan Giri, Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, Sandeep Regmi
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License: This work is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication license.
Contact Information
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Name: Hari Sharan Giri
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Affiliations: Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science
and Technology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal -
Email: ghari0925@gmail.com
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Address: e-mail preferred
Funding sources: None
Dates and Locations
- Dates of data collection: Field data collected in the winter season of
2021-2022 - Geographic locations of data collection: Makwanpur district, Nepal
- Methods
- Data Collection: see manuscript for details
File/Folder Details
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Description: a comma-delimited file containing information about bird species richness and abundance in Makwanpur district, Nepal. The file is prepared for analysis in the R program but can be reformated for the use of other statistical software.
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Format(s): .csv
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Data name: "Birds.csv"
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Data structure: 23rows*18columns
This dataset contains information about bird species along elevation in Makwanpur district, Nepal. The dataset contains information on 23 elevational sites along with the values of different variables for each survey point. The dataset can be analyzed using generalized linear modelling in any statistical software.
Variables:
- Elevation: Elevation of survey plots (m asl).
- sp_richness: Species richness of birds at each survey point.
- Canopy cover: Canopy cover of each survey point (%).
- Fruiting tree: Number of fruiting trees at each survey point.
- Abundance: Overall abundance of birds at each survey point.
- IAPS cover: Invasive species cover in percentage at each survey
point. - Distance_water: Distance to the nearest water body from each
survey point (in meter). - Distance_road: Distance to road body from each survey point (in meter).
- distance_Agland: Distance to nearest agricultural land from each
survey point (in meter). - Distance_village: Distance to nearest village from each each survey
point (in meter). - Slope: Slope of each survey point.
- Precipitation: Average annual precipitation (mm) of each survey
point. - Temp: Average annual temperature (in celsius) of each survey point.
- Carnivore abundance: Abundance of carnivore species at each survey
point. - Herbivore abundance: Abundance of herbivore species at each survey
point. - Omnivore abundance: Abundance of omnivore species at each survey
point. - Insectivore abundance: Abundance of insectivore species at each
survey point. - Habitat type: Habitat type of each survey point.
Code/Software
This dataset can be analyzed using generalized linear modeling in R
program.
We implemented point count survey using direct observation method in the morning (7:00am – 11:30am) and in the evening (3:00pm – 5:00pm) at every 100 meters of elevation (Bibby et al., 2000; Dieni & Jones, 2002; Sarkar et al., 2009). The lowest elevational limit for the survey was Rapti riverbank near Hetauda city (431 m asl (above sea level)) while the highest elevational limit Simbhanjyang at 2503 m asl. Bird observations and sounds within a 30-meter radius were recorded from a fixed position in the center (Bötsch et al., 2018).