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Biodiversity and Conservation

09-09-2023 | Original Research

Elevation and distance to human habitation regulate high bird diversity and abundance across sacred groves in Aravalli range, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Authors: Rakesh Kumar, Vijay Kumar Koli

Published in: Biodiversity and Conservation

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Abstract

Sacred groves have a long history of flora and fauna conservation by local communities due to religious and cultural practices. Birds are crucial part of sacred grove’s ecosystem but driver regulating their diversity and composition is poorly known. Here, we first time investigated avian diversity, abundance, aggregation in sacred groves distributed across southern Aravalli Mountains, one of the most degraded ecosystem of the world, and also tried to identify its driving factors using different modelling approaches from November, 2022 to February, 2023. We recorded 147 species (86% of potential species richness as per Chao estimation) including four near threatened and two vulnerable species. Feeding guild composition varied between groves. GLMM revealed that species richness significantly and negatively influenced by elevation (CE = -0.02) and distance to human habitation (CE = -0.003), while abundance negatively from elevation (CE = -0.13) and grazing activity (CE = -41.63) but positively from lopping activity (CE = 89.46). Bird abundance was recorded significantly higher (p < 0.05) in groves with lopping activity. Feeding guild showed varied response against elevation and distance to human habitation. Insectivore, and granivore and omnivore showed clear pattern of clustering. In conclusion, sacred groves in Aravalli Mountains support high avian diversity and we strongly recommend to include of these sites in long-term conservation plan.

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Title: Elevation and distance to human habitation regulate high bird diversity and abundance across sacred groves in Aravalli range, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Rakesh Kumar
Vijay Kumar Koli
Publication date: 09-09-2023
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Biodiversity and Conservation
Print ISSN: 0960-3115
Electronic ISSN: 1572-9710
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02711-x