Study on bird diversity of different habitats in the Northern Experimental Area of Yancheng National Nature Reserve

Abstract:

In order to understand the bird diversity of different habitats and the impacts of human disturbance in the Northern Experimental Area of Yancheng Nature Reserve, Jiangsu, seasonal bird surveys were carried out with the methods of line transects during the period from October 2015 to July 2016. The habitats of study area were classified according to 3S technology, and the characteristics and variation of bird diversity in different habitats were analyzed. 67 bird species from 12 orders, 27 families were recorded in this region. The major floristic composition and residence type were palaearctic species and migratory birds. The index of bird diversity in different habitats was the highest in artificial wetlands and the lowest in human activity areas. There was a significant negative correlation between uniformity index and human disturbance index (y=1.883x+1.738, R²=0.903, P<0.05), which leads to the highest value in shallow sea waters and the lowest in human activity areas. Also, the highest values of bird diversity among different habitats occurred between salt marshes and artificial wetlands. In different habitats and different seasons, bird diversity in artificial wetlands and salt marshes was generally higher than that in other habitats, and the highest and lowest values appeared in autumn and summer, respectively.