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Distribution of Avian Species in Different Forest Structures and Their Association with Vegetation Community: A Case Study in the Nandprayag Region of Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India

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Abstract

Varying species distribution patterns as impacted by forest structures is a universal feature of ecology. The present study was conducted to estimate the avian species status in selected forest structures (mixed vegetation, Pine mixed, Moist mixed deciduous, Pine deciduous mixed, and Conifer Forest) of the Nandprayag region in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India. Purposely, avian surveys were conducted from January 2021 to January 2022 using the fixed-width line transect method. A total of 70 avian species were recorded from, mixed, pine mixed, moist mixed deciduous, pine deciduous mixed, and conifer forests of the Nandprayag region. Out of these, endangered species (Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus) and near-threatened species Alexandrine parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) were sighted. Results indicated that the avian distribution at 1200–1500 m asl (moist mixed deciduous) had maximum diverse (H = 3.69) avian species as compared to other forest habitats at different elevation zones. Avian species abundance and association with vegetation structure indicate a positive relationship. The avian diversity shows a significant positive relation with the tree diversity (r = 0.80) and shrub density (r = 0.84) in the study area. Maximum abundance and avian diversity in moist mixed deciduous forests indicate the vegetation structures are responsible to influence avian diversity. The aim of this study is to provide a baseline structure about the avian species and understand the influencing factors of avian species at the local level in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors are grateful to their host institutes for providing the necessary facilities to conduct this study.

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This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Graphic Era Hill University, 248002, Dehradun, India

    Kamal Kant Joshi

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Graphic Era (Deemed To Be University), 248002, Dehradun, India

    Ashish Kumar Arya

  3. Department of Geology, DBS (PG) College, 248001, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Deepak Kumar

  4. Center for Idea Innovation and Environment, Graphic Era Hill University, 248002, Dehradun, India

    Reema Pant

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  1. Kamal Kant Joshi
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Correspondence to Ashish Kumar Arya.

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Kamal Kant Joshi, Arya, A.K., Kumar, D. et al. Distribution of Avian Species in Different Forest Structures and Their Association with Vegetation Community: A Case Study in the Nandprayag Region of Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 50, 1038–1045 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359023600836

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