Impact of Land Use Gradient on Bird Community Structure and Diversity at University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore

Impact of Land Use Gradient on Bird Community Structure and Diversity

Abstract

Growth and development in cities and alterations in land use have a considerable impact on the avian diversity in urbanized landscapes. Objectives: To assess current avian diversity, seasonal variation, and long-term changes (1997–2023) in relation to land-use modification within the campus. Methods: Fortnightly bird surveys were conducted from May 2022 to April 2023 using the 10-minute point count method at 40 fixed stations representing urban, agricultural, botanical, and wetland habitats. Diversity indices, including the Shannon–Wiener index, species richness, and evenness, were calculated. The methodologies and spatial coverage of these historical studies were not identical to the current survey, and some historical records lacked fine-scale spatial or seasonal data, which is a recognized limitation for direct comparison.  Results: There were 64 species of birds of 16 orders and 34 families, 40 resident, 10 summer breeding, 8 winter visitor, 5 passage migrant, and 1 vagrant species. The dominance was Passeriformes (63%), non-passerines (37%). The scavenger and generalist birds Corvus splendens, Milvus migrans, and Acridotheres tristis formed more than half the total population. Comparison of trends over a long period revealed a decreasing common myna population and a house crow population, no changes in black kite population, and an increasing prevalence of plain-leaf warbler, yellow-footed green pigeon and cattle egret. Since 2012, urbanization has decreased agricultural habitats and homogenized bird communities. Conclusions: Urbanization and the environment of littering have altered the avian diversity, thus the necessity to incorporate biodiversity preservation into urban and campus landscape designs.