Changes in Bird Community Structure on Mount Cameroon Driven by Elevational and Vertical Gradients

0573736 - BC 2024 RIV CH eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Kamga, S. M. - Tamungang, S. A. - Awa, T. - Chmel, Kryštof - Ewome, L. F. - Molua, L. L. - Uceda-Gómez, G. - Janeček, Š. - Mlíkovský, J. - Riegert, J.
Changes in Bird Community Structure on Mount Cameroon Driven by Elevational and Vertical Gradients.
Diversity. Roč. 15, č. 6 (2023), č. článku 727. E-ISSN 1424-2818
Institucionální podpora: RVO:60077344
Klíčová slova: birds * community structure * dietary guilds
Obor OECD: Ecology
Impakt faktor: 2.4, rok: 2022
Způsob publikování: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/727/pdf?version=1686102837

The distribution of birds in the tropical mountains is important not only for testing fundamental scientific hypotheses, but also for bird conservation. In order to obtain knowledge on bird community structure within the tropical highland ecosystem, we used ground-to-canopy mist nets to assess bird species distribution along a vertical ground-to-canopy gradient for two elevational bands on Mount Cameroon. The study area included lowland forest (Drink Garri, 650 m a.s.l.) and montane forest (Mann’s Spring, 2200 m a.s.l.). We mist netted a total of 2658 individuals, including recaptures, belonging to 118 species from 50 genera. NLAG (net location above the ground), vegetation cover and locality significantly affected the bird communities. The composition of avian communities strongly differed between the two elevational bands. Species diversity considerably decreased with NLAG in both localities and increased with increased vegetation cover at the low elevation site. Species dietary guilds were significantly influenced by the seasonality, elevation, NLAG and vegetation cover. For most of the feeding guilds included in the study (frugivores, omnivores, insectivores, granivores and nectarivores), we found a negative correlation between the abundances and vegetation cover. Meanwhile, percentages of abundance of frugivores, nectarivores and omnivores showed a positive correlation with NLAG. We discuss the substantial changes in feeding guild structure along a vertical gradient and between two elevational bands. In conclusion, Mount Cameroon’s forest vegetation structure differs between two elevational bands and along vertical gradients from ground to canopy, considerably affecting the bird community structure.
Trvalý link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0349846