RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AVIAN DIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE HETEROGENEITY

Abstract

Studies on birds and their habitats are usually conducted in natural areas (protected areas, forests, wetlands, etc.). In this study, the relationship between agricultural landscape diversity and the species diversity of birds was investigated in an agricultural zone surrounded by natural and forested areas. Observations were carried out in 60 sample grid squares. Presence/absence data for birds and cultivated plants at each sample site were recorded. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index for bird species and landscape metrics for agricultural areas were used in the sample site. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explain the correlation between agricultural landscape diversity and bird species diversity. According to the results, the area-weighted mean shape index (AWMSI) and the number of patches (NP) were found to be particularly effective at predicting bird species diversity (R2 = 0.66). In addition, as the patch number and patch shape ratio increased in a sample area, the diversity of bird species (R = 0.83) expanded. It can be concluded that agricultural zones consisting of small, different patches are rich areas for bird species diversity. Bird species diversity is lessened in agricultural areas with uniform or similar landscape structures consisting of large patches. If the NP in the area is high, but not distributed in a mosaic pattern, then the diversity of bird species is considered weak. Despite the increasing NP and patch types, bird species diversity declines if there is intense human activity in the area.

Keywords: Agricultural area; Avian diversity; landscape metrics