Habitat Variation and Avian Richness: Alpha Scale

Abstract

This study identified the interaction among bird communities, at each component unit of Okwangwo Range of Cross River National Park, Nigeria and ascertain the similarity indices. Ten transects were created along each of the existing trails at the low, mid and high altitudes of the study area. Each of the component units of the sampled plot represented a series of storage component linked by dynamical processes between sites. Data was obtained by simple observation of site characteristics, and using point and time-species count to obtain data on bird richness. The Jaccard's index was used to measure the coefficient of similarities between sites within the study area. Result show that the coefficient of similarity was generally low among the sample sites and highest similarity, 53 per cent, was recorded at the high altitude. Further, it was observed that the more adverse physical and biotic structure enhanced greater specialization among bird species richness. The low coefficient of similarity suggests that the study area is a good site for bird watching. This study is in consonance with the fact that nature parks as a geographical system have an inherently spatial structure around which transaction and interactions among avian communities take place. Work in the conservation planning needs improved techniques and tools for economic accounting of avian community by frameworks that facilitate the management within which development scheme function.