A study on the avifaunal diversity and community dynamics of Karanji Lake, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10539.18.8.29418-29429Keywords:
Birds, Chamundi Hills, diversity indices, feeding guilds, Mysore Zoo, Near Threatened, waterbody, wetland birdsAbstract
We conducted the present field study to record avifaunal diversity at Karanji Lake, Mysuru, Karnataka, from April 2021 to March 2022 on a bimonthly basis. Point count method with a fixed radius was carried out within the lake premises, with 14 grids. A total of 94 bird species were recorded belonging to 16 orders and 47 families. Highest number of birds was represented by order Passeriformes, with 23 families, and the family Ardeidae dominated with eight species. A total of 90 species were ‘Least Concern’, and two species were ‘Near Threatened’. Further, these birds were grouped into omnivorous (33%), insectivorous (27.6%), carnivorous (23.4%), piscivorous (7.4%), frugivorous (3.2%), nectarivores (2.1%), granivorous (2.1%), and herbivorous (1.1%) based on feeding habits. Shannon-Wiener value was 3.1517 ± 0.31SE, Simpson diversity was 0.6937, and Pielou’s evenness value was 0.694. The different diversity index values revealed the occurrence of a good number of bird species, conveying that the Karanji Lake still has potential to support avifauna. This study will help understand the conservation of birds at the Lake in future, an important biodiversity perspective.
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