Diversity Of Bird Communities In Shennongjia National Nature Reserve

Shennongjia National Nature Reserve is located in the northwest of Hubei Province, its special geographical location, favorable natural environment and climatic conditions make the biodiversity here very rich. Scholars have always been concerned here. But since the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve was established, there has not been a comprehensive survey about the wild animal resources, especially birds resources. In addition, research about the birds diversity of Shennongjia Nature Reserve has not been reported. So by the projiect of comprehensive survey of Shennongjia resources, we investigate the bird resources of Shennongjia Nature Reserve, and obtain first-hand information about the bird diversity status, thus providing support for research about the changes in bird populations and the development of the reserve.In July to August2011, October2011, January2012, March to May2012, July to August2012, March2013and June to July2013, we used line-transect and sampling point method to investigate the birds resources of Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. At the same time, we also used Interview Survey and literature reviewing method. The survey results are as follows:There are389bird species in Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, which belongs to67families and18orders. Of them, resident birds account for the largest proportion(45.244%), and there are25.193%summer migrant,18.252%winter migrant and11.311%passing migrant. In breeding birds(274species), there are185(67.518%) oriental species,60(21.898%) palaearctic species,29(10.584%) cosmopolitan species, there are5species under first-grade state protection,65species under second-grade state protection,120species under Hubei province protection and26national endemic species.233bird species are helpful, economic and significant for science in China,34bird species are listed into CADB,62bird species are listed into CITES. Been included in the China-Japan Agreement for protection of MigratoryBirds in the appendix there are111kinds of birds. Been included in the China-Australian Agreement for protection of MigratoryBirds in the appendix there are22kinds of birdsWe find the new73bird records of Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, of which13species are new records in Hubei Province. The13bird species are Circus pypargus、Buteo ru/inus、Tragopan blythii、Sterna acuticauda、Ketupa blakistoni、 Glaucidium passerinum、Pericrocotus flammenss、Pycnonotus finlaysoni、Lanius collurioides、Dendrocitta vagabunda、Minla cyanouroptera、Paradoxornis flavirostris、 Cettia major.The G Index of Shennongjia Nature Reserve is4.910, the F index was35.621, and the G-F index is0.862. The G-F index of four seasons in descending order are: summer(0.777), autumn(0.697), spring(0.600), and winter(0.202).Using frquency index analysis, we find that there are9dominant species in spring, such as:Motacilla alba, Garrulax elliotii, Babax lanceolatus;18dominant species in summer, such as:Motacilla alba, Rhyacornis fuliginosa, Spizixos semitorques;13dominant species in autumn, such as:Fringilla montifringilla, Motacilla alba, Spizixos semitorques;13dominant species in winter, such as:Tachybaprtus ruficollis, Garrulus glandarius, Phasianus colchicus.The number of bird species of four seasons in descending order are:summer(148), autumn(77), spring(72), and winter(28). The number of bird species of six kinds of habitats in descending order are:broad-leaved forest (146), theropencedrymion(69), waters and wetlands(45), farmland and village(42), shrubland(19), coniferous forest(8)The evenness of bird communities is analyzed by using Pielou index and Alatalo index.In four seasons, both Pielou index and Alatalo index show that the evenness of bird communities in winter, summer, and autumn are decreasing. The Pielou index value in spring is the highest, but Alatalo index measures that the evenness of the spring bird community is in the third. In the six kinds of habitats, these two indices measure that the evenness of bird communities in shrubland, waters and wetlands, farmland and village, and coniferous forest are decreasing. The difference between these two indices is about the evenness of theropencedrymion and broad-leaved forest.The diversity of bird communities is measured by Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson index. In four seasons, both Shannon-Wiener index and Simpson index show that the diversity of bird communities in summer, spring and winter are decreasing. Simpson index show that the diversity in autumn is the lowest, but Shannon-Wiener index measures that the diversity of the autumn bird community is in second. In the six kinds of habitats, these two indices measure that the diversity of bird communities in broad-leaved forest, theropencedrymion, waters and wetlands, farmland and village, coniferous forest are decreasing. Simpson index show that the diversity in shrubland is in the fourth, but Shannon-Wiener index measures that the diversity in shrubland is in the fifth.Diversity of bird communities and their species richness and evenness are closely related, so we do correlation analysis of Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, richness, Pielou index and Alatalo index. The results show that Pielou index is more suitable for this experiment, and that there is no significant difference between the Shannon-Wiener index and the Simpson index.The similarities of different bird communities are analyzed by using Sorenson index and Bray-Curtis index. These two indices show that broad-leaved forest bird community and theropencedrymion bird community are in the highest similarity.This studies from four aspects(the number of bird species、the number of birds、the diversity of bird communities and the evenness of bird communities) proved that the birds distribution of Shennongjia Nature Reserve is consistent with the " Mid-domain Effect" hypothesis.