Effects of land-use types on the abundance and diversity of avifauna on the main campus of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20001636Keywords:
Wooded area, Nesting materials, Avian diversity , Abundance, Avian ecologyAbstract
Habitat modification driven by population growth and development alters habitat conditions, leading to ecosystem imbalance and biodiversity loss. This study examined the influence of land-use types on avifaunal diversity within the main campus of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria. Stratified random sampling divided the area into wooded, farmland, residential, and administrative zones, and bird species were surveyed using 500 m line transects. A total of 1,109 birds representing 59 species across 34 families were recorded, with the Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) as the most abundant species. The highest proportion of individuals occurred in administrative areas (346; 31.19%), followed by residential (26.15%), farmland (23.81%), and wooded areas (18.85%). Farmland showed the highest species richness (41 species) and diversity (Shannon index = 3.02). Species similarity was highest between farmland and residential areas (0.61), and ten species (0.81%) were common across all land-use types, including Spilopelia senegalensis, Lamprotornis pulcher, Halcyon senegalensis, Columba guinea, Pycnonotus barbatus, Bubalornis albirostris, Ptilostomus afer, Quelea quelea, Corythornis cristatus, and Centropus senegalensis. Key nesting trees were Faidherbia albida, Delonix regia, Azadirachta indica, and Syzygium cumini, with nests constructed from twigs, bark strips, inflorescences, dry leaves, and grass. These findings highlight the importance of conserving habitat diversity to sustain bird populations and ecological balance, emphasizing the need to protect existing trees and promote planting of diverse native species across all land-use types.
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