Recovery of bird communities after selective logging and clear-cutting in Kibale National Park, Uganda
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ostrich
Abstract
In the face of the continuing destruction of tropical rainforests, a major challenge is to understand the
consequences of these habitat changes for biodiversity and the time scale at which biodiversity can recover after
such disturbances. In this study, we assessed the patterns in communities of birds among forests of varying
age consisting of clear-cuts of former coniferous plantations, selectively logged compartments and primary
forests in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Birds were surveyed by 10-minute point counts at 174 randomly located
points in nine forest areas during September–October 2011. A total of 2 688 birds representing 115 species were
recorded. The species density, diversity and dominance of all birds, and dominance of forest specialists showed
no differences between forest areas, whereas the species density and diversity of forest specialists differed
significantly between forest areas. The composition of communities of all birds and of forest specialists varied
significantly among the forest areas. Our results show that even after 19 and 43 years, respectively, communities of
birds in clear-cuts of former coniferous plantations and selectively logged forests have not fully recovered from the
disturbances of logging, highlighting the need to preserve primary forests for conservation of birds.
Description
Keywords
Biodiversity, Human-induced disturbances, Kibale National Park, Recovery, Uganda
Citation
Pirita Latja, Geoffrey M Malinga, Anu Valtonen & Heikki Roininen (2015): Recovery of bird communities after selective logging and clear-cutting in Kibale National Park, Uganda, Ostrich, DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2015.1108370