Soundscape, habitat and bird species as indicators of mangrove health in Selangor, Malaysia

Mangrove forests are critical ecosystems that require conservation and restoration efforts to mitigate global logging trends, shoreline ingression and sea level rise, while serving as essential nurseries that support the biodiversity in mangrove ecosystem. Mangrove restoration is frequently undertaken via tree planting without subsequent monitoring of the sapling survival. Besides plant regeneration, the recovery of other biotic communities may serve as an indicator of mangrove recovery and health. By using bioacoustic approach, this study aimed to assess the diel activity patterns of birds, examine the relationship between mangrove habitat variables and bird species, and evaluate acoustic niche partitioning among bird species in four different mangrove forests of varying ages with different types of habitat disturbance in Selangor, Malaysia. Five bioacoustic audio recorders were set up in each forest to collect data on bird vocalisations, and acoustic indices were derived to identify temporal patterns and variations in soundscapes. The study revealed that higher species richness was recorded using bioacoustic method compared to mist-netting. This study also indicated clear diel patterns in soundscapes. Almost all the measured acoustic indices exhibited similar temporal patterns with a peak at the beginning of dawn and dusk. Differences in soundscapes among the study sites were found to linked to variations in habitat structure and size of the mangrove forests. A significant positive correlation was found between mangrove habitat variables and bird species richness, highlighting the importance of certain habitat variables in supporting avian populations in such habitat. Additionally, the interaction among nectarivores, as a focal family revealed the presence of acoustic niche partitioning which highlights the need to understand the response of mangrove specialists and generalists towards the condition of the mangrove ecosystem. The findings emphasize the importance of preserving and restoring mangrove forests, incorporating diverse habitat structure and size in restoration programmes, and implementing well-managed restoration or replanting programmes that consider various aspects to enhance bird populations and promote mangrove biodiversity in the long run. Through bioacoustics approach, this study demonstrated the potential of using birds as indicators of mangrove health.

Text 121174.pdf Download (1MB) Official URL or Download Paper: http://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18548

Actions (login required)

View Item