Characteristics of bird niches in a small Indian city: effect of migratory status, season, and environment variables

• DOI: 10.1093/jue/juae018
• Publication Date: 2024-09-14T08:03:16Z
• Authors: Kanishka Mehta; Vijay Kumar Koli; Swati Kittur; K S Gopi Sundar
• Keywords: Shrubland

Abstract Small tropical and sub-tropical cities frequently retain considerable diverse green spaces. Such can house bird assemblages but these species face conditions varying both spatially (habitats human activity spread out unequally) temporally (influx of migratory birds, seasonally weather). How do urban birds cope with such conditions? More specifically, vary from resident ones in their requirements, how deal variations To address questions, we used an ordination technique, the Outlying Mean Index (OMI), to estimate niche characteristics (OMI, tolerance, residual tolerance) 74 tourism-dominated Udaipur city, India, across three seasons during 2019–20 using 16 variables that incorporated presence, land use trees. OMIs indicated high tolerance suggesting measured were inadequate fully characterize niches. Contrary predictions, grouped by feeding guilds had similar metrics within seasons. Also contrary more generalized niches relative species. Bird most influenced trees, effects due other natural habitats (open areas, scrublands, wetlands) weaker, human-related (cattle, built-up area, people, vehicles) weakest influence. Seasonal computed for 41 suggested individual coped changing differently. Conservation small will require preservation city-wide habitat diversity alongside restricting urbanization.