Wet season bird species richness and diversity along urban-rural gradient in Morogoro municipality and surrounding areas, Tanzania

Abstract

This study examined the variation in diversity and distribution of avian species across an urban–rural gradient during the wet season in Morogoro municipality and its surroundings. A total of 2547 individuals comprising 86 species belonging to 11 orders and 37 families were recorded across urban-rural habitats. The highest (65) species richness was recorded in rural zone, followed by suburban zone (56) and Morogoro core urban zone, the lowest (29). Similarly, species diversity was highest in rural zone (H’= 3.107) and lowest in Morogoro core urban (H’= 2.021), suggesting that increasing urbanization is adversely impacting bird communities across the rural-urban stretch. No significant difference in species diversity was detected between rural and sub-urban zones, but relative abundance of birds differed between the zones. Further, diverse bird guilds were recorded varying across the urban-rural gradients indicating the area’s conservation importance. Increasing urban development severs more suitable habitats with dire consequences on the survival of disturbance-sensitive bird species. These results underpin the need for considering integrated avifaunal conservation strategies and are important for planning local avitourism activities and to protect remaining natural habitats in the municipality.

Key words: bird guilds; bird richness; species diversity; urban habitats;