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Conserving the endemic birds on the Comoro Islands, III: bird diversity and habitat selection on Ngazidja

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2010

Jan Stevens
Affiliation:
Royal Museum for Central-Africa, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
Michel Louette
Affiliation:
Royal Museum for Central-Africa, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
Luc Bijnens
Affiliation:
Royal Museum for Central-Africa, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium
Marc Herremans
Affiliation:
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Ornithology Section), P. O. Box 131, Gaborone, Botswana
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Summary

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Bird species diversity is investigated in different habitat types on Ngazidja (Grand Comoro), Comoro Islands. Total bird diversity does not differ significantly among different forest types, but the proportion of endemic species, endemic subspecies and non-endemic species does. Both intact mature forests and pioneer forests on the slopes of Mount Karthala are important for the preservation of bird endemism. The forests on La Grille are poor in endemic species, but their bird species diversity is high thanks to non-endemics. Planting of Eucalyptus is useless for endemic birds. Humblotia flavirostris, Turdus bewsheri and Nesillas brevicaudata avoid logged forests, but Alectroenas sganzini is numerous in them. Foudia eminentissima is common in forests with bananas planted in the undergrowth.

La diversité en espèces d'oiseaux est étudiée dans différents habitats à Ngazidja (Grande Comore), lies Comores. La diversité totale ne varie pas d'une manière significative parmi les différents types de forêt, mais la fraction due aux especès endémiques, aux sous-espèces endémiques et aux espèces non-endémiques varie. Aussi bien les forêts intactes et matures et les forêts jeunes sur lave sont importantes pour la préservation d'oiseaux endémiques sur les flancs du Mont Karthala. Les forêts à La Grille sont pauvres en oiseaux endémiques, mais leur diversité est grande, grace aux espèces non-endémiques. Les plantations d'Eucalyptus n'ont pas de valeur pour les oiseaux endémiques. Humblotia flavirostris, Turdus bewsheri et Nesillas brevicaudata évitent les forêts exploitées pour le bois, mais Alectroenas sganzini y est nombreux. Foudia eminentissima est commun dans les forêts plantées de bananiers sous les arbres.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Birdlife International 1995

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