Assessment of Seasonal Variations in Avifaunal Diversity at Rabindra Sarobar Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

• Authors: Anish Ganguly
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This study investigates the seasonal and annual variations in the avifaunal diversity at Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata, over a period spanning from March 2015 to December 2017. Data from three different months - March, August, and December - are analyzed to assess the species richness, abundance, and community structure. The results indicate significant seasonal variations, with March showing the highest species richness (845 species), followed by December (596 species), and the lowest in August (316 species). Annual comparisons highlight a general decline in total species numbers, from 354 in 2015 to 229 in 2017, likely due to factors such as habitat degradation and climate variability. The study also observes a stable presence of urban-adapted species like the House Crow and Indian Cormorant, while migratory species such as the Indian Spotted Eagle were absent in subsequent years. Seasonal fluctuations in avian diversity, driven by habitat conditions, food availability, and weather patterns, were noted, with the monsoon months showing lower diversity due to adverse conditions. The findings underscore the need for continued habitat preservation and the establishment of monitoring programs to ensure sustainable bird populations in urban wetlands. This study highlights the complex dynamics of urban bird communities and the importance of understanding these patterns for effective conservation and management.

Keywords

EN

Avifauna; Behaviour; Rabindra Sarobar Lake; Season. Habitant; Species

Discipline

• ZOOLOGY: ZOOLOGY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2025
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 75-93

Contributors

author

Anish Ganguly

• Department of Environmental Science, Asutosh College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

References

• [1] Balakrishna, M., Bhat, H.R. and Rajashekhar, K.P., (2022). Avifaunal diversity in relation to wetland habitat quality in urban landscapes of Karnataka, India. Urban Ecosystems, 25(3), 621-634
• [2] Bibby, C.J., Burgess, N.D. and Hill, D.A., (2000). Bird Census Techniques. 2nd ed. London: Academic Press.
• [3] Chakraborty, A. and Das, S., (2018). Vegetation structure and ecological significance of Rabindra Sarobar Lake, Kolkata. Journal of Environmental Biology, 39(5), 765-772
• [4] Godbole, A. and Saraf, S., (2019). Urban lakes as biodiversity hotspots: A case study from Pune city, India. Ecology, Environment and Conservation, 25(1), 241-247
• [5] Jaganmohan, M., Vailshery, L.S., Gopal, D. and Nagendra, H., (2012). Plant and bird diversity in urban green spaces in Bangalore, India. Urban Ecosystems, 15(4), 911-925
• [6] Kumar, P. and Gupta, A., (2016). Impact of water quality on avifauna diversity in wetlands of Delhi, India. International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 6(1), 89-98
• [7] Manjula, R., Venkataramana, G.V. and Rao, K.N., (2015). Seasonal variation of bird diversity in Jakkur lake, Bengaluru. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 2(6), 41-46
• [8] Roy, A., Dey, S. and Chatterjee, A., (2020). Avifaunal assemblages in Rabindra Sarobar Lake, Kolkata: Influence of seasonal dynamics. Journal of Wetland Ecology, 38(2), 112-121
• [9] Sundar, K.S.G. and Subramanya, S., (2010). Birds and wetlands of south Asia: Ecology and conservation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 80(3), 387-399
• [10] Sutherland, W.J., (2006). Ecological Census Techniques: A Handbook. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Document Type: article