The influence of vegetation structure on bird species richness and diversity in patchily distributed woodlands of Karkas Protected Area, Isfahan Province

ABSTRACT:

Both vertical and horizontal vegetation structure determine habitat components important for woodland birds. We studied the impact of vegetation structure on bird species richness and diversity in a system of patchily distributed woodlands/cultivated lands oases in semi-arid steppes of central Iran. Line transects (totally 13.85 km) were used to assess bird species richness and diversity in each of the studied woodland patches (n = 12). Vegetation composition and structure were quantified in systematically located quadrates along the transects. Species richness and species diversity of birds were proved to be related to vegetation structure and diversity of woody plant species using regression analyses. Results showed that bird species richness increases with diversity of both vegetation strata and woody plant species. The results have implications for conservation of birds and other vertebrate taxa in woodland oases. Conversion of traditional multicultural woodlands to a system of monoculture patches may have profound adverse effects on avifauna diversity of the desert oases.