Comparison of aquatic avifauna of two important wetlands of central Gujarat Pariej (Kheda District) and Kanewal (Anand District), India

摘要

The present study was carried out to reveal waterbird species composition and the habitat characteristic of the two important fresh water wetlands of Gujarat i.e. Pariej and Kanewal. In Pariej and Kanewal wetlands, a total of 52 and 40 waterbird species were recorded respectively. The waterbird diversity was represented by ducks, geese, large waders, small waders (shorebirds), moorhens etc. From the viewpoint of family-wise species richness Anatidae family was predominant in both the wetlands, but in Pariej wetland, Rallidae and Scolopacidae families were also the dominant. Relative abundance of duck species like Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Common Pochard, Common Teal and Eurasian Wigeon was higher in Pariej, whereas that of Northern Pintail and Garganey was higher in Kanewal. As far as shorebirds are concerned, relative abundance of Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Common Redshank was higher in Pariej, whereas that of Ruff, Common Snipe and Little Stint was higher in Kanewal. The similarity index for the two wetlands indicated that there was good (i.e., 70%) similarity in waterbird species composition of the two wetlands and it might be due to proximity of the two wetlands with several similarities of at the landscape level.