THE RIPARIAN BIRD COMMUNITY IN GAMBUNG BLOCK WATERSHED AREA, GUNUNG TILU NATURE RESERVE, BANDUNG REGENCY

• Main Author: Febriyanto
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/72128
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Gunung Tilu Nature Reserve (CAGT) Resort Gambung Conservation Area in Bandung Regency, West Java, has abundant rivers and water sources that support the formation of riparian ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity. In this area, there are various types of land use and roads that cut through the riparian section of the nature reserve which threatens the wild animals, including birds. In the context of monitoring conservation areas, it is necessary to have up-to-date data and information on bird species communities in areas that are vulnerable to disturbance. This study aims to determine the level of species diversity and differences in bird community structure in various types of land use along the riparian zone of the Gambung region, as well as to determine the effect of changes in the structure and diversity of tree vegetation in the riparian zone on the level of bird diversity. Bird data collection was carried out for each type of land use along the CAGT Gambung riparian area using the point count method. Retrieval of vegetation data was carried out on trees with DBH> 20 cm in plots measuring 40 x 20 meters which were then depicted in a tree profile diagram to determine the diversity and area of canopy cover for each type of land cover. The results showed that natural forest areas had the highest number of trees (43 individuals), the thickest canopy cover (72.25%), and the highest vegetation diversity index (2.71) followed by secondary forests, tea plantations, and areas close to residential areas which were the most open area. In all types of land cover, 1201 birds were observed from 63 species and 33 families. Another interesting result in this research is that the secondary forest, which is a transitional area, has the highest species richness (41 species), the highest level of diversity (3.41), the lowest dominance (0.039), and the highest evenness (0.91) compared to other land cover types, although the canopy and tree vegetation diversity levels in the secondary forest are not as thick and large as in the natural forest. Microclimatic factors and vegetation structure in the secondary forest are suitable for bird activity and can create good habitat niches for two types of birds, namely the interior bird type and the exterior bird type in the nature reserve. Changes in the structure, composition, and level of vegetation diversities showed a weak correlation with the level of bird diversities (r = 0,485). However, using the ordinate method, different results were obtained where birds tended to choose areas with a high level of vegetation diversity and thick canopy cover. This result can be related to the need for food and shelter for birds.