A Bird Community Survey of Chinese Fir, Masson Pine and Eucalyptus Plantations in South China- A Case Study

Transect surveys were conducted in Chinese fir, Masson pine and eucalyptus plantations near Liuzhou, Guangxi in south China to determine bird species richness and abundance in the different forest types. The numbers of bird species seen or heard during this survey were recorded. Data was also collected from the surveyed forests to determine the canopy profiles of these forests. A total of 529 individuals representing 30 different species were recorded during this study. Based on Shannon's diversity index, Masson pine forests were significantly more diverse in bird species (2.1590) than Chinese fir (1.7850) or eucalyptus forests (1.6387). The distribution of bird species, or evenness, among all forests was similar as no one single species dominated any one forest. On average, significantly more bird species were observed in Masson pine forests compared to eucalyptus and Chinese fir forests. When bird species were grouped by dietary guild, there were no significant differences between forest types for carnivores, frugivores, and omnivores. However, significantly more granivores and insectivores were observed in Chinese fir and Mason pine forests. Forest canopy profiles revealed that the canopy profile of Chinese fir was more narrow compared to the more elongated profiles of Masson pine and eucalyptus. The fact that more species and individuals were discovered in the Masson pine and eucalyptus forests may be a result of bird preferences for shelter in the upper levels of vegetation because taller structures offer a larger area of refuge. While plantations may not provide the same amount and type of diversity that native forests provide, they still have value in providing a level of diversity that might otherwise be absent in other land use situations.