Season-wise Threat Assessment in Waterbirds Habitat, Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Sivasagar District, Assam

Season-wise Threat Assessment in Waterbirds Habitat, Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Sivasagar District, Assam

Author Monjeet Sonowal
Co-Author Tribeni Hazarika
DOI https://ww

Country : India
Subject : Zoology

Keywords : Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, waterbirds, biodiversity, seasonal threats, Assam, wetland conservation.

Abstract

Wetland ecosystems serve as critical habitats for migratory and resident waterbirds, but they face increasing threats from anthropogenic and natural stressors. Wetlands in Panidihing Bird Sanctuary in Sivasagar district, Assam, provide crucial ecosystem services as keystone habitats for diverse waterbird communities and are designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA). During the study, the area recorded 56 waterbird species, including migratory species, but they face escalating threats. The present study assessed seasonal variations in threats and their impacts on waterbird communities over three years (2021-2023). Data on waterbird diversity were collected using standardised field methods, while threat assessments were conducted at both protected and fringe sites. Diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener, Species Richness, Pielou’s Evenness) were analysed using MS Excel and SPSS, along with ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD, Chi-square tests, and correlation analyses. Results indicated that species richness peaked during winter (45.0 ± 1.0) and was lowest in the monsoon (15.3 ± 2.1), with significant seasonal variation (p < 0.001). Flooding (16 sites), drought (16 sites), and invasive aquatic weeds (15 sites) were dominant natural threats, while unplanned fishing (11 sites) and cattle grazing (10 sites) were prominent anthropogenic stressors. Seasonal threat scores negatively correlated with diversity and richness (ρ= -0.40) but positively with evenness (ρ=0.80). These findings demonstrate that seasonal threat dynamics play a key role in shaping avian communities in Panidihing. The study also highlights that wetland management in Panidihing Bird Sanctuary must prioritise minimised fishing disturbance, invasive species control, water-level management and participatory approaches with local communities, to ensure long-term conservation of waterbirds in the study area.

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