DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7b6
title: Diversity and factors shaping bird species abundance in a hilly region of Makawanpur district, Nepal

description: Birds play a major role in seed dispersal through pollination, nutrient
 cycle, and pest control. Understanding contributing factors (both
 ecological and anthropogenic), and their influence on the diversity of
 birds is crucial to sustain ecosystem balance and prosperity. We
 investigated the diversity and associated factors of bird species in a
 hilly region of Makawanpur district, Nepal. The field survey was conducted
 throughout the winter season (December-February 2021) using the point
 count method (radius=30 m). Within the study area, we established 22
 sampling plots between the elevations of 431 m above sea level to 2503 m
 asl. We used generalized linear model to investigate the role of different
 factors in shaping the species richness pattern. A total of 1860
 independent observations of 172 bird species were made during the study
 where the majority of the species were common and belonged to order
 Passeriformes. We observed a decrease in bird diversity with increase in
 elevation. The quantity of invasive plant species (IAPS) cover,
 disturbance and the slope of the area substantially impacted the diversity
 of bird species. Research on diversified bird species and their
 associations with many factors require a more detailed and long-term
 survey to investigate more species as well as other patterns and processes
 throughout the elevational gradient.
description: We implemented point count survey using direct observation method
 in the morning (7:00am – 11:30am) and in the evening (3:00pm – 5:00pm) at
 every 100 meters of elevation (Bibby et al., 2000; Dieni & Jones,
 2002; Sarkar et al., 2009). The lowest elevational limit for the survey
 was Rapti riverbank near Hetauda city (431 m asl (above sea level)) while
 the highest elevational limit Simbhanjyang at 2503 m asl. Bird
 observations and sounds within a 30-meter radius were recorded from a
 fixed position in the center (Bötsch et al., 2018).
description: Reference Information Provenance for this README * File name:
 README_Birds.md * Authors: Hari Sharan Giri * Other contributors: Bishnu
 Prasad Bhattarai, Sandeep Regmi * Date created: 2023-11-09 * Date
 modified: 2023-11-09 Dataset Version and Release History * Current
 Version: * Number: 1.0.0 * Date: 2023-11-09 * Dataset identifier: *
 Summary of changes: n/a Dataset Attribution and Usage * Dataset Title:
 Diversity and factors shaping bird species abundance in the hilly region
 of Makawanpur district, Nepal * Dataset Contributors: * Creators: Hari
 Sharan Giri, Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, Sandeep Regmi * License: This work
 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
 license. Contact Information * Name: Hari Sharan Giri * Affiliations:
 Central Department of Zoology, Institute of Science and Technology,
 Tribhuvan University, Nepal * Email: *
 Address: e-mail preferred Funding sources: None Dates and Locations *
 Dates of data collection: Field data collected in the winter season of
 2021-2022 * Geographic locations of data collection: Makwanpur district,
 Nepal * Methods * Data Collection: see manuscript for details File/Folder
 Details * Description: a comma-delimited file containing information about
 bird species richness and abundance in Makwanpur district, Nepal. The file
 is prepared for analysis in the R program but can be reformated for the
 use of other statistical software. * Format(s): .csv * Data name:
 "Birds.csv" * Data structure: 23rows*18columns This dataset
 contains information about bird species along elevation in Makwanpur
 district, Nepal. The dataset contains information on 23 elevational sites
 along with the values of different variables for each survey point. The
 dataset can be analyzed using generalized linear modelling in any
 statistical software. Variables: * Elevation: Elevation of survey plots (m
 asl). * sp_richness: Species richness of birds at each survey point. *
 Canopy cover: Canopy cover of each survey point (%). * Fruiting tree:
 Number of fruiting trees at each survey point. * Abundance: Overall
 abundance of birds at each survey point. * IAPS cover: Invasive species
 cover in percentage at each survey point. * Distance_water: Distance to
 the nearest water body from each survey point (in meter). * Distance_road:
 Distance to road body from each survey point (in meter). *
 distance_Agland: Distance to nearest agricultural land from each survey
 point (in meter). * Distance_village: Distance to nearest village from
 each each survey point (in meter). * Slope: Slope of each survey point. *
 Precipitation: Average annual precipitation (mm) of each survey point. *
 Temp: Average annual temperature (in celsius) of each survey point. *
 Carnivore abundance: Abundance of carnivore species at each survey point.
 * Herbivore abundance: Abundance of herbivore species at each survey
 point. * Omnivore abundance: Abundance of omnivore species at each survey
 point. * Insectivore abundance: Abundance of insectivore species at each
 survey point. * Habitat type: Habitat type of each survey point.
 Code/Software This dataset can be analyzed using generalized linear
 modeling in R program.