| dc.description.abstract | Mangrove forest is one of the important ecosystems that support the lives of many wildlife species including birds. Birds use mangrove forests as the place for searching food, mating and resting. Nowadays, the condition of mangrove forest in East Aceh is threatened by human activities, such as logging and clearing of land to be used as fishponds, and this consequently makes habitats for birds are getting smaller. On the other side, mangrove forest in East Aceh was estimated to have high diversity of birds, including several protected species. This research was important to provide data on habitat potentials and the diversity of birds in East Aceh. The aims of the study were to measure bird diversity and to identify mangrove potentials as a habitat for bird. It is also expected that the results of this study can be used as a consideration for an ecologically-sound development in the area. The study was conducted in four zones (3 mangroves and 1 fish pond) for 1 months (from June to July 2008). Vegetation analysis using transects was conducted to assess the habitat condition, whilst MacKinnon species list and Point Count methods were applied to collect data on bird diversity and abundance. Twenty-three species of mangroves were identified in the study area. MacKinnon Species List recorded 43 bird species consisted of 23 families. Using point count, 23 birds species were recorded (consisted of 17 families). The highest diversity was found in zone III (H’=2.60), whilst the the lowest was found in zone I (H’=1.44). It was suggested that the high bird diversity in zone III was influenced by the more diverse habitat components available in that zone compare to those in other zones. . The most abundant species in the entire study area was olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis). This was caused by the availability of many mangrove flowers in the zone. Most birds used vegetation at the heights of around 3-5 meters above the ground The types of disturbance on birds in the area could be categorized into direct and indirect disturbance. Direct disturbance included egg poaching and hunting while indirect disturbance included mangrove clearing for fish pond and wood harvesting. | id |
