The Open Ornithology Journal
2017, 10 : 31-41Published online 2017 March 31. DOI: 10.2174/1874453201710010031
Publisher ID: TOOENIJ-10-31
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Bird Survey of the Abobo-Etetak Hill (Yaounde, Cameroon) and a Glance on the Avifaunistic Diversity of this Hill (Abobo-Etetak)
* Address correspondence to this author at the Département de Biologie et Physiologie Animales, Université de Yaoundé I, BP 812 Yaoundé, Cameroun, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, succursale du Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada; Tel: +237694144294; E-mail: billyngue@yahoo.fr
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
We conducted a preliminary bird survey in the Abobo-Etetak hill (Yaounde, Cameroon).
Methods:
To carry out this survey, we used the mist-netting method and we captured birds over a period of six months. To study the distribution of this avifauna in their life environment, we performed several analyses to obtain various diversity indexes such as implemented in softwares SAS/STAT and PAST.
Results:
Three hundred and eleven individuals were captured belonging to 21 passerine and non-passerine families distributed into 39 genera and 51 species. We recorded new species for the area: Anthus brachyurus, Cinnyris reichenowi, Euplectes gierowii, Hirundo fuligula, Nicator vireo, Pogoniulus atroflavus and Pogoniulus subsulphureus, and Terpsiphone rufocinerea. Species documented were from the families Lybiidae, Motacillidae, Nectariniidae, Hirundinidae, Nicatoridae, Ploceidae and Monarchidae. Species from two new genera were recorded, Cinnyris (Sunbirds) and Terpsiphone (Monarchs). Estimated diversity index values show that the Abobo-Etetak hill exhibits high avifaunistic diversity.
Conclusion:
Our results found an absence of the supremacy of one species (H’=3.34) and the value of the Equitability index (J’=0.85) suggests an equal distribution of the individuals across species. With the obtained value of the index of Simpson diversity of 0.95, our result suggests high diversity within the Abobo-Etetak avifauna, which could be explained by luxuriant vegetation that is present all year round. Human activities have had an impact on the diversity of this avifauna with the presence of some genera sampled (Ploceus, Passer, Estrilda, Pycnonotus and Spermophaga) but the relic Centre Region of Cameroon which preserves its originality offers on the whole favourable conditions to birds.