Open AccessIdentifying the Birds Diversity Hot Spots in Teeb Protected Area South-eastern Iraq by Using Kernel Density Estimation
Author(s) -
Thaer Kareem Hassan,
Widad Fadhullah,
Salwan Ali Abed,
Mudhafar A. Salim,
Kudhur A. Al-Kenani,
Saif Salih Mahdi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/790/1/012084
Subject(s) - geography , habitat , species richness , biodiversity , ecology , fauna , protected area , kernel density estimation , biodiversity hotspot , marsh , species diversity , wetland , biology , archaeology , statistics , mathematics , estimator
The area of Teeb and the surrounding areas located at Southeastern Iraq is well known of its ecosystem diversity that includes series of heights and cliffs, shrubby and bushy plains, flat alluvial areas, seasonal marshes and waterbodies; in addition to two large seasonal rivers: Teeb and Dweireej. Such a rich topographical diversity has created the richness in plant diversity and subsequently fauna diversity. Nevertheless, no report was conducted on Teeb area particularly on the birds diversity and its associated hot spots analysis. The objectives of this study are to determine the bird count observed in Teeb surveyed area and to estimate the avifauna habitat selection using Kernel Density Estimation.. It The study has been visited in various occasions during 2016-2020 where seven sampling sites were surveyed regularly in different seasons targeting the birds diversity and their habitats. The fieldwork targeted both: aquatic and terrestrial species, and general description for their habitats over the seven sampling sites. Kernel Density Estimation Modelling in ArcGIS was used to determine important hotspot for birds in Teeb protected area. Geostatistical analysis was also carried out using hot spot (Gi*de Getis-Ord) analysis and Neareast Neighbour analysis. One hundred and forty-nine bird species were recorded during the current study. The main goal of the current work, besides presenting the results of the fieldwork, is to demonstrate the importance of the area as a priority for conservation on the national level, and addressing conservation issues as a tool for treating the threats that threaten the Biodiversity in general and birds in particular in this key biodiversity area in Iraq. Highlighting the birds hotspots in Teeb would assist in addressing the management effort property. demonstrating the importance of the area as a priority for conservation on the national level, and addressing set of recommendations as a tool for treating the threats that threaten the biodiversity in general and birds in particular in this key biodiversity area in Iraq.