Bird Community of Andaman Islands with Emphasis on Human Associated and Introduced Birds

Abstract

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are very rich in bird diversity and hence have high importance in conservation planning. Both in species endemism and species diversity these islands are notable. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is also a significant place in India which is exposed to very high human mediated species introduction. These introduced species can have serious effects on the native biodiversity and it can be the agent for the breakdown of native species equilibrium. On the background of this context, this study was undertaken to examine the bird species composition of Andaman Islands especially on human influenced areas and the role of introduced birds among the avifauna of these Islands. The study was carried out in nine inhabited islands in the Andaman group and later these nine study sites were clubbed into five groups for easy analysis. The study emphasis on introduced birds and their impacts on native ecosystem especially on Islands. Both secondary and primary data collection methods are employed in the study. All the published information on distribution of birds in Andaman Islands were collated synthesized and analyzed to elucidate the characteristics of Andaman Bird fauna. Systematically 221 transect counts of birds from nine human inhabited islands which can be classified into 6 habitats were collected. These collected field observation data on birds were analyzed with special emphasis on the introduced birds.