Assessing The Diversity And Density Of Birds At Pine Forest In Tam Dao National Park

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

VIETNAM NATIONAL FORESTRY UNIVERSITY

STUDENT THESIS

Title

ASSESSING THE DIVERSITY AND DENSITY OF BIRDS AT PINE

FOREST IN TAM DAO NATIONAL PARK

Major: Natural Resources Management

Code: D850101

Faculty: Forest Resources and Environmental Management

Student: Le Thi Hoa Student ID: 1253090010

Class: K57 Natural Resources Management Course: 2012 - 2016

Advanced Education Program

Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Tien Thinh

HaNoi,November/2016

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This thesis was impossible without the support of various professors at Forestry

University and Colorado State University.

I am grateful to my advisor Assoc. Professor Vu Tien Thinh for giving me a

constant support and enthusiasm guidance during the time of research and writing of this

thesis.

Thanks also go to Professor MacDonald for his support towards my thesis.

Finally, I would like to thank staffs in Tam Dao National Park and local people

who provide useful information and kind support.

Ha Noi, November 2016

ABSTRACT

The density and diversity of wild animal especially bird species always change, it

is necessary to assess the number and density of these species. Wildlife density estimation

is an important field that useful for managing and conserving biodiversity. However, there

is not much research on wildlife density at current time. In field survey, not all individuals

are detected, especially the one far from transect. Therefore detection probability should be

concerned before a survey is conducted. In this study, density of bird species at pine forest

in Tam Dao national park was estimated using DISTANCE program. The survey was

conducted at pine forest in Tam Dao National Park (TDNP) from July 21 to August, 2016.

During the survey 16 species belong to 8 families with 954 groups were detected. With the

density of 1.59 birds/ha, Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster) is the most

dominant species comparing with three remaining species. The density of Red-whiskered

bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), Red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Rufous-backed shrike

(Lanius schach) respectively are 0.278, 0.495 and 0.22 birds/ha. The detection probability

and number of bird groups which are detected by observation decrease with the increase of

distance, but in some case this trend is not satisfied. By density comparison between

distances sampling and traditional methods, distance sampling method which use detecting

probability indicate its higher accuracy result. Therefore adjusting the density by using the

detection probability is an effective method in wildlife survey and monitoring.