This project presents a critical element of Aviculture Conservancy in the growth and procurement of sanctuaries on specific fertile land parcels across the world that are characterized with abundant avian societies. The study is centered on Belize, which constitutes of tropical rainforest and inhabited with an estimate of more than 350 birds and 220 trees. On the subject of the topographical significance of coral conservancy, it is among the most prominent barrier reef in the world (Meerman, 2004). This work will use McKinnon bird data spreadsheet that will help us to come up with the final site recommendations. The information derived from this spreadsheet and the vegetation data will help to bring together the magnitude of every species that are present in the four sites by carrying out surveys that will determine which location is best suited for bird conservation.
Notably, to provide a more precise scale of the species, we will also use the tropical bird data sets derived from Ecuadorian cloud forest and Madagascan littoral forest as well as the standard technique of points of counts. The information gathered by MacKinnon list data and Point counts depicted different arrangements of comparative abundance among the five dominance species. Thus, all the three methods reflected different outcomes hence limiting their value. As a consequence, we proposed a hybrid rapid valuation methodology that applies the strengths of the three approaches as well as compensating for their flaws.
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Subsequently, the study will constitute the collection, analysis and the synthesis of the field information with an assessment of the findings through professional interpretations of the research findings. Notably, the conclusion section of this work will support the land parcel that is chosen from the land procurement representing the Aviculture Conservancy in Belize (Meerman, 2004). It is crucial to record that the site to be preserved will be based on the existence of bird species, the population of species, occurrence and concentration of plant classes that are found in that site and topographical significance. Thus, the land parcel should reflect an abundant of species diversity since it will play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced and established ecosystem as well as enhancing species biodiversity in aviculture.
Methods
Due to the significant destruction of forests and increasing gaps in the understanding of bird species, different researchers have considered using a rapid evaluation method that enhances data collection. Nonetheless, a section of auditory-visual timely evaluations applies standard methods for surveying birds which involves techniques such as point counts and MacKinnon list. These techniques generate quantifiable information with well-developed sampling procedures. As a consequence, points count remain extensively applied surveying technique for birds.
The approach used entailed a quantitative method of analyzing auditory-visual survey information that addresses different efforts, weather and observer skills. In this technique, observers are grouped into succeeding lists of 10 species which were documented on the list. Subsequently, a species accretion curve is produced from the tallying or accumulating species that were not detailed on any preliminary list to the overall bird communities, which is now eventually intrigued as the function of list number. On the other hand, it is also crucial to record the observations that are not positively known during the first survey. In that, this approach compares species richness to the sum of study as opposed to time, the location or walking speed. Therefore, a point of count and MacKinnon list enhances the comparison of information collected by different observers or under different field circumstances.
Point counts have been tried in Neotropical systems, and it was confirmed that 5-10 minimum counts are vital in identifying a significant number of species involving the threatened and endemic species. For that reason, bird identification was conducted through point count while still recording in the MacKinnon list technique. This implies that the challenge linked with biases caused by differences among observers was avoided due to the use of both methods respectively. As a consequence, both techniques were able to detect several bird species in a short time hence making them ideal for rapid assessment programs.
Study Sites
Predetermined study sections are found around a fifteen-mile diameter circle, primarily constituted along the four parcels. Subsequently, the four land parcels or sites entails Cockscomb Basin, Punta Gorda, Belmopan and Gallon Jug. Cockscomb Basin was depicted to be the second largest based on the population of birds which has nine distinct land uses. It is located between the Jaguar Reserve Nature Center and the Silk Grass Forest Reserve thus developing a connection with the conservation areas. It has a geographical coordinate of 16.797° N, 88.379° W (Meerman, 2004). Punta Gorda is located on the Southern side of Belize in Caribbean coast. It has coastal wetlands and several bird species. Its geographical coordinates are 16.0989° N, 88.8095° W. Gallon Jug. On the other hand, is located in Orange Walk, Belize with geographical coordinates of 17° 33' 0" North, 89° 2' 0" W. it is characterized with diverse habitats of more than two hundred species and a tropical forest. Finally, Belmopan is the urban center of Belize with the geographical coordinates of 17°15’N 88°45’W. It has wet coastal terrain, flat, low mountains with a larger population in the north and east.
Data Collection
The vegetation analysis enhanced the interpretation of land use and elements that are likely to influence the dominance and equitability. In that, this approach provided an overview of the regional multiplicity of all the four sites along with the evaluation of the parcel selected for purchase. This was attained from the GIS datasets for Belize which are created by Jan Meerman and have been confirmed for geospatial exactitude and are updated continuously. They entail data on watersheds, protected areas, and ecosystems biological corridors among others.
Data Analysis
The predetermined data collection methods encompassed an extensive analysis using the Mackinnon data collection, vegetation, and point count. The vegetation analysis was represented through the use of pie charts for all the four regions. Each segment of the pie is identified with a number that reflects the estimated area in hectares and a percentage of the entire area. MacKinnon data collection method was analyzed through the use of the Excel to graph the data collected. Through the use of predetermined bird data, we were able to group the species into the groups of more than ten individuals based on which site could be granted the largest benefit of conservation. Subsequently, the point of Count method was represented through the calculation of values by use of the PAST software deriving its information from the information given in the workbook bird_data.axl and worksheets from the four sites (15-mile diameter circles).
References
Meerman, J. C. (2004). Biodiversity in Belize - Ecosystems Map. Retrieved from http://biological-diversity.info/Ecosystems.htm .
O'Dea, N., Watson, J. M., & Whittaker, R. J. (2004). Rapid assessment in conservation research: a critique of avifaunal assessment techniques illustrated by Ecuadorian and Madagascan case study data. Diversity & Distributions , 10 (1), 55-63. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2004.00050.x.
