Basima Alcheikh ⁽¹⁾ and Maher Dayyoub*⁽²⁾

(1). Forestry and Ecology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(2). Forestry Department, Directorate of Agriculture and agrarian reform, Fronloq Protected Area, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Maher Dayyoub. Email: maher.lat@gmail.com)

Received: 14/04/2018                                Accepted: 04/08/2018

Abstract

The research was carried out at Fronloq Protected Area in the northwestern part of Syria in Latakia, which has an area of ​​5390 ha, to study the relationship between the characteristics of the plant and the diversity of the birds. The point-counts method was used in the survey of birds. Thirty-two samples were identified covering the whole surface of the protected area as follows: 22 samples in the pine habitats, 4 samples in the oak habitats, 3 samples in mixed habitats, 3 samples in burned habitats. Several indicators were used to measure biodiversity, including qualitative richness, Shannon coefficient. Sixty-seven species of birds were recorded at the Fronloq Protected Area. The raptors accounted for 16.41% of all species. Parus ater and Troglodytes troglodytes were the most widely spread species in the reserve, while Fringilla coelebs were the most abundant. 24 species were reproduced in the reserve, including Parus ater, Pernis apivorus and Acipiter nisus. The results showed that the richness and abundance of birds in the oak habitat were significant more than the pine habitat and the burned habitat, while no significant differences were observed in the mixed forest. The richness of the birds was also positively correlated with the vegetation richness and the total vegetation coverage. The study found a positive effect of the vegetation richness of the shrub layer on the variety of birds in the reserve. The results also showed sensitivity of the birds to the disturbance caused by fire. The study recommended that data on the species living in the reserve should be completed before submitting any proposals.

Keywords: Birds, Biodiversity, Plants characteristics, Fronloq Protected Area.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF