Sains Malaysiana 46(3)(2017): 365–372

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4603-02

The Effects of Disturbance on the Abundance and Foraging Behaviour of Shorebirds and Waterbirds in the Tropical Mudflat Areas

(Kesan Gangguan Terhadap Kelimpahan dan Tabiat Pemakanan Burung Pesisir Pantai

dan Burung Air di Kawasan Berlumpur Tropika)

ROSLI RAMLI¹* & NOR ATIQAH NORAZLIMI^1,2

¹Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 3 November 2015/Accepted: 9 August 2016

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted in the mudflats of Jeram and Remis Beaches, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia from November 2013 until July 2014 to determine the effects of disturbance on shorebird and waterbird abundance and foraging behavior. Direct observation was used in this study. Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference in abundance of bird in Jeram and Remis Beaches (t=2.96, p=0.05). A significant difference were detected between the sampling plots in Jeram Beach (S=16.67, p<0.001) and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test shows a significant difference between the sampling plots in Remis Beach (W=78, p=0.003). Spearman’s rank correlation shows significant association between the abundance of bird with the abundance of humans, dogs and vehicles (p<0.05) in both Jeram and Remis Beaches. Humans contribute to a higher percentage in disruptions towards the species studied (47.5%), followed by dogs (32.1%) and vehicles (20.4%). Thirty-six percent of birds stopped feeding and flew away upon disruption, 23% stopped feeding and run away, 22% stopped feeding but stay alert and 19% continue feeding (habituated). Analysis on the responses of birds toward the disturbance show significant difference between species (χ² = 98.77, p<0.05). This study concluded that anthropogenic disturbance caused a major impact on shorebird and waterbird abundance and influenced their foraging behavior. Response of bird towards disturbance was varied according to the species and types of disturbance. By understanding how the bird species response toward disturbance, the conservation efforts can be implemented more effectively in the future.

Keywords: Disturbance; habituation; intertidal mudflats; shorebirds; waterbirds

ABSTRAK

Suatu kajian telah dijalankan di kawasan berlumpur di Pantai Jeram dan Pantai Remis, Selangor, Semenanjung Malaysia dari November 2013 sehingga Julai 2014 bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti kesan gangguan terhadap kelimpahan dan tabiat pemakanan burung pesisir pantai dan burung air. Teknik pemerhatian secara langsung telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Ujian ‘Mann-Whitney’ menunjukkan tiada perbezaan ketara dalam kelimpahan burung di Pantai Jeram dan Pantai Remis (t=2.96, p=0.05). Perbezaan ketara telah dikesan di antara plot-plot pensampelan di Pantai Jeram (S=16.67, p<0.001) dan Ujian ‘Wilcoxon Signed Rank’ menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan ketara di antara plot-plot persampelan di Pantai Remis (W=78, p=0.003). Kolerasi ‘Spearman Rank’ menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara kelimpahan burung dengan kelimpahan manusia, anjing dan kenderaan (p<0.05) di Pantai Jeram dan Pantai Remis. Manusia menyumbang kepada peratusan gangguan tertinggi terhadap spesies yang dikaji (47.5%), diikuti oleh anjing (32.1%) dan kenderaan (20.4%). Tiga puluh enam peratus burung berhenti makan dan terbang sejurus gangguan berlaku, 23% berhenti makan dan lari, 22% berhenti makan tetapi berwaspada dan 19% tidak berhenti makan (habituasi). Perbezaan ketara telah ditunjukkan di antara spesies-spesies burung melalui maklum balas ke atas gangguan (χ2 = 98.77, p<0.05). Kajian ini menyimpulkan bahawa kelimpahan dan tabiat pemakanan burung pesisir pantai dan burung air terjejas oleh gangguan antropogenik. Tindak balas burung terhadap gangguan berbeza mengikut spesies dan jenis gangguan. Dengan memahami bagaimana spesies burung bertindak balas terhadap gangguan, usaha pemuliharaan dapat dijalankan dengan lebih berkesan pada masa hadapan.

Kata kunci: Burung air; burung pesisir pantai; gangguan; habituasi; lumpur pasang surut

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*Corresponding author; email: rosliramli@um.edu.my