Species-specific snag use and nesting ecology of cavity-nesting birds in managed plantations of Southern Punjab, Pakistan
Muhammad Talha Imtiaza b✉, Ihsan Qadirc, Kathryn E. Sievingd, Ghulam Yasinc, Syed Amir Manzoorc, Muhammad Farooq Azharc, Muhammad Zubairc
- aDepartment of Forestry and Range Management, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. talhabhai111@gmail.com
- bDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. talhabhai111@gmail.com
- cDepartment of Forestry and Range Management, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
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Abstract
Cavity-nesting birds play a vital role in forest ecosystems, yet their habitat preferences remain poorly understood in managed subtropical plantations. This study examines the ecological drivers of nest-site selection among cavity-nesting birds in southern Punjab, Pakistan, offering critical insights to inform biodiversity friendly forestry practices such as retaining snags and structural complexity within managed plantations. Across three managed plantations (Lal Suhanra, Chichawatni, Perowal) in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, we identified all cavity-bearing snags from randomly selected forest compartments and systematically monitored 962 snags (204 cavity-bearing, 106 occupied) through visual surveys and verified nesting activities, between 2021 and 2023, to record snag structural attributes, cavity characteristics, and nesting activity. Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant function analysis (DFA), and occupancy models, were used to identify key snag attributes and species-specific nesting preferences by cavity nesting bird species. PCA revealed three dominant ecological gradients: structural richness (PC1), decay status (PC2), and vertical positioning (PC3), explaining 78% of the total variance. DFA effectively differentiated between occupied and unoccupied cavities (82% classification accuracy), with cavity depth, snag diameter, and height as key predictors. Species-level DFA correctly classified grey-capped woodpecker (GCPW, 100%) and spotted owlet (SPOW 87%), indicating distinct nesting niches. Occupancy modeling showed the highest site use in Lal Suhanra (ψ̂ = 0.74 ± 0.05), while younger plantations showed significantly lower occupancy rates. Our findings highlight the critical role of snag structure, decay stage, and plantation maturity in shaping cavity-nesting bird assemblages and underscore the need for structural retention and diversified management in plantations.
TL;DRThe findings highlight the critical role of snag structure, decay stage, and plantation maturity in shaping cavity-nesting bird assemblages and underscore the need for structural retention and diversified management in plantations. (Semantic Scholar)