IISc study in Arunachal Pradesh reveals how logging and climate change impact montane birds

In a study published in Global Ecology and Conservation, the team used mist netting and bird ringing data to understand how the composition of the mid-elevation Eastern Himalayan understorey bird community changed in primary (undisturbed) forests as well as in logged forests.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru have found that logging and climate change pose a threat to montane birds. They studied the effects of forest logging and climate change on bird communities in tropical mountains, by examining over 10 years of data.

In a study published in Global Ecology and Conservation, the team used mist netting and bird ringing data to understand how the composition of the mid-elevation Eastern Himalayan understorey bird community changed in primary (undisturbed) forests as well as in logged forests.

Tropical montane forests are unique ecosystems that can start at about 150-200 metre elevation, and reach up to 3,500 metre high up on mountains around the world. They are critical centres of biodiversity.

“In tropical mountains, each species has a particular niche where it is found. This restriction creates much more diversity in a small space,” said Ritobroto Chanda, former Project Associate at the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), IISc., and corresponding author of the study.

Forest loss and climate change are major threats to these ecosystems.

“Birds, and indeed much of the flora and fauna of tropical mountain ranges, are extremely temperature-sensitive, and are responding to global heating rapidly. Also, most of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity is concentrated in tropical mountains,” said Umesh Srinivasan, Assistant Professor at CES.

The team found that many bird species have started shifting to higher elevations due to rising temperatures.