Assessing Bird Diversity by Remote Sensing in Kibale National Park, Uganda : Can the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) predict bird diversity? | Bedömning av fågeldiversitet med fjärranalys i Kibale Nationalpark, Uganda : Kan Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) förutspå fågeldiversitet?
2025
Nilzon, Isac
Following deforestation and climate change, active restoration has become a tool for promoting biodiversity and carbon storage. This study explores the use of the remotely sensed Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) when assessing bird diversity in Kibale National Park, Uganda. A bird inventory was executed within Kibale in 2013 following active forest restoration gradients and primary forest control sites. By extracting EVI averages seasonally (Sep-Oct 2013) and annually using satellite imagery, it was tested whether EVI has the capacity to predict bird diversity measured as taxa richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index. Moreover, how EVI and bird diversity differ with forest age. EVI was highest in older restored forest (13-18 years of age), following a greening phase, and the lowest in primary forest due to epiphytal growth on the leaves, damage and other age-related factors. Taxa richness and Shannon-Wiener index were significantly lower in younger forest (2-9 years) than in older and primary forest, suggesting that bird diversity is restored after 13-18 years. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between forest age and EVI and a positive correlation between annual and seasonal EVI. The regression models performed with taxa richness and Shannon-Wiener index vs. EVI were all insignificant due to non-linear relationships. The taxa richness vs. forest age regression model was significant but with an excessively low R-squared value, possibly due to clustered data points and data absence spanning between 18-100 years. By further expanding the study, bird diversity could be successfully predicted using more precise habitat-specific vegetation and diversity indices.
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