DIVERSITY AND ECOLOGY OF AVIFAUNA IN SOME SELECTED LAKES OF TUMAKURU CITY, KARNATAKA, INDIA.

A study of avifauna was conducted for a period of four months i.e., January 2018 to April 2018, of some selected lakes of Tumakuru city, Karnataka, India. The aim of present study was to document the diversity and ecological status of avifauna of these selected lakes. During the study period, 47 species of wetland birds belonging to different orders and families were observed and recorded. These three lakes have shown variation in terms of diversity, occurrence, richness and evenness. The highest diversity was recorded from Amanikere lake while as low diversity from Melekote lake. Human disturbance and colonization of non-hydrophytes was observed as a major factor in avifaunal distribution. The present study has shown the occurrence of 47 species, but most of the species were common among three selected lakes which made about 56% as common, 5% as rare, abundant and occasional species with 39%, respectively. Out of 47 bird species, 12 species were carnivorous, 12 insectivorous, 12 piscivorous, 6 omnivorous and 5 herbivorous. Three globally threatened species were recorded, such as White necked stork (Ciconia episcopus), Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephalo) and Steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis), which are listed in the Vulnerable, near Threatened category and Endangered species, respectively (IUCN, 2015). Hence, the study shows that these lakes are the habitat for globally threatened bird species and that appropriate conservation measures should be taken to save this avifaunal diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]