Avian Diversity of Wetlands in and Around Jodhpur, Western Rajasthan - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 296

UMED BHAWAN POND

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

0

Distance =1-beta diversity

Fig. 17.4 Dendrogram showing similarity in species sharing of different study wetland

therefore, in certain ponds like Gudha Barli and
Khejerli, the diversity of wades was higher as
compared to other wetlands. The size and depth
of water bodies are also important factors for
avian diversity. The shallow water supports cer-
tain waders and dwindling ducks, whereas the
deep water bodies support deep diving birds like
darters and cormorants and ish-eating-surface
birds like pelicans. The condition of wetland
water is also an important factor for the distribu-
tion of certain species like stilts, pied avocet, ibis,
storks, and lamingoes. The distribution of spe-
cies like lamingoes and pied avocet is salinity
dependent; they were recorded more from
slightly saline water.
Similarlyblack-wingedstiltnumberisdirectly
proportional to the degree of sewerage mixture.
Soor Sagar,Akheraj, and Umed Bhawan ponds
have increased number of this species and were
found polluted as well. Although there is a large
difference in the position and size of Kaylana
LakeandSoorSagarpond,yettheywerefound
to share most species in common; the cluster of

similar ponds and lake is also nearby each other.
Balsamand Lake showed similarity with Gudha
tanks which is perplexing as they are not nearby.
Balsamand is a water body with rocky banks and
with more depth of water, whereas Gudha tank is
a muddy bank with shallow water with open
scrub. As our observation period was only during
the winter, therefore, the similarity results are
conided to the winter seasons only. Umed
Bhawan pond is unique and not much disturbed
therefore showed lesser similarity with others.

Conclusion

A rich diversity exists in and around wetland of
Jodhpur. The size, location, depth, and type of
banks wetland are the key features for distribu-
tion of types of avian species. As there is a con-
siderable rise in the population of Jodhpur in the
recent past, the scrub habitats have shrunken, and
the wetland habitat which earlier were found in
continuation with scrublands is reduced; this