The importance of plants and fruits for the diet and conservation of forest birds in Mongolia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5564/pib.v40i1.4009Keywords:
forest birds, conservation, distribution, habitat modeling, hotspot, food, diet, seed, barriers, forest zoneAbstract
The Khangai and Khentii mountainous regions, along with the Selenge River basin in Mongolia, mark the southern border of the Siberian Great Taiga. These areas are known for their biological diversity and the variety of native animals they support. The diversity of forest birds is closely linked to the unique environment and food chain found within forest and taiga ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between forest birds and their ecosystem is crucial for environmental protection and the sustainable development of forests and woodlands. Forest birds feed on resources such as small vertebrates, invertebrates, berries, and seeds, which contributes to an increase in bird species that rely on these food sources. They play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the forest ecosystem and helping to create a diverse biological community. Birds that inhabit the forest are crucial to this ecosystem, as they provide habitat for other animals. Forest-dwelling animals constitute an essential habitat unit and spend most of their life cycles there, fostering many positive relationships, such as using tree trunks for storage and food reserves. The forest and its biodiversity not only create a cohesive system but also highlight the importance of understanding and further researching the habitats of two species of resident forest birds that primarily feed on berries found in the environment. Additionally, the study identified a common range of 11 species of berries and non-timber products, as determined in detail through core and habitat area analysis using MaxEnt modeling. With this study, the habitats of both birds and non-timber products were classified according to the 12 Forest Vegetation Zones of Mongolia, clarifying the relationship between the species. Preliminary results from the habitat overlap analysis and similarity analysis of forest birds, berry hotspots, and the habitats of the 11 common berry and bird species indicate a need for more detailed research. This is essential to clarify ecosystem services, assess the effects of climate change, and plan sustainable development concepts within this sector, as well as basic conservation recommendations for forest protection. Studying the diversity, life types, feeding behaviors, and relationships of birds that play a crucial role in the forest ecosystem is essential for supporting sustainable development in our country. This is particularly important given our nation’s unique forest resources and its vulnerability to conservation issues. In particular, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between birds and the balance of the forest-taiga ecosystem, which serves as a significant source of surface water and forest reserves. There is a lack of interdisciplinary participation in this research, which is vital for understanding the distribution of berries and plants that support various bird species in their habitats.
Монгол орны ойн шувуудын хамгаалалд ургамал, жимсний холбогдол
Хураангуй. Монгол орны Хангай, Хэнтийн уулархаг нутаг, Сэлэнгэ мөрний сав дагуух модлог ургамалтай амьдрах орчин бол Сибирийн их тайга төдийгүй тэндхийн биологийн олон янз байдал, унаган амьтдын тархцын урд хязгаар болно. Ялангуяа, ойн шувуудын олон янз байдал ой, тайгын экосистемийн өвөрмөц орчин бүрэлдэхүүн тэжээлийн хэлхээнээс ихээхэн хамаардаг. Ойн шувуудын орчин тогтолцоо хоорондын холбоо хамаарал нь ой, ойт хээрийн хүрээлэн буй орчны хамгаалал, тогтвортой хөгжлийн чухал арга хэрэгслийн нэг бүрэлдэхүүн болохыг тодруулсан.Ойн шувуудын тэжээлд өртдөг сээр нуруутан ба сээр нуруугүйтэн, жимс, жимсгэнэ, ургамлын үрийн олон янзын нөөцийг дагаад тэдгээрээр хооллодог олон зүйл шувуудын тоо элбэгшиж, тухайн ойн экосистемийн тэнцвэрт байдлын үндсэн зохицуулгад тодорхой үүрэг гүйцэтгэж, хам бүрдлийг бий болгоход чухал оролцоотой. Ойд амьдардаг шувууд тухайн экосистемд бусад амьтдын амьдрах орчныг бэлтгэж өгдгөөрөө ихээхэн холбогдолтой. Ойд суурин амьдардаг амьтад модны хонгилуудыг тэжээлээ нөөцлөн хадгалах агуулах, нөөцлүүр болгодог зэрэг дам шууд олон эерэг холбогдлоороо ойн бүрэлдэхүүний чухал нэгж болж, өөрийн амьдралын дийлэнх хугацааг энд орогнон өнгөрүүлдэг онцлогтой. Биологийн олон янз байдлын бүрэлдэхүүн хэсэг болсон ойн экосистемийн нэгдмэл тогтолцоонд шувууд онцгой үүрэг гүйцэтгэдэг учраас энэ талаарх судалгаа шинжилгээг идэвхжүүлэх зорилгоор ойд тархсан жимсээр голлон хооллодог 2 зүйл шувууны төлөөллийн амьдрах орчин ба 11 зүйл жимсний тархалтыг МахЕnт загварчлалаар нарийвчлан тогтоож, ойн ургамалжлын 12 мужлалаар ялган ангилж, хоорондын холбоо, хамаарлыг тодруулав. Амьдрах орчны давхцалын шинжилгээ ба төсөөт байдлыг шувуу, жимсний голомт, тархац нутгийг түгээмэл тархалттай 11 зүйл жимс ба 2 зүйлийн шувуугаар төлөөлж шинжилсэн урьдчилсан үр дүн манайд өмнө нь хийгдээгүй судалгааны нэг болсон. Цаашид ийм чиглэлийн судалгааг нарийвчлан сайжруулснаар экосистемийн үйлчилгээний үнэ цэнийг тодруулах, уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлтийн нөлөөг тодорхойлох, биологийн олон янз байдлын төлөвийг тодорхойлогч зүйлээр тогтоох, тогтвортой хөгжлийн үзэл баримтлалд шаардлагатай зөвлөмжийн үндэслэлийг боловсруулах боломжтойг харуулж байна. Ялангуяа, салбар дундын оролцоо зохицуулга хомс, цэвдэг, гадаргын усны нөөцийн гол эх үүсвэр болсон ойн санд, ой тайгын экосистемийн тэнцвэрт байдалд шувуудын оролцоо хамаарлыг тухайн зүйлийн амьдрах орчныг идэш тэжээлд нь оролцдог тархсан байршлын жимс, ургамлын тархалттай холбогдуулан судлах зайлшгүй шаардлагатай.
Түлхүүр үгс: ойн шувууд, хамгаалал, тархац, давхцал, амьдрах орчин, төсөөт байдал, идэш тэжээл, жимс, ойн мужлал
Downloads
87
References
[1] A. Bold. Ecological and geographical bases for the Conservation and Rational use of the Avifauna of the Mongolian People’s Republic. Dissertation of Doctor of Biological Science, Moscow, 1989.
[2] Girma, Z., Mamo, Y., Mengesha, G., Verma, A., and Asfaw, T. Seasonal Abundance and Habitat Use of Bird Species in and around WondoGenet Forest, South-Central Ethiopia. Ecol. Evol. 2017. 7. 3397–3405. vol. Evol. 7, pp. 3397-3405. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2926
[3] Katuwal, H.B., Basnet, K., Khanal, B., Devkota, S., Rai, S.K., Gajurel, J.P., Scheidegger, C. and Nobis, M.P. Seasonal Changes in Bird Species and Feeding Guilds along Elevational Gradients of the Central Himalayas, Nepal. PLoS ONE, vol. e0158362., no. 11, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158362
[4] Bold A. About of forest birds. Proceedings of the works of Academician A. Bold. 2 (1996-2007) vols. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
[5] Atlas of Forest Non-Timber Products (range, resource, assessment). Dugarjav Ch, Ed.in Chief. 2011.
[6] Atlas of Beneficial Plant Distribution and Resources. Dugarjav Ch, Ed. in Chief. Ulaanbaatar. Bembi Fund. 2014.
[7] Tserenbaljid G, Colorful Album of Extremely Rare, Rare, and Exceptional Beneficial Plant Seeds. Ulaanbaatar. Bembi Fund. 2013.
[8] Dorjsuren Ch., Ch. Dugarjav, G.Tsedendash, J.Tushigmaa, and & M.Tungalag. Forest Zones and Typology in Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2020.
[9] Mainjargal G., D.Enkhbileg and B.Munkhjargal. Significance of seeds and berries in the diet of forest birds in Mongolia and their contribution to conservation. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Plant Science, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2024, pp. 89-91.
[10] Newton, Ian., Can Conditions Experienced During Migration Limit the Population Levels of Birds? J Ornithol, vol. 147, pp. 46-166. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0058-4
[11] Shackelford, and Clifford Eugene. Migration and the Migratory Birds of Texas: Who they are and Where they are going. TPWD, 1999.
[12] C. Sekercioglu. Increasing awareness of avian ecological function. Trends Ecol. Evol. vol. 21, no. 8, pp. 464–471, Aug. 2006, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2006.05.007
[13] Levey, D. J., Silva, W. R., and & Galetti, M. Seed dispersal and frugivory: Ecology, evolution and conservation. CABI, 2002.
[14] Caves, E. M., Jennings, S. B., HilleRisLambers, J., Tewksbury, J. J., and & Rogers, H. S. The natural experiment demonstrates that bird loss leads to cessation of dispersal of native seeds from intact to degraded forests. vol. PLoS One, 8(5), e65618., 2013, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065618
[15] Mueller, T., Lenz, J., Caprano, T., Fiedler, W., and & Böhning-Gaese, K. Large frugivorous birds facilitate functional connectivity of fragmented landscapes. J. Appl. Ecol., vol. 51, no. (3), pp. 684-692., 2014, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12247
[16] J. Terborgh, “Enemies Maintain Hyperdiverse Tropical Forests. Am. Nat., vol. 179, no. 3, pp. 303–314, Mar. 2012, https://doi.org/10.1086/664183
[17] Howe, H. F., and & Smallwood, J. Ecology of seed dispersal. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. vol. 13(1), pp. 201–228, 1982. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.13.110182.001221
[18] Kissling, W. D., C. Rahbek, and K. Böhning-Gaese. Food plant diversity as the broad-scale determinant of avian frugivore richness, Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Biol. Sci., vol. 274, no 1611, pp. 799-808. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2006.0311
[19] Snow, D. W., “Tropical frugivorous birds and their food plants: a world survey, Biotropica. vol. 13, pp. 1–14, 1981. https://doi.org/10.2307/2387865
[20] Bairlein, F. The study of bird migrations – some future perspectives: Capsule routes and destinations have been unveiled but modern techniques offer the chance to explore much more, Bird Study. vol. 50. no. 3, pp. 243-253. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063650309461317
[21] Karasov, W. H. Digestion in birds: chemical and physiological determinants and ecological implications, Studies in Avian Biology. vol. 13, no 39, p. L–4, 1990.
[22] López-Calleja, M. V. and F. Bozinovic. Feeding behavior and assimilation efficiency of the Rufoustailed Plantcutter: a small avian herbivore, Condor. vol. 101, pp. 705-710, 1999. https://doi.org/10.2307/1370206
[23] Şekercioğlu, Ç. H., G. C. Daily, and P. R. Ehrlich. Ecosystem consequences of bird declines, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. vol. 101, no. no 52, pp. 18042–7, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0408049101
[24] Jose M Costa, Jaime A. Ramos, Luís P. da Silba, Sérgio Timoteo, Pedro M. Araújo, Marcial S. Felgueiras, António Rosa, Cláudia Matos, Paulo Encarnação, Paulo Q. Tenreiro and Ruben H. Heleno. Endozoochory largely outweighs epizoochory in migrating passerines, Journal of Avian Biology. J. Avian Biol., vol. 44, no. 001-006. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-048X.2013.00271.x
[25] Reimes N.F., Birds and mammals of the southern taiga of Central Siberia. M-L. Science, 1966.
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Galbadrakh Mainjargal, Dulamtseren Enkhbileg, Batseren Munkhjargal, Niidaa Butensain
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright on any research article in the Proceedings of the Institute of Biology is retained by the author(s).
The authors grant the Proceedings of the Institute of Biology license to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher.
Articles in the Proceedings of the Institute of Biology are Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License - CC BY NC.
This license permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
