The Relationship between Birds Diversity and Habitats in Phou Khao Khouay (PKK) National Park of Lao PDR

In recent years, global warming, drought and little rain, forest fires, forest destruction and other human disturbances have had an important impact on the habitat environment of birds, affecting the number and quality of bird habitats, directly threatening the survival and reproduction of birds, leading to a sharp decline in the diversity of bird species. In this study, the PKK National Park (18䓎' - 18䓠'N; 102䓦' - 102䓻'E), Laos was used as a research site. The birds and their habitats in the park were used as research objects. The species, quantity and distribution of birds were investigated. In addition, the distribution of vegetation and the relationship between bird’s community and habitat types in PKK National Park were studied. Species diversity and Abundance of birds at PKK National Park, was monthly assessed by point count method between January and December 2018. A total of 117 species of birds belonging to 43 families and 18 orders were found in the inspection areas. Among them, Passerine birds (60 species) and Non-Finches (57 species) were almost equal to each other, accounting for 51.3% and 48.7% of total birds species respectively. Again, Anseriformes birds account for the largest number amongst Non-Passeriformes, reaching 15 species, followed by Falconiformes, accounting for 20.5% of total. On the other hand, based on migratory habits, resident birds were found to be highest in our research site which account for 35.04% of total birds and followed by Summer Migratory birds (32.28%), Passage Migrant (23.93%) and Winter Migratory birds (6.83%). Through the quantitative measurement and analysis of various parameters, the focus is on the diversity of birds and species in the park. Further, the factors that can affect species diversity, especially the bird’s survival factors such as vegetation change pattern, transformation rate of green areas, recruitment and restoration pattern of wild animals, especially birds, and other beneficial animal populations were also emphasized in our study. Over and above, exploring the scientific basis for the construction of the green space system of the PKK National Park in Laos with reasonable structure, complete functions and ornamental values was in the heart of this research.


Introduction
Biodiversity is the sum of all ecological processes related to the ecological complex formed by organisms and their environment, including millions of animals, plants, microorganisms, their genes and the complex ecological system formed by them and their living environment. It is the basic feature of living systems.
Biodiversity is the basis for human survival and development. In urban development, it is of great significance to maintain ecological security and ecological balance and improve people's living environment. The value of biodiversity can be understood from two aspects: First, the direct value; Second, indirect value. It is mainly related to the functions of the ecosystem, mainly manifested in seven aspects: fixing solar energy, regulating hydrology, preventing soil and water loss, regulating climate, absorbing and decomposing pollutants, storing nutrient elements, promoting nutrient circulation and maintaining the evolutionary process.
Over time, the greatest value of biodiversity may lie in providing humans with the opportunity to adapt to local and global changes.
Birds have a large number of species in nature and are highly sensitive to environmental changes. They are easy to observe in wild animals and occupy an important position in the ecosystem. They play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem and biodiversity. It is also related to habitat structure, vegetation diversity, plant complexity and other factors. At present, bird species structure and its dynamic trend are important reference indexes for regional environmental changes.
Bird diversity is the core of the research on bird ecology and the hotspot of conservation biology. The diversity of birds not only reflects the state of birds themselves, but also reflects the fine habitat of birds, which can play a better indicator of ecological balance and environmental quality. A large number of studies at home and abroad have confirmed that the diversity index of birds is closely related to their habitats. The difference of habitat environment and the degree of external interference have an important impact on the bird population and quantity. The research on the relationship between bird species diversity and habitat environment is helpful to provide theoretical basis for the bird habitat protection and suitability evaluation.

P. Thongsoulin et al. Open Journal of Forestry
Forest park is not only an important green land in urban areas, but also a major leisure and entertainment place for residents. It is also an important habitat for urban birds, providing four most important basic elements for urban birds: food, space, water and shelter. Urban Park, as the main part of urban landscaping, provides favorable conditions and opportunities for the protection and development of biodiversity. It is also an important biological habitat, a clearinghouse of biological flow and energy, and a carrier of urban biodiversity. In recent years, the research focus of conservation biology has shifted from the protection of single species to the protection of species habitats and ecosystems. Nature reserves are places for biodiversity conservation, and their establishment and effective management are strategic measures for biodiversity conservation.

Research Background
Rainforests are the most productive and biodiversity terrestrial ecosystems on earth (Leigh, 1999). Tropical rainforest accounts for 60% of the total forest area in Southeast Asia. Tropical moist deciduous forest and tropical dry forest each account for 15% and 10% of the total forest area in Southeast Asia (FAO, 2001).
They cover less than 10 percent of the earth's land surface but contain nearly half of all species. A basic concern of ecologists is the mechanism of species coexistence, especially on the small spatial scale of different forests (Wright, 2002).
Forest composition and the relationship between the bird species abundance is close, can often be found, they can form a self-sufficient community or biological association, plants and birds can live independently, geographical distribution, combination of plants and birds usually letters and species composition of association in its range, there's nothing like a broader portfolio of different plants.
There is a close relationship between forest composition and bird species richness. They can form a self-sufficient population or biological community, and neither plants nor birds can live alone. Within a certain range, the species composition of the community, different combinations of plants than a single species change more (Vestal, 1914). Therefore, understanding forest composition, i.e. the relationship between plant diversity, density and bird type, can more accurately predict the richness and distribution of bird species (Mohd, 2016). The composition of plant community is influenced by the structure and function of ecosystem. For example, species composition and species diversity strongly influence ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling, productivity, decomposition rate, and nutrient dynamics, especially when one or more species have strong ecosystem effects (Hooper & Vitousek, 1997). Plant diversity is important because species depend on each other. Therefore, the disappearance of one species leads to the loss of others. There has been discussion about the concept of diversity and its measurement. The concept of diversity is well represented in linguistics, sociology and physics (Patil & Taillie, 1982).
Forest birds mainly require a large number of forest habitats, different from other requirements on forest structure and composition. Many studies have reported that forest areas are closely related to bird distribution and abundance (Mcgarigal & Mccomb, 1995;Radford et al., 2005;Trzcinski, Fahrig, & Merriam, 1999;Villard, Trzcinski, & Merriam, 2010;Westphal, Field, Tyre, Paton, & Possingham, 2003). Mitchell, Lancia and Gerwin (2001) found that in the two related coniferous forests in southern south Carolina of the United States, the study found that in the two managed coniferous forests in south Carolina (the United States), the generalist had a low sensitivity to forest characteristics, while the expert had a strong response to them. We found that on a landscape scale, high canopy density (over 70%) was not conducive to species richness of forest birds, which was consistent with other authors' views on the impact of forest density and canopy density on species richness in the Iberian Peninsula (Carrascal, 1987;James & Wamer, 1982;Teller & Santos, 1994;Swift, Larson, & Degraaf, 1984). This is because in the understory of high-density forests, the development of shrubs and herbaceous species is restricted, possibly due to the reduction of sunlight penetration. Shrubs provide food as well as foraging and nesting sites, and the related heterogeneity of forest structure can also reduce the predation risk of many bird species through greater visual hindrance (Martin, 1993). However, this study takes the PKK National Park in Laos as the research area, and mainly studies the relationship between bird diversity and plant community and its species composition, density and relationship, as well as between birds and habitat, so as to provide decision-making basis for the protection of birds in relevant areas.

Objective
The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between plant species composition, elevation gradient and forest habitat with bird diversity.

Research Questions
Q1: How does plant species composition affect the bird diversity? Q2: Does bird diversity vary along forest habitat?

Hypothesis
Plant species composition, forest habitat and elevation gradient affect the bird diversity in the seasonal tropical forest at PKK National Park.

Study Area
Laos is a land-locked country located at the heart of the Indo-Chinese peninsula.

Bird Survey and Analysis
Some basic methods adopted in this study are described by ( Hill, 1992). Point count method: it is suitable for estimating the diversity and richness of birds. This method moves along a fixed route and records the species of birds found. The birds survey did sit and see all of the bird in the 3 area between Januarys and December 2018; on the morning from 6.00am to 9.00am and in the evening from 3.00pm to 6.00pm (1 area 1 day and 2 times for 1 area of birds survey). A binocular (Olympus) and birds survey manual was used to confirm the identification of the birds; nests were located by sight. For every bird species the following parameters were recorded: 1) activity of the bird when first sighted; 2) the number of bird species at every sighting; 3) location of nests and species involved; all the numbers done noted.

Plant Investigation and Analysis
The study was carried out in four forest plots of the PKK National Park for sam-  In the survey, the greenbelt patches with small functional area types or small greenbelt patches that cannot be divided into communities piecewise was integrated into adjacent areas for the survey, and the unknown species that survived was not be counted when species statistics are carried out.
The plant species data adopt the important value as the comprehensive index, which is the sum of the relative density, relative frequency and relative coverage of the ecological important value. In this paper, the important value is calculated by the relative height, relative advantage and relative spelling.
( ) relative height relative frequency relative advantage Important value of trees 3 + + = ( ) relative coverage relative height relative frequency Shrub and herbaceous significance 3 + + =

Correlation Analysis
Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze and measure the correlation between bird's diversity and habitat, and SPSS was used to process data. P value less than 0.05 was significantly positive and P value less than 0.01 was extremely significantly positive. P < 0.05 was considered relevant.

Characteristics of Birds
In urban compound ecological system, city park has irreplaceable functions; plays a regulating climate to reduce the noise, absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, conserves soil and water and improves the thermal environment.
At the same time, it builds favorable conditions and opportunities for conservation and development of biodiversity; thus providing the wild animals in the city within the scope of an important habitat, feeding and refuge place (Zhu, 2001;Yang & Wu, 2000;Li et al., 2001). Zhu (2001)  index of environmental quality, which directly reflects the level of urban biodiversity (Costa & Furness, 1982). Birds are a good indicator of ecosystem health.
Through the study of bird community in an ecosystem, the rationality of system structure and the stability of function can be understood. This study conducted sampling surveys in different types of parks to understand the characteristics urban park's bird community and its changing rules.

Composition and Characteristics of Bird Diversity
A total of 117 species of birds, belonging to 18 orders and 43 families, were recorded during 12 days long field survey; twice a month from January to December 2018. They were divided into Passerine birds and Non-passerine birds.

Settlement Analysis of Bird Communities
On the basis of differences in migration and migratory habits, birds can be divided into four types: Resident birds, Summer migratory birds, Winter migratory birds and Passage migrant birds. Summer migratory birds breed in a certain area in summer and leave to spend the winter in a warm place in the south in autumn, and return to the previous area in the following spring. On the other hand, Winter migratory birds spend the winter in a certain area, fly north to breed in the spring of the next year, and fly back to the former place in the autumn to spend the winter. Passage Migrant birds are birds that pass through a place during their migration and do not spend the winter or breed. According to our observation and statistics, the quantity of resident birds, summer migratory birds, passage migrant and winter migratory birds in inspected area are 35.04%, 32.28%, 23.93% and 6.83%, respectively ( Figure 3). As observed from the figure below, there are relatively more resident birds and summer migratory birds in Tad Xai and Had Khai area. These two types of birds generally prefer to nest and forage in forest canopy, standing tree and ground cover. Such ecological environment can provide necessary places for birds to breed and sleep at night. In a word, the number of resident birds reflects whether the ecological region is stable for the habitat environment of birds. As shown in the figure below, Tad Xai is the most suitable habitat for birds among three investigated sites.

Study on the Relationship between Bird Community and Habitat
Wild animals are closely related to the habitat environment. Through the inspection of three selected area of the PKK National Park, the ecological environment of the PKK National Park can be directly or indirectly understood, so as to provide a scientific basis for further improvement of the ecological environment of the PKK National Park orchards and surrounding areas. Based on the investigation results of the three inspection areas, this research analyzes and discusses the relationship between bird diversity and environment in the PKK National Park for the first time.

Correlation Analysis between Bird Diversity and Habitat
Bird community is a comprehensive reflection of the relationship between birds  Table 2 and Table 3.
The study on the correlation between bird species and habitat in the three investigation areas found that bird species (S) were related to plant area (PA), evergreen rate (VR), herbaceous species (HS), plant biodiversity (PB) and plant

Correlation Analysis between Different Roosting Birds and Roosting Sites
According to living environment, the habitat types of birds can be divided into three types-water birds, forest birds and intermediate birds. Water birds are mainly dependent on wetland environment for survival, whereas forest birds depend on woodland environment for their survival, and those between water birds and forest birds are called intermediate birds.
According to the results of this survey, based on the analysis of the habitat types of birds, we found that, the species of water birds and forest birds among the existing birds are equivalent. However, the numbers of forest birds were highest (61.5%) among the existing birds and almost double to that of water birds (31.6%), while the middle type birds accounting for only 6.9% (Figure 4).
These results are in accordance with the natural environment and vegetation of surveyed area; as we know, to a certain extent, the number of bird species reflects the local vegetation. The presence of more species and numbers of forest birds as well as water birds is because of more water areas from natural waterfalls and large flow area.
Comparing the data from three inspection areas of PKK national park, regarding

Correlation Analysis between Different Feeding Birds and their Habitats
The structure and function of bird's community can be further understood by analyzing and studying the feeding habits of birds. From the survey of bird's feeding habits, the majority of the birds, a total of 83 species, accounting for 70.94% of the total bird species, were found to be carnivorous, which mainly feed on meat, aquatic animals and insects including a large numbers of waterfowl feeding on aquatic animals and insect-eating birds. The distribution range of this largest birds group is very wide, throughout all the surveying area including Tad Xai, the largest regional area. Because of having high habitat diversity with rich vegetation, Tad Xai provides favourable conditions for the growth of many insects like bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, flies, thus providing foods for insect-eating birds and consequently harbouring them. Moreover, large water bodies present in this area make it inhabitable for waterfowls as they supply adequate aquatic foods to them. The carnivorous groups were followed by a total of 32 species of graft mainly passeriformes fringillidae birds. However, compared to the first two groups, there were only 17 species of omnivorous birds. Feeding statistics of birds in the inspection area of PKK National Park is depicted in Figure 6.   On the basis of feeding types birds can be divided into six groups: water or wetland feeding, ground feeding, grass feeding, tree feeding, air feeding. According to the survey results, there are 62 species of birds feeding on the ground, 23 species of birds feeding on the air, and 53 species of birds feeding on trees, accounting for 45.30% of the total birds species. It is clearly evident that the vegetation quality of bird habitats directly affects the feeding sources of birds. Types of bird predation observed in PKK National Parks are shown in Table 4. The correlation analysis between different feeding birds (such as meat-eating birds, aquatic animals eating birds, insect eating birds, predatory birds, aquatic plant feeding birds, omnivorous birds) and habitats found in the investigation areas, shows that three kinds of birds namely insect eating birds, omnivorous birds and those feed on plant has significant correlation with evergreen coverage rate (VR). This indicates that vegetation affects the habitat and reproduction of birds, especially that of insectivorous, omnivorous and herbivorous birds. The

Conclusion
The aim of this study has been to examine the relationship between plant species composition, elevation gradient and forest habitat with bird diversity in PKK National Park, Lao PDR. The findings show that the species, quantity and distribution of birds were diverse. We have investigated the species and quantity of birds in the park, the status of distribution of vegetation and the relationship between bird community and habitat type in PKK National Park based on the data analysis. Species diversity and abundance of birds at PKK National Park, was monthly assessed by point count method between January and December 2018. There were 117 species of birds from 43 families and 18 orders. The study also has found that there were some water bodies and rural settlements in the park and the people surrounding the park, are also dependent, to some extent, on its resources for their livelihoods. In fine, it can be said, there is an intimate relationship between environmental factors, ecological issues and human habitats. Therefore, the government should take appropriate policy measures to protect the forest resources as well as the biodiversity and eco-systems of this forest.