Multidimensional diversity of birds in different habitats of the wetland complex in Huaibei Plain, eastern China

Wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems around the globe, with lots of ecological and social-economic services provided. Better understanding of the spatial distribution of biotic communities in wetlands is not only an important question in ecology, but also critical for biodiversity conservation. From March 2022 to February 2023, 12 monthly surveys were conducted on 10 provincially significant wetlands in the Huaibei Plain using transect and point-count methods. In this study, a two-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in species, taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of birds across the four seasons and the six habitats. A total of 129,916 individuals, 218 bird species belonging to 54 families and 18 orders were identified during the survey. During spring, species richness was significantly higher in rivers (55.67 ± 4.93), shelterbelts (47.67 ± 6.51) and gardens (44.67 ± 5.29) compared to farmlands, lakes and ponds. In contrast, farmland in summer exhibited greater species richness (SR) (46.67 ± 7.00), Shannon-Wiener (3.13 ± 0.10), Pielou index (0.82 ± 0.02) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) (1431.31 ± 129.92) than shelterbelts, gardens and lakes. River, lake and pond habitats showed notably higher taxonomic diversity (TD), functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) during autumn, while the highest functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) levels were observed in rivers, lakes and ponds in winter. There were no significant differences in bird diversity within habitats across different seasons, but the species richness (SR) and abundance of ecotypes were significantly different amongst the four seasons, indicating notable seasonal fluctuations in the species composition of the community in this area. Aquatic habitats such as the lakes, rivers and ponds are the most abundant areas of bird diversity in the wetland complex in the Huaibei Plain, providing stop-overs and wintering places for migrants on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Meanwhile, the autumn and winter are the key periods for waterbird protection in this area. Our study provides important baseline data on the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of bird communities in the Huaibei Plain and may help in developing scientifically effective management and conservation plans.