Effects of Land-use Types on Avian Functional Diversity in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

This research examined avian abundance and functional diversity across four human land uses— monoculture, mixed farming, rural, and urban areas—in the Kilimanjaro Region of Northern Tanzania. Conducted in November 2024, the study aimed to assess how different land-use types influence avian composition and functional diversity. A quasi-experimental design was employed, using purposive sampling to select study sites and systematic random sampling point counts to observe bird species present in each land-use type. A literature review was also conducted to classify species into families and categorize them into functional feeding guilds: predators, insectivores, frugivores, granivores, and nectarivores. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD , and Fisher’s exact tests, were used to explore differences in family and species abundance, as well as functional diversity across the sites. The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) in avian community composition across monoculture, mixed farming, rural, and urban landscapes, with monoculture having the highest number of individual birds. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in family and species compositions were found between monoculture and the other land-use types. Regarding functional diversity, significant differences were found across all land-use comparisons (p < 0.01), except between rural and mixed farming habitats (p < 0.01), which exhibited the highest functional diversity richness but were not significantly different from each other. This similarity may be due to the proximity of small farming plots to homes in rural Kilimanjaro. The findings highlight the importance of land-use types in shaping avian functional diversity and structure. Further studies should explore regional variations and the long-term effects of different land-use types on avian communities. Most importantly, testing and implementing various mitigation strategies to conserve avian functional diversity in human-dominated landscapes will be crucial for future biodiversity conservation efforts.