Avian communities from differentially disturbed riparian forest along the Tembeling River, Taman Negara Pahang, Malaysia

This study reports on the birds species sampled within the riparian and lowland forest at five sites (3 developed areas and 2 control areas) along the Tembeling River in Taman Negara Pahang (TNP), Malaysia. Birds were sample by utilizing standard mist nets (dimensions, 2.5 m × 9 m and 3 m × 14 m). Twenty eight families comprising 92 species were recorded. The Timaliidae (18.48%, 17 taxa) and the Pycnonotidae (15.22%, 14 taxa) were the two most abundant families recorded from the study sites. The latter, however, had higher species richness. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H´) (range, 3.13–3.75), the Margalef´s index (D´) (range, 6.53–10.77) and the Pielou Evenness index (J´) (range, 0.87–0.91) suggest high bird diversity at TNP. The study indicates that the forest habitats of Taman Negara Pahang are important bird areas and therefore should be conserved.