Diversity and Distribution of Waterbirds across Wetlands of Eastern Uganda

Explaining patterns of diversity, and abundance across sites is a central aim of community ecology. Avian communities have been the focus of many studies on species diversity. To be able to explain patterns of waterbirds in wetlands of eastern Uganda, we conducted a rapid assessment in 48 wetlands (38 swamps, two rice paddies and eight lakes) using total counts. We examined waterbird assemblages in these wetlands in relation to wetland area, wetland type, water depth, water pH and the time of year/season. Statistical analysis were conducted using Genstat Version 8.1 (VSN Intl.2003, in which General Linear Mixed Models were used to examine the variations. In total, 9,410 birds from 64 species and 17 families were recorded. Species diversity and overall abundance varied significantly among wetland types and between seasons. Rice paddies were both more species-diverse than lakes and swamps. Wetland area had significant independent and positive effects on the waterbird community. In addition to explaining differences among wetland types in waterbird numbers, water depth had a positive effect on some aspects of the waterbird community with no significant effect of pH. These results imply that an interplay of factors is responsible for the pattern and structure of waterbird communities on wetlands in eastern Uganda.