Avian biodiversity in the Guessabo wetland, Centre - West of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Wetlands are among the most remarkable ecosystems that can shelter a great diversity of animal and plant species. In order to determine the avifaunal diversity of the Guessabo wetland, ornithological censuses were carried out in this site using the slow walking method on transects punctuated by stops of about 15 minutes. A total of 168 species of birds, divided into 48 families of 18 orders, were recorded. Non-passeriformes are the most important with 29 families. With 14 species, the Ardeidae family is the most diversified. The majority of these species on this site are resident. Two Near Threatened species, 40 from the Guinean-Congolese forest biome, two from the Sudano-Guinean savannah and seven West African endemics breed here. Knowledge of the site's avifaunal diversity could contribute to the sustainable management of the site and will make it possible to envisage bird conservation programmes in this natural ecosystem.