Impact of anthropogenic pressure on habitat utilization by the waterbirds in Gharana Wetland (reserve), Jammu (J&K, India)

An attempt has been made to study the impact of anthropogenic pressure over the abundance of waterbirds in Gharana Wetland with respect to their habitat utilization at five different stations from March, 2008 to February, 2009. A total of 21 species of waterbirds were identified in the wetland and their annual abundance was observed to be 43, 768, 2750, 1751 and 11386 at St I, II, III, IV and V respectively. The order of utilization of different stations of the wetland by waterbirds was recorded as St V > St III > St IV > St II > St I. The variations in the abundance of waterbirds at different sites were the consequence of severe anthropogenic stress resulting in the highest abundance at the least disturbed site (St V) and lowest at the site (St I) that was under the influence of intense human activities.