Effect of rice cultivation stages on the structure of the bird community in an urban wetland in korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire)

Urban rice paddies are agroecosystems that help sustain bird populations amid the loss of natural wetlands. However, the relationships between rice cultivation and changes in the structure of associated bird communities remain insufficiently documented in urban rice-growing systems in Côte d’Ivoire. This study aims to analyze the impact of rice growth stages on bird community structure in an urban wetland. Surveys were conducted from July to December 2023, during the six stages of rice cultivation: pre-ploughing, ploughing, vegetative growth, immature rice, mature rice, and post-harvest. Five observation sessions per stage were conducted to survey birds through slow walks punctuated by 10-minute stops. Diversity and structure were analyzed using ecological indices, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the generalized linear model, principal component analysis, and ascending hierarchical cluster analysis. A total of 2,693 individuals representing 64 species, 33 families, and 15 orders were identified. Species richness ranged from 56 species during the pre-ploughing stage to 10 during the mature rice stage. Overall abundance increased from 264 individuals at the post-harvest stage to 593 individuals at the mature rice stage. The crop stage significantly influenced the structure of the avifauna (GLM: ddl = 5; W = 157.82; p < 0.0001). These results highlight the need to maintain habitat heterogeneity and preserve associated wetlands in urban areas in order to support a diverse bird community.