Assessing the ecological consequences of crude oil spills on bird communities in an Afrotropical landscape

Abstract

Oil spills present a significant challenge to global environmental sustainability, potentially impacting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In the Niger Delta, where crude oil production plays an important role in both local and national economies, oil spills have the potential to impact habitats and threaten local biodiversity negatively. This study aims to improve our understanding of the impact of crude oil spills on bird communities in the Niger Delta region, with a particular focus on species richness, diversity, and functional traits. We found that bird species richness and diversity were significantly lower at impacted sites compared to reference areas. Furthermore, our findings revealed a clear distinction in bird community structure, with generalist species prevailing in spill-affected areas, while specialist species exhibited lower abundance. Our findings also indicate a significant reduction in functional diversity, as indicated by functional richness and Rao's entropy, in spill-impacted habitats. This suggests a loss of critical ecological functions such as pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. Our study highlights the cascading effects of oil spills on ecosystem services provided by birds, which are vital for human well-being. This research fills a critical gap in understanding the ecological consequences of oil spills on avian communities within the oil-rich Niger Delta area in tropical Africa. The findings underscore the urgent need for effective conservation strategies and policy measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of oil spills and protect biodiversity in the Niger Delta.