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Drivers of Raptor Community Structure in India: An Integrated Functional and Spatial Approach.

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Title: Drivers of Raptor Community Structure in India: An Integrated Functional and Spatial Approach.
Authors: Cecil Christopher, Joel Soniya1 (AUTHOR) joe.soniya1996@gmail.com, Riegert, Jan1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Population Ecology. Apr2026, Vol. 68 Issue 2, p1-11. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Habitats, *Habitat partitioning (Ecology), *Ecosystem health, *Biodiversity, *Foraging behavior, *Bird populations, *Life history theory
Geographic Terms: India
Abstract: Raptors, including birds of prey and owls, are apex or mesopredators that serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health. Despite their ecological importance, studies on raptor communities in tropical South Asia are scarce. This study investigates how habitat characteristics, functional traits, and dietary interactions affect raptor community structure across diverse landscapes within India. Field surveys were conducted at 445 points across seven localities, using standardized point counts within buffers of species‐specific home‐range sizes. Results showed that areas with increased forest height and proportion of water bodies were preferred by Brahminy kite, Lesser fish eagle, and Black‐shouldered kite. Areas with increased NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) were preferred by Spotted owlet. Deciduous broadleaf forests were often preferred by several species (e.g., Common buzzard, Eurasian kestrel and Short‐toed snake eagle). Areas with increased proportion of croplands were preferred by Montagu's harrier and Black kite. The last group was clearly associated with human population (e.g., Changeable hawk eagle and Black eagle). Functional traits such as wing length, beak depth, and tarsus length were strongly linked to habitat use and foraging strategies. Community‐weighted trait patterns revealed clear ecological separation among raptors across forested, wetland, and urban habitats. High dietary overlap was observed among generalist species, but spatial segregation reduced potential competition due to niche partitioning. Species with specialized diets showed minimal diet overlap, occupying distinct ecological niches. Strong correlations between dietary overlap and spatial separation were found in species‐rich sites. Our findings underscore the importance of habitat heterogeneity, morphological adaptation, and spatial mechanisms in sustaining raptor diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 193259423
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PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Drivers of Raptor Community Structure in India: An Integrated Functional and Spatial Approach.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cecil+Christopher%2C+Joel+Soniya%22">Cecil Christopher, Joel Soniya</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> joe.soniya1996@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Riegert%2C+Jan%22">Riegert, Jan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Population+Ecology%22">Population Ecology</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 68 Issue 2, p1-11. 11p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Habitats%22">Habitats</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Habitat+partitioning+%28Ecology%29%22">Habitat partitioning (Ecology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecosystem+health%22">Ecosystem health</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biodiversity%22">Biodiversity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foraging+behavior%22">Foraging behavior</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bird+populations%22">Bird populations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Life+history+theory%22">Life history theory</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22India%22">India</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Raptors, including birds of prey and owls, are apex or mesopredators that serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health. Despite their ecological importance, studies on raptor communities in tropical South Asia are scarce. This study investigates how habitat characteristics, functional traits, and dietary interactions affect raptor community structure across diverse landscapes within India. Field surveys were conducted at 445 points across seven localities, using standardized point counts within buffers of species‐specific home‐range sizes. Results showed that areas with increased forest height and proportion of water bodies were preferred by Brahminy kite, Lesser fish eagle, and Black‐shouldered kite. Areas with increased NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) were preferred by Spotted owlet. Deciduous broadleaf forests were often preferred by several species (e.g., Common buzzard, Eurasian kestrel and Short‐toed snake eagle). Areas with increased proportion of croplands were preferred by Montagu's harrier and Black kite. The last group was clearly associated with human population (e.g., Changeable hawk eagle and Black eagle). Functional traits such as wing length, beak depth, and tarsus length were strongly linked to habitat use and foraging strategies. Community‐weighted trait patterns revealed clear ecological separation among raptors across forested, wetland, and urban habitats. High dietary overlap was observed among generalist species, but spatial segregation reduced potential competition due to niche partitioning. Species with specialized diets showed minimal diet overlap, occupying distinct ecological niches. Strong correlations between dietary overlap and spatial separation were found in species‐rich sites. Our findings underscore the importance of habitat heterogeneity, morphological adaptation, and spatial mechanisms in sustaining raptor diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=193259423
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/1438-390x.70019
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Habitats
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Habitat partitioning (Ecology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecosystem health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biodiversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foraging behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bird populations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Life history theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: India
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Drivers of Raptor Community Structure in India: An Integrated Functional and Spatial Approach.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cecil Christopher, Joel Soniya
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Riegert, Jan
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 14383896
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            – Type: volume
              Value: 68
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Population Ecology
              Type: main
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