Characteristics of Understory Avian Communities at Mt.Yuntaishan of Guizhou Province

A bird survey was carried out from Sept.2011to Aug.2012with mist-net method,in order to explore the composition,structure,and seasonal dynamics of understory birds in the karst mountainous forest of Mt.Yuntaishan,Guizhou Province.A total of 25species,which belonged to 12families and 3orders,was captured.The mean capture rate was 6.85individuals per 100net-hours for the whole year,and Alcippe morrisonia was the top capture in each season.The birds with body weight from 7to 42g accounted for 96.00%and 99.57%of the total species and total number,respectively.Twenty-three species of songbirds were captured,which accounted for 92.00% of the total species.The species,number and biomass of insectivore were higher than those of other feeding guild birds.The species,number,biomass,capture rate and Shannon-Wiener index in spring were higher than those in the other three seasons.The highest Sorenson similarity index was the summer-autumn avian community,and the lowest was the spring-summer avian community.The high ratio coverage of coniferous forest was one of the main reasons that decided the characteristics of understory avian community of Mt.Yuntaishan.