Abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity of raptors along aridity gradient and habitat types in Rajasthan, India

Birds of prey and their community structure can serve as indicators of ecosystem conditions. In this study, we analysed abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity and their variability across different levels of aridity and habitats. We recorded 43 species of raptors belonging to five families of three orders, and their taxonomic diversity was relatively uniform across the aridity gradient and habitat types. Black kite (Milvus migrans) and shikra (Accipiter badius) were the most abundant species across Rajasthan, while the long-eared owl (Asio otus) was the rarest. From the perspective of functional diversity, our findings suggest that the Thar Desert, being the most extreme and dry environment, supports species with specialised traits that allow them to survive harsh conditions. Results also indicate that lifestyle, beak length, tarsus length, and body mass combinations represent unique functional traits influenced by varying climatic (aridity) and ecological conditions (habitats). Understanding these functional relationships is critical for raptor conservation, particularly in arid landscapes where habitat fragmentation and food abundance fluctuations may impact species persistence.