Key Environmental Predictors as Drivers of Avifauna Assemblages in Ghana’s Coastal Ecosystems

Avian assemblages are not only influenced by spatial factors but also by temporal variations in environmental conditions, creating dynamic patterns of bird presence in a given area. This study examined environmental factors affecting bird assemblages in Ghana's coastal ecosystems. We conducted point transect sampling along a 15-km coastal stretch, analyzing bird abundance, richness, and diversity in relation to microclimatic variables and coastal boundary types. Cloud cover had a significant positive relationship with bird abundance (β = 0.02, p < 0.01), while time of day morning had a negative effect (β = -2.23, p < 0.001). Coastal boundary types significantly influenced bird richness and diversity. Lagoon bounded areas had a positive effect on richness (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) and diversity (β = 0.10, p < 0.01), while human settlement, and highway bounded areas had negative effects (β = -0.12, p = 0.026) and (β = -0.18, p = 0.016) respectively on bird richness. Indicator Species Analysis identified 19 species significantly associated with specific coastal boundary categories, with 11 species linked to lagoon bounded areas. These results show the relationship between environmental factors and avian assemblages in coastal ecosystems, highlighting impacts of human disturbance and climate-related factors.