Avian recolonization of eastern Canadian bogs after peat mining

To evaluate the potential of bog ecosystems to recover following peat mining, we compared bird species richness,abundance, and assemblages and vegetation among naturally revegetated and undisturbed bog sites in southeastern Quebec.Based on mining history, we selected 28 sites (12 natural, 9 abandoned after blockcut extraction, and 7 abandoned after vacuumextraction) in 15 bogs. We estimated percent cover for six vegetation strata in 106 plots with 100 m radius, on which bird pointcounts were conducted in 1993 and 1996. Vegetation structure differed significantly between natural, post-blockcut andpost-vacuum sites. While vegetation cover was almost complete in natural sites, abandoned sites, especially post vacuum, wereless vegetated, even after 20 years. Bird species richness and abundance were similar in natural and post-blockcut sites andboth were higher than in post-vacuum sites. Ten of the 28 species studied in detail responded to site perturbation. Among them,the Palm Warbler was most closely associated with natural sites. Bird communities were closely associated with vegetationstructure. Communities of post-blockcut sites were more similar to those of natural bogs than were bird communities ofpost-vacuum sites. Since the blockcut method of peat mining is no longer economically feasible, we conclude that bog habitatrestoration should be accompanied by a preservation safety net area to counteract the lasting effect of vacuum peat mining onbird species assemblages.

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Functional evenness of bird communities varies along the elevational gradient in Europe: Conservation implications

10.32942/osf.io/sx9n8 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Federico Morelli ◽

Yanina

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Bird Species ◽

Elevational Gradient ◽

Negative Association ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Breeding Bird ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Large Spatial Scale ◽

Functional Evenness

ContextThe negative association between elevation and species richness is a well-recognized pattern in macro-ecology. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate changes in functional evenness of breeding bird communities along an elevation gradient in Europe. MethodsUsing the bird data from the EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds we estimated an index of functional evenness which can be assumed as a measure of the potential resilience of communities.ResultsOur findings confirm the existence of a negative association between elevation and bird species richness in all European eco regions. However, we also explored a novel aspect of this relationship, important for conservation: Our findings provide evidence at large spatial scale of a negative association between the functional evenness (potential community resilience) and elevation, independent of the eco region. We also found that the Natura2000 protected areas covers the territory most in need of protection, those characterized by bird communities with low potential resilience, in hilly and mountainous areas.ConclusionsThese results draw attention to European areas occupied by bird communities characterized by a potential lower capacity to respond to strong ecological changes, and, therefore, potentially more exposed to risks for conservation.

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Can clearcuts increase bird species richness in managed forests?

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/787-jfs ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 54 (No. 4) ◽

pp. 189-193

Author(s):

M. Żmihorski

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Cumulative Number ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Managed Forest ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Forest Interior ◽

Transect Counts ◽

The Difference

Clearcuts are one of the results of forest management. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clearcuts on bird communities in a managed forest in Western Poland. I applied the method of point transect counts. 20 points were located near clearcuts (less than 100 m from the nearest clearcut) and 25 points in the forest interior. In total, 36 bird species were recorded. On average, I found 9.20 bird species at points located near clearcuts and 6.72 species at points situated in the forest interior, and the difference was significant. The cumulative number of bird species for a given number of sampling points in the vicinity of clearcuts was higher than in the forest interior. The obtained results indicate that in managed, even-aged forests the generation of clearcuts can lead to an increase in local bird species richness.

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Bird species richness, composition and abundance in pastures are affected by vegetation structure and distance from natural habitats: a single tree in pastures matters

Emu - Austral Ornithology ◽

10.1080/01584197.2017.1398591 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 118 (2) ◽

pp. 201-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mauricio Neves Godoi ◽

Rudi Ricardo Laps ◽

Danilo Bandini Ribeiro ◽

Camila Aoki ◽

Franco Leandro de Souza

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Bird Species ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Single Tree

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Composition and Functional Diversity in Bird Communities in a Protected Humid Coastal Savanna

Advances in Zoology ◽

10.1155/2015/864219 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alfan A. Rija ◽

Abubakari S. Mgelwa ◽

Robert B. Modest ◽

Shombe N. Hassan

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

National Park ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Large Mammals ◽

Feeding Guild ◽

Bird Species Richness ◽

Heterogeneous Landscape ◽

Species Lists ◽

Associated Species

Our current understanding of the vertebrate communities of a newly gazetted Tanzanian coastal national park is limited and strongly taxonomically biased towards large mammals. We conducted bird assessments in three sites in Saadani National Park using species lists to analyze some parameters to inform biodiversity conservation in the area. We recorded 3112 individuals in 268 species falling in 66 families, including 2 endangered, 2 vulnerable, and 6 near threatened species. Both species richness and species diversity varied between sites. Species relative abundances were not different between the sites although some functional groups, especially granivores, were more abundant than others. Bird assemblages included 21 forest specialists (FF-species), 35 forest generalists (F-species), and 68 forest visitors (f-species) overlapping among bushland, wooded grassland, grassland, and thickets suggesting presence of important microhabitats for the forest-associated species in this ecosystem. Bird species richness in a feeding guild also showed marked overlap between habitats suggesting availability of rich food resources for the birds. This paper highlights the importance of maintaining a structurally heterogeneous landscape to sustain diverse bird communities in the area.

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