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

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
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.

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

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.

scholarly journals Can clearcuts increase bird species richness in managed forests?

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.

scholarly journals Seasonal changes in avian communities living in an extensively used farmland of Western Poland

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Kwieciński ◽  
Federico Morelli ◽  
Marcin Antczak ◽  
Martin Hromada ◽  
Paweł Szymański ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Negative Trend ◽  
Avian Communities ◽  
Farmland Birds ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Bird Richness

Abstract To study the seasonal changes in avian communities, we collected data in an extensively used farmland in Western Poland during 2006-2013. Generalized additive mixed models were used in order to study the effects of seasonality and protected areas on the overall bird species richness. A similarity percentage analysis was also conducted in order to identify the species that contribute most strongly to dissimilarity among each bird according to the phenological season. Furthermore, the differences in bird communities were investigated applying the decomposition of the species richness in season, trend, and remainder components. Each season showed significant differences in bird species richness (seasonality effect). The effect of the protected areas was slightly positive on the overall species richness for all seasons. However, an overall negative trend was detected for the entire period of eight years. The bird community composition was different among seasons, showing differences in terms of dominant species. Greater differences were found between breeding and wintering seasons, in particular, the spatial pattern of sites with higher bird richness (hotspots) were different between breeding and wintering seasons. Our findings showed a negative trend in bird species richness verified in the Polish farmlands from 2006. This result mirrors the same negative trend already highlighted for Western Europe. The role of protected areas, even if slightly positive, was not enough to mitigate this decline process. Therefore, to effectively protect farmland birds, it is necessary to also consider inter-seasons variation, and for this, we suggest the use of medium-term temporal studies on bird communities’ trends.

scholarly journals Urbanization does not affect green space bird species richness in a mid-sized city

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dávid Korányi ◽  
Róbert Gallé ◽  
Bettina Donkó ◽  
Dan E. Chamberlain ◽  
Péter Batáry
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Surrounding Matrix ◽  
Different Types

AbstractUrbanization is one of the most intensive forms of landscape and habitat transformation, resulting in species loss, and taxonomic and functional homogenization of different communities. Whilst green infrastructure (the network of natural and semi-natural areas in cities) has been studied extensively in terms of specific features that promote biodiversity, there have been no studies that have assessed how species richness in different types of green space (GS) varies with increasing levels of urbanization in the surrounding matrix. We studied the effects of different types of GS and urbanization in the surrounding matrix on bird communities in the mid-sized city of Göttingen, Germany. We used the point-count method for bird observations in allotments and parks. To determine the level of urbanization, we calculated percentage of impervious surfaces around GSs. Increasing levels of urbanization around GSs had no effect on the species richness, functional traits or the community composition of birds. Nevertheless, we found that species richness and functional traits varied according to GS type. Parks had a greater species richness and were found to have more ground nesting and tropical migrant birds compared to allotments. We found more cavity nesting and resident birds in allotments. As different types of GS can contribute to the presence of different species and functional trait variations, their positive effect on bird species richness can be enhanced when they are present together in urban landscapes. Our findings suggest that green spaces with a high variety of local characteristics should be incorporated into urban planning designs in order to ensure diverse bird communities in cities.

scholarly journals Bird species richness in High-Andean forest fragments: habitat quality and topography matter

2020 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Fastré ◽  
Diederik Strubbe ◽  
José A. Balderrama ◽  
Jennifer R.A. Cahill ◽  
Hannes Ledegen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Species Of Conservation Concern ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Exotic Plantations ◽  
Conservation Concern

Montane forests worldwide are known centers of endemism and biodiversity but are highly threatened by fragmentation processes. Using data collected in 15 Polylepis forest remnants covering 2000 hectares, we investigated how bird species richness and bird community composition, particularly for species of conservation concern, are influenced by habitat quality and topography in the Tunari National Park in the High Andes of Bolivia. Bird species richness was highest in topographically complex, low-elevation Polylepis patches located in areas with a high potential to retain rainwater. Bird communities differed strongly between Polylepis lanata and P. subtusalbida remnants, each supporting different threatened and endemic species. Within the P. subtusalbida forest, high-elevation fragments characterized by high amounts of sunlight and low anthropogenic disturbance were more likely to contain threatened species. Surprisingly, we found no effect of fragment size on the diversity or composition of bird communities or the presence of bird species of conservation concern. The presence of exotic plantations (Pinus and/or Eucalyptus spp.) in or outside forest remnants was negatively associated with the number of bird species as well as with occurrence of the endangered Cochabamba-mountain finch (Compsospiza garleppi). To support the different communities found in Polylepis forests, these results suggest that conservation efforts should be directed towards both forest types (P. subtusalbida and P. lanata) present in the area. For an efficient management of avian diversity, exotic plantations should be established away from native remnants while existing patches should be managed to maintain or increase habitat quality. Finally, the importance of local topography in determining avian species richness and community composition in forest fragments, mainly through topographic controls on moisture distribution and the amount of sunlight received by the fragments, should be considered when planning conservation and reforestation schemes.

Avian recolonization of eastern Canadian bogs after peat mining

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 989-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Desrochers ◽  
Line Rochefort ◽  
Jean-Pierre L Savard
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Percent Cover ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Peat Mining ◽  
Mining History ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

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.

scholarly journals Quantifying Effects of Spatial Heterogeneity of Farmlands on Bird Species Richness by Means of Similarity Index Pairwise

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Morelli
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Farmland Bird ◽  
The Impact

Many studies have shown how intensification of farming is the main cause of loss biodiversity in these environments. During the last decades, agroecosystems in Europe have changed drastically, mainly due to mechanization of agriculture. In this work, species richness in bird communities was examined on a gradient of spatial heterogeneity of farmlands, in order to quantify its effects. Four categories of farmland spatial heterogeneity were defined, based on landscape and landuse parameters. The impact of features increasing the spatial heterogeneity was quantified comparing the similarity indexes between bird communities in several farmlands of Central Italy. The effects of environmental variables on bird richness were analyzed using GLM. The results highlighted that landscape features surrogates of high nature values (HNVs) of farmlands can increase more than 50% the bird species richness. The features more related to bird richness were hedgerows, scattered shrubs, uncultivated patches, and powerlines. The results confirm that the approach based on HNV for evaluating the farmlands is also suitable in order to study birds’ diversity. However, some species are more sensitive to heterogeneity, while other species occupy mainly homogeneous farmlands. As a consequence, different conservation methods must be considered for each farmland bird species.

The terrestrial vertebrate fauna of Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory: monitoring over a 6-year period and response to fire history

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
M. Armstrong ◽  
O. Price ◽  
J. McCartney ◽  
A. D. Griffiths ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Type I Error ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Type I ◽  
Bird Species Richness

Forty-seven 50 m × 50 m quadrats were sampled systematically for vertebrates at Litchfield National Park, northern Australia, in both 1995–96 and 2001–02. A total of 184 vertebrate species was recorded from this sampling, of which 92 species were recorded from five or more quadrats. There was substantial change in the reported species composition of these quadrats between these two periods: the mean Bray–Curtis index for similarity in species composition from the baseline to subsequent sampling of a quadrat was only 22.1 (for an index that varies from 0 for complete turnover in species to 100 for unchanged composition). For individual species, correlations across quadrats in the abundance scores from baseline to resampling varied from –0.12 to 0.85. Matched-pairs testing showed that there was significant change in abundance for 18 species from the baseline to repeat sampling, and significant increase in total bird species richness and total native mammal abundance, but significant decrease in reptile species richness. Fire history was recorded biannually for 40 of the 47 quadrats. Fire was very frequent, with quadrats being burnt in an average of 3.65 years of the six years between fauna samples. Three aspects of this fire history (total number of years of fires, number of fires in the late dry season, and interval from the last fire to the date of resampling) were related to change in the fauna composition of quadrats. Neither the similarity in species composition, nor change in richness or total abundance of all vertebrates or of the four taxonomic classes considered (frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals) were significantly correlated with these components of the fire history of sampled quadrats. This lack of association was possibly because the monitoring period was too short to show pronounced directional change, because the system was responding to many factors other than fire, because the variations in abundance were too large and the number of samples too small to detect true associations, or because fire histories preceding baseline sampling were not considered. The apparent instability of fauna species and communities in this system provides a considerable challenge for broad-brush (that is, vertebrate community–wide) monitoring. Power analysis demonstrated that, for most species, more than 1000 sample sites are needed to be 90% certain of detecting a 20% change in abundance, and with a 10% chance of accepting a Type I error. This level of sampling effort is commensurate with the current level of vertebrate sampling in this region. Broad-brush monitoring approaches such as described here are valuable, but need also to be complemented by more targetted monitoring for individual threatened species or species of particular management interest.

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