Flagship bird species habitat management supports the presence of ground-nesting aculeate hymenopterans

Abstract The Pacific rat, R. exulans, is an major agricultural and environmental pest in parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Thought to have spread with Polynesian colonists over the past several thousand years, it is now found through much of the Pacific basin, and is extensively distributed in the tropical Pacific. It poses a significant threat to indigenous wildlife, particularly ground-nesting birds, and has been linked to the extinction of several bird species. R. exulans may also transmit diseases to humans.

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Grazing animals as habitat engineers for ground-nesting birds – a review of the issues

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200009790 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2005 ◽

pp. 68-68

Author(s):

K. Norris

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Vegetation Structure ◽

Production Systems ◽

Bird Species ◽

Plant Species Composition ◽

Integral Role ◽

Avian Biodiversity ◽

The Uk ◽

Grassland Habitats ◽

Ground Nesting

Habitats associated with livestock production systems are important in terms of avian biodiversity in the UK and across Europe. Livestock play an integral role in structuring grassland habitats, which in turn affects their suitability for different ground-nesting bird species. Such habitat engineering is driven mainly by the effect of grazing on plant species composition and vegetation structure. However, ground-nesting birds are also negatively affected by the presence of grazing animals since livestock destroy nests mainly through trampling.

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Impacts of survival and reproductive success on the long-term population viability of reintroduced great bustards Otis tarda in the UK

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605315000368 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 583-592 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Kate Ashbrook ◽

Andrew Taylor ◽

Louise Jane ◽

Ian Carter ◽

Tamás Székely

Keyword(s):

Habitat Management ◽

Bird Species ◽

Population Viability ◽

Adult Survival ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Great Bustard ◽

Otis Tarda ◽

Demographic Rates ◽

The Uk

AbstractReintroductions aim to re-establish species within their historical ranges through the release of wild- or captive-bred individuals following extirpation (or extinction) in the wild. There is no general agreement on what constitutes a successful reintroduction but the probability of the population achieving long-term persistence should be addressed. Here we review a 10-year trial reintroduction of the great bustard Otis tarda, a globally threatened bird species, to the UK and assess the long-term population viability. Despite changes in rearing and release strategy, initial post-release survival probability remained consistently low, with only 11.3% of bustards (n = 167) surviving from release to 1 year post-release. Nineteen breeding attempts were made by eight females; however, only one chick survived > 100 days after hatching, and no wild juveniles have recruited into the population. Using demographic rates from the UK population and wild populations elsewhere, and stochastic population modelling, we investigate the viability of this reintroduced population by predicting population size over the next 10 years. Under current demographic rates the population was predicted to decline rapidly. Self-sufficiency was predicted only using the highest estimates from the UK population for first-year and adult survival, and recruitment rates from wild populations elsewhere. Although changes have been made in rearing, release strategies, habitat management and release sites used, these changes appear to have a modest effect on long-term viability. Substantial improvements in survival rates and productivity are necessary to establish a viable great bustard population in the UK, and we consider this unlikely.

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Changes in populations of bird species in roadside softwood scrub remnants/farmland and open eucalypt forest in south-east Queensland, 1981 to 1993

Pacific Conservation Biology ◽

10.1071/pc960232 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 232 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G. J. Leach

Keyword(s):

Habitat Management ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Bird Species ◽

Common Species ◽

Survey Method ◽

Base Line ◽

Eucalypt Forest ◽

Noisy Miner ◽

The Status ◽

Monitoring Procedure

Long-term monitoring of bird species provides information on base-line populations and population trends required to ensure that habitat management is effective for their conservation. Two surveys in both spring and autumn over 12 years monitored populations at fixed points in roadside softwood scrub remnants plus adjoining farmland (softwood/farmland) and in eucalypt open forest in south-east Queensland. The main aims were to determine the status of species in each habitat, especially whether the status of any species was changing, and to assess the usefulness of the monitoring procedure. In all, 92 species were observed; 79 in the softwood/farmland and 74 in the eucalypt forest. From 49 to 56 species were observed each year in softwood/farmland and 34 to 46 in eucalypt forest. Annual species turnover in softwood/farmland was about half that in eucalypt forest; 39% of all species were observed every year in the former habitat, but only 19% in the latter. The Torresian Crow was most often observed in softwood/farmland and the Noisy Miner in eucalypt forest. The Torresian Crow was the only species to be among the five most observed in each habitat. Among other common species, 95% or more observations of Bar-shouldered Doves, Superb Fairy-wrens, Yellow Thornbills and Silvereyes were in softwood/farmland, whereas for Weebills, White-throated Gerygones, Buff-rumped Thornbills, White-throated Treecreepers and White-throated Honeyeaters at least 95% of observations were in eucalypt forest, confirming their strong habitat specificities. The number of birds observed increased linearly for eight species in softwood/farmland and six species in eucalypt forest, and decreased for five and four species, respectively, over the 12 years. The most significant trends were for the Crested Pigeon (increase) and Willie Wagtail (decrease) in softwood/farmland, while Peaceful Dove and Rufous Whistler decreased in both habitats. Several species which increased adapt well to partial clearing of woody vegetation and aggressively exclude others, e.g., Noisy Miner, butcherbirds and Pied Currawong. The trends may reflect insidious degradation of habitats. The main value of the survey method was for detecting changes of species that could be used as indicator species ? those that respond most rapidly to habitat change. While the method was efficient, wildlife managers would need to use it regularly to maintain skills, especially because most observations are of bird calls.

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Abundance and patterns of rarity of Polylepis birds in the Cordillera Vilcanota, southern Perú: implications for habitat management strategies

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270908000166 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 164-180 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Huw Lloyd

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Habitat Loss ◽

Habitat Management ◽

Habitat Restoration ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Distance Sampling ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

Forest Patches ◽

Lowland Forest

AbstractPoint count distance sampling surveys were conducted at three sites in the Cordillera Vilcanota to determine whether variation in high-Andean species richness, diversity and abundance was a reflection of Polylepis habitat quantity. Bird community and abundance measures revealed that there was considerably variation in bird species richness, diversity and mean encounter rates between large, medium, and small forest patches. Densities of Polylepis-dependent bird species (including five globally-threatened and eight restricted-range species) were greater in larger forest patches and differed significantly between different patch size categories. Density estimates for matrix-dependent species were higher in smaller Polylepis patches indicating that the matrix exerts an influence on bird species composition and abundance in remnant Polylepis forests, particularly smaller patches. Comparison of lowland forest habitat specialists using three categories of rarity revealed that between 19–22% of all Polylepis-dependent species were intrinsically rare within larger forest patches, and a greater number (34–74%) were rare in smaller forest patches. Population estimates for all species, in particular for all threatened species, were extremely low, numbering ⩽ 10 individuals at nine of the ten sites examined. The results suggest that declines in the densities of certain Polylepis birds may be predictable following habitat loss and that these patterns of rarity should govern population recovery goals through appropriate habitat restoration strategies. Such strategies are urgently required and must be designed to prevent further habitat loss, and to increase Polylepis habitat quantity to boost threatened bird populations in the Cordillera Vilcanota.Evaluaciones de distancias de puntos de conteo fueron conducidas en tres lugares en la Cordillera Vilcanota para determinar si la variación en la riqueza, diversidad y abundancia de las especies de los Andes altos, era un reflejo de la cantidad de hábitats de Polylepis. La comunidad de aves y su abundancia revelaron que hubo una considerable variación en la riqueza de especies, diversidad y la media encontrada en rangos parches de bosque comprendidos entre grandes, medios y pequeãos. La densidad de especies de aves dependientes de Polylepis (incluyendo cinco amenazados globalmente y ocho especies con rango restringido) fueron mayores en parches grandes de bosque y difirieron significativamente entre diferentes categorías de tamaãos de parche. La densidad estimada para especies matriz-dependientes fue mayor en pequeãos parches de Polylepis indicando que la matriz ejerce una influencia en la composición de especies de aves y abundancia en vestigios de bosques de Polylepis, particularmente parches pequeãos. En comparación con especialistas de hábitat de bosque bajo, empleando tres categorías de rareza revelaron que entre 19–22% de todos las especies dependientes de Polylepis fueron intrínsicamente raras dentro de parches grandes de bosque, y un número mayor (34–74%) fueron raras en los parches pequeãos de bosque. La población estimada para todas las especies, en particular para todas las especies amenazadas, fue extremadamente baja, contando ⩽ 10 individuos en nueve de los 10 sitios examinados. El resultado sugiere que la disminución en la densidad de ciertas aves de Polylepis se podría predecir después de la pérdida de hábitat y que esos patrones de rareza podrían servir como objetivos para la recuperación de la población a través de estrategias de restauración de hábitats apropiados. Este tipo de estrategias son requeridas con urgencia y deberían estar diseãadas para prevenir futuras pérdidas de hábitats, incrementar la cantidad de hábitat de Polylepis para aumentar la población de aves amenazadas en la Cordillera Vilcanota.

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Multiscale effects of wetland availability and matrix composition on wetland breeding birds in Minnesota, USA

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/duz024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 121 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sarah P Saunders ◽

Kristin A L Hall ◽

Nina Hill ◽

Nicole L Michel

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scale ◽

Habitat Management ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Bird Species ◽

Matrix Composition ◽

Bird Diversity ◽

Bird Conservation ◽

Prairie Pothole ◽

Imperfect Detection ◽

Matrix Habitat

Abstract The increasing intensity of wetland stressors in the Upper Midwestern United States hastens the need to understand how matrix composition influences wetland bird occurrence and abundance. The optimal spatial scale for assessing species–habitat relationships is not always apparent, but may affect inference about wetland use and suitability. We developed occupancy and abundance models, accounting for imperfect detection, for 9 wetland bird species breeding in Minnesota. We evaluated land cover associations at 3 spatial scales (12.6 ha, 50.3 ha, and 4,000 ha), quantified species-specific sensitivity to wetland availability and matrix habitat composition (agricultural and developed land covers), and assessed ecoregional variation in occupancy and abundance. Amount of wetland cover was positively associated with occupancy of 89% of species and with abundance of 67% of species, but the spatial scale of support differed among species. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), and Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) in particular were negatively impacted by anthropogenic land uses within the surrounding matrix, indicating a need to shift wetland conservation planning from the site scale to the landscape scale to capture pertinent drivers of wetland bird habitat use. Mean expected occupancy across all species was greatest in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), suggesting that restoration efforts within this ecoregion are likely to maintain wetland bird diversity. However, given the minimal total wetland availability and predominantly agricultural matrix in the PPR, protecting wetlands and upland buffers in the Aspen Parklands or Boreal ecoregions may represent a better investment for agricultural-sensitive species such as American Bittern, Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis), and Wilson’s Snipe. Our modeling approach provides a multi-species framework for identifying habitat management priorities; future applications at broader spatial extents can continue to improve wetland bird conservation in a region with high rates of wetland loss and degradation.

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Habitat-specific effectiveness of feral cat control for the conservation of an endemic ground-nesting bird species

Journal of Applied Ecology ◽

10.1111/1365-2664.12292 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 1246-1254 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Steffen Oppel ◽

Fiona Burns ◽

Juliet Vickery ◽

Kevin George ◽

Gavin Ellick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bird Species ◽

Feral Cat ◽

Ground Nesting

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Effects of hunting management on Mediterranean farmland birds

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270914000197 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 166-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

JESÚS CARO ◽

MIGUEL DELIBES-MATEOS ◽

ALBA ESTRADA ◽

RUI BORRALHO ◽

LUÍS GORDINHO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bird Species ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Alectoris Rufa ◽

Game Management ◽

Farmland Birds ◽

Point Counts ◽

Small Game ◽

Circus Pygargus ◽

Tetrax Tetrax ◽

Ground Nesting

SummaryHunting and its associated management have significant costs and benefits for biodiversity conservation, which makes this socio-economic activity highly controversial at both international and regional levels. We investigated relationships between management for small game species (mainly Red-legged Partridges Alectoris rufa and rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus) and both abundance and richness of farmland and scrubland songbirds, raptors and ground-nesting birds, and on the abundance of three species of conservation concern (Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax, Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus and Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus) in southern Portugal farmland. We compared 12 game estates and 12 matching areas with similar sizes and land uses but no game management. Richness and abundance were estimated from fixed point counts, and were related to game regime (managed or unmanaged), habitat characteristics and census period. Our results showed that game management was associated, albeit weakly, with higher abundance of raptors and ground-nesting birds, but no relationship (either positive or negative) was found for other guilds and species. Habitat was generally the most important factor explaining bird species richness and abundance. Our results suggest possibilities for promoting management systems that could maximize both hunting sustainability and conservation value of managed areas, particularly when management helps to improve or maintain beneficial habitats or practices for farmland birds.

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Edge Effect on Nesting Success of Ground Nesting Birds Near Regenerating Clearcuts in a Forest-Dominated Landscape

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/119.4.955 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 119 (4) ◽

pp. 955-970 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

James C. Manolis ◽

David E. Andersen ◽

Francesca J. Cuthbert

Keyword(s):

Edge Effect ◽

Edge Effects ◽

Bird Species ◽

Timber Harvest ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Nesting Success ◽

Population Declines ◽

North Central ◽

Neotropical Migrant ◽

Ground Nesting

Abstract Forest fragmentation has been implicated as a cause of population declines of several Neotropical migrant bird species. Fragmentation increases the amount of habitat edge, and reduced nesting success rates near forest edges are well documented in agricultural landscapes (“edge effects”). However, edge effects in predominantly forested landscapes, particularly those related to timber harvest, are poorly understood. This study examines nesting success of ground nesting birds in relation to clearcut edges in a forest-dominated landscape in north-central Minnesota. A total of 383 nests of seven species of ground nesting birds were found and monitored during 1992–1998. Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilus; n = 318) and Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus; n = 44) nests composed the majority of the sample. Predation accounted for 94% of all nest failures. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism was low (1.8% for all ground nests). Using proportional hazards regression, distance to nearest clearcut edge was the best predictor of nest failure. For all ground nests, nesting success was 0.18 at 0–100 m, 0.39 at 101–500 m, and 0.52 at 501–954 m from nearest clearcut edge. Source–sink modeling indicated that distances ≤100 m from clearcut edges were sink habitats for Ovenbirds (i.e. recruitment was lower than survival). These results provide strong evidence of a negative edge effect on ground nests, extending 100 m or more from clearcut edges in a forest-dominated area of north-central Minnesota.

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